Site Planning & Design Flashcards
What type of circulation system responds most sympathetically to the existing natural environment?
a. Grid System
b. Linear System
c. Curvilinear System
d. Radial System
c. Curvilinear System
To move large volumes of traffic at high speed, the most effective type of circulation system is:
a. highways
b. expressways
c. arterials
d. distributors
b. expressways
Land development patterns are most frequently determined by
a. topographic features
b. climatic factors
c. utility systems
d. street systems
d. street systems
The primary advantage of 60-degree parking is that:
a. saves space
b. is easier to use
c. is safer to use
d. cost less to construct
b. is easier to use
A neighborhood shopping center is best located at:
a. the intersection of an arterial and collector street
b. the intersection of two local streets
c. the foot of an expressway ramp
d. the interchange of an expressway
a. the intersection of an arterial and collector street
From among the following street design criteria, select those that are correct:
I. Curb radii should be 12’ min
II. Compound curves are preferred over simple curves
III. Traffic lanes should be 12’ wide
IV. Parking lanes should generally be avoided
V. Intersections should be at right angles wherever possible.
a. I and IV
b. I, III, and V
c. II, III, and IV
d. I, III, IV, and V
b. I, III, and V
Power lines are generally located above, rather than below, ground because they are:
a. easier to repair
b. faster to install
c. less costly
d. less dangerous
c. less costly. Power lines below ground are better than above ground lines in almost every way, except cost.
From among the following handicapped design criteria, select the incorrect statement:
a. Wheelchair paths should not exceed a 1:20 grade
b. Wheelchair ramps should not exceed a 1:12 grade
c. Wheelchair ramps should not exceed 30’ in length
d. Wheelchair turning spaces should not be less than three ft. sq.
d. The minimum space required to turn a wheelchair is a circle 5’ in diameter
Which of the following should be avoided in the design of a large parking lot? I. Acute angle parking II. Ramped exit driveway III. Dead level paved areas IV. Dead end aisles V. Pedestrian circulation a. III and IV b. III and V c. I, II, and V d. II, III, IV
a. Level paved areas cause ponding of water, and dead end aisles create unnecessary traffic congestion.
The primary objective of good pedestrian circulation is:
a. economy
b. permanence
c. safety
d. speed
c. safety
Which of the following will most effectively divert subsurface water away from a building’s foundation?
a. Place the foundation below the water table
b. Modify the contours of the site during finish grading.
c. Install drainage tiles adjacent to the bottom of footings.
d. Provide a bed of coarse gravel at the perimeter of the foundation.
c. Install drainage tiles adjacent to the bottom of footings.
If the loads of a proposed structure are high relative to the bearing capacity of the soil, one would likely provide:
a. A mat footing
b. Continuous wall footings
c. Combined footings
d. Shallow spread footings
a. A mat footing distributes vertical loads over the entire building area and is used when soil conditions are poor.
A system of piles may be appropriate for supporting a structure when:
a. Moisture in the soil is detected
b. The piles can be placed below groundwater level
c. Dense earth makes conventional excavation difficult
d. The surface soil has low bearing capacity
d. When upper soils have low bearing capacity, piles may be used to transmit a building’s load to deeper, firmer soils.
Frost line refers to the level of earth:
a. at which the soil bearing value is affected by weather
b. at which the building foundation should be located
c. Below which the footings will not freeze
d. below which the soil does not freeze
d. below which the soil does not freeze
For a structure with very heavy loads resting on dense earth, which of the following would be most appropriate?
a. Boat footings
b. Jetted piles
c. Wood piles
d. Structural steel piers
d. Structural steel piers. Boat footings are used where the underlying soil has a low bearing capacity, jetted piles are rarely used, and wood piles are used for light to moderate loads.
Placing load on a footing results in :
a. reduced soil bearing capacity
b. differential settlement
c. a reduction of the soil’s void volume
d. shrinkage of the soil
c. a reduction of the soil’s void volume. As load is placed on a footing, it compresses the soil and reduces the soil’s void volume. Although this results in settlement, it is not necessarily differential settlement.
The principle purpose of all soil exploration and testing is to determine the:
a. bearing capacity of the soil
b. intrinsic character of the soil
c. depth of the water table
d. depth of the bedrock
b. intrinsic character of the soil
The design of a surface drainage system for residential development is based on a five year storm. During the review, the drainage system is found to be incapable of handling the expected runoff. Therefore, it should be:
a. changed to a subsurface system
b. changed to employ non-erosive materials
c. designed for a 10 year storm
d. designed for a 100 year storm
c. designed for a 10 year storm. If design for a 5 year storm in found to be inadequate, one must design for a more severe storm, such as the one that would likely occur every 10 years
In the residential development of the previous question, runoff might be reduced by using:
a. flat roofs, rather than sloped roofs, on the residential units
b. wider roof eaves on the residential units
c. more paved areas
d. greater areas of vegetation
d. greater areas of vegetation
All of the following describe the general climactic characteristics of an area except:
a. temperature
b. topography
c. humidity
d. wind velocity
b. topography is the shape of the ground surface, not an element of climate.
Sustainable Design is primarily concerned with which of the following issues? I. Economics II. Aesthetics III. Environment IV. Mechanical Systems a. III b. I, II, III c. I, III d. all of the above
d. all of the above. The holistic approach to sustainably designed projects encourages the design team to examine the impact of environmental, economic, mechanical, and aesthetic architectural decisions.
The Natural Step is an approach to the environment that follows which of the following principles?
I. The biosphere affecting humans in a relatively stable and resilient zone that includes five miles into the earth’s crust and five miles into the troposhpere
II. Improved technologies have dramatically increased the number and quantity of available natural resources
III. Toxic substances released into either the sea or atmosphere will only influence areas adjacent to the toxic source
IV. Using building materials that are recycled is an adequate sustainable design approach
a. I
b. II
c. II and IV
d. None of the above
d. None of the above
The planning phase of a sustainably designed architectural project should include which of the following elements?
I. native landscaping that is aesthetically pleasing and functional
II. Designing structures in the floodplain that can resist the forces of flood water
III. consideration of sun orientation, topographic relief, and the scale of adjacent buildings
IV. Locating projects within existing neighborhoods that are adjacent to public transportation
a. I and II
b. I and III
c. I, III, and IV
d. All of the above
c. I, III, and IV
The Ahwahnee principles include which of the following ideas?
I. communities with only residential use should be relegated to areas outside the central business district
II. Preserved open spaces should be either wildlife habitats or recreational areas.
III. transportation planning should include roads, pedestrian paths, bike paths, and mass transit systems
IV. job creation and economic diversity is a desired goal
a. I
b. II, III, and IV
c. III and IV
d. none of the above
c. III and IV
Life cycle costing is and economic evaluation of architectural elements that includes which of the following factors? I. first cost II. maintenance and operation cost III. repair cost IV. replacement cost a. I b. II, III, and IV c. II and IV d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Which of the following is a consultant who might be employed in a sustainable design project? I. wetlands engineer II. energy commissioner III. landscape architect IV. energy modeling engineer a. I b. I and II c. II, III, and IV d. all of the above
d. all of the above
Sustainable design may require research and education that is beyond a normal architectural project. Which of the following is part of this process? I. energy modeling II. education of the client III. art selection IV. selection of energy efficient appliances a. I and IV b. I and II c. I, II, and IV d. all of the above
c. I, II, and IV
Sensitivity to the nuances of site conditions is key to sustainable design. Which of the following are site conditions the architect should examine in the design process? I. solar orientation II. decorative landscaping III. scale and style of adjacent buildings IV. groundwater conditions a. I and II b. I, III, and IV c. I and III d. all of the above
b. I, III, and IV
Sustainably designed architecture requires attention to which of the following building elements? I. solar shading devices II. urban heat island effect III. increased parking IV. fenestration and glazing a. I, II, and IV b. I and IV c. I and II d. all of the above
a. I, II, and IV
The number of test borings that should be drilled on a particular site is determined by all of the following except:
a. the uniformity of the subsurface conditions
b. the complexity of the building footprint
c. the ground floor area of the proposed building
d. the depth at which firm strata are encountered
d. the depth at which firm strata are encountered
If an open entrance plaza is on the windward side of a highrise building, the plaza may be sheltered from the wind by:
a. planting a row of closely spaced deciduous trees adjacent to the plaza
b. planting a row of closely spaced evergreen trees adjacent to the plaza
c. building a six foot high masonry wall adjacent to the plaza
d. relocating the entrance plaza to the leeward side of the building
d. relocating the entrance plaza to the leeward side of the building
The most effective way to reduce the consequences of vandalism would be to employ:
a. exterior floodlighting
b. trained guard dogs
c. impact resistant materials
d. burglar alarm systems
c. impact resistant materials
An aquifer is:
a. a surface soil that experiences heavy runoff
b. an underground permeable material through that water flows
c. the boundary between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation
d. the boundary between soil layers, along which sliding may occur
b. an underground permeable material through that water flows
Materials with high heat-storage values would be most appropriate to use in:
a. Phoenix, AZ
b. Honolulu, HI
c. Miami, FL
d. Houston, TX
a. Phoenix, AZ
Compared to conventional foundations, pile foundations: I. are more costly II. are more permanent III. employ a wider range of materials IV. support greater building loads V. can be constructed more quickly a. I and IV b. I and III c. II, III, and V d. I, III, and IV
b. I and III
Legal restrictions that are imposed on land by private parties are known as:
a. ordinances
b. conditional uses
c. variances
d. deed restrictions
d. deed restrictions.
Which of the following is NOT a consequence of zoning ordinances?
a. limited population density
b. segregated permitted uses
c. restricted lot coverage
d. diminished fire danger
d. diminished fire danger
The type and size of a shopping center is primarily determined by its catchment area, which is defined as the area:
a. from which it derives its user population
b. within a 30-minute driving radius of the shopping center
c. housing sufficient user population to make the facility viable
d. necessary to situate a major department store and its required parking
a. from which it derives its user population.
The sun chart for a specific latitude reveals which of the following? I. the sun's altitude II. The sun's azimuth III. the amount of sunshine IV. the number of degree days V. The time of sunrise a. I and III b. II and V c. I, II, and V d. I, IV, V
c. I, II, and V
On a moderate hillside that rises behind a housing development, one could reduce the need for a complex drainage system by:
a. paving the hillside area with an impervious material
b. grading level areas into the hillside
c. providing a thick ground cover of plant material
d. creating earth berms at the foot of the slope
c. providing a thick ground cover of plant material
Which of the following organizational forms would be BEST suited to a large, low-cost housing development if the primary concern were cost?
a. Linear
b. Radial
c. Compact
d. Decentralized
c. Compact
Which organizational pattern formed the basis of development in ancient, classical Rome?
a. linear
b. Precinctual
c. Grid
d. Ring
b. Precinctual
Which of the following does NOT directly impose legal constraints on the proposed development of land?
a. deed restrictions
b. zoning ordinances
c. easements
d. environmental impact statements
d. environmental impact statements
The amount of solar radiation received by a site influenced by the site's: I. slope II. latitude III. wind patterns IV. longitude a. I and II b. II and IV c. I and III d. II and III
a. I and II
Which of the following facts is NOT relevant for analyzing the orientation of a new building on a particular site?
a. neighboring buildings to the west are supported on piers drilled into bedrock
b. prevailing winds are from the southwest
c. the greatest source of noise is an expressway to the east
d. the new building is to be heated partially by solar energy
a. neighboring buildings to the west are supported on piers drilled into bedrock
A site slopes up from the street five feet for every 20 feet of horizontal distance. In order to use this site for parking cars, the site:
a. may be used as is
b. must be regraded to 1.5 in 10
c. must be regraded to 1 in 10
d. must be regraded to 0.5 in 10
d. must be regraded to 0.5 in 10
the existing slope of 5 in 20 translates to a 25% grade (5/20 x 100 = 25%), which is far too steep for parking cars. Regrading the site is necessary, and the finish grade should not exceed 0.5 in 10, which represents a 5% grade. Paved driveways, however, may be as steep as 10%.
Compared to a site containing a large amount of loose silt, a site with similar amount of organic soil would be:
a. more costly to develop
b. less costly to develop
c. similar in cost to develop
d. too costly to develop
a. more costly to develop
If an architect is presented with a sloping site with large areas of loose fill, and the client wishes to develop this site for an elementary school, the architect should:
a. reject the site because schools require level land
b. reject the site because of inadequate soil bearing value
c. reject the site because development cost will be too expensive
d. attempt to find a solution using the site’s unique properties
d. attempt to find a solution using the site’s unique properties
Which of the following measures would help reduce automobile usage, and hence congestion, in the development of an office building in a central city area?
I. provide low rate parking in the building, with free parking for all tenants and their staffs
II. provide only market rate monthly parking
III. provide no parking (or limited parking) with a tax system in which a portion of the real estate tax on the building is earmarked for public transit
IV. provide incentive rates for tenants and their staff who carpool
a. I and II
b. II, III, and IV
c. I and IV
d. II and IV
b. II, III, and IV
In analyzing a building site, which of the following conditions would indicate the probability of poor drainage? I. existing dense ground cover II. existing flowing stream III. existing high water table IV. relatively flat site V. no storm drainage system a. I and II b. III, IV, and V c. II, III, and IV d. I, III, and V
b. III, IV, and V
Compared to a town located at the base of a mountain, the summer temperature of a mountain resort 3,000 ft above the town would be:
a. cooler at all times
b. cooler in the higher latitudes
c. warmer by day and cooler by night
d. generally the same
a. cooler at all times
Under normal conditions, a steady slope of 10% is a desirable limit for which of the following? I. Storm Drainage flow II. Pedestrian walks III. Planted banks IV. Unretained earth cuts V. Drainage ditches a. II and V b. II and III c. I, II, and V d. I, III, and IV
a. II and V
Compared to a developed urban area, a planted rural area will:
a. reduce the normal amount of rainfall
b. reduce wind velocities
c. purify the air of harmful pollutants
d. stabilize the microclimate
d. stabilize the microclimate
The space required for a parking lot to accommodate 325 cars, parked at 90 degrees, is approximately:
a. 1.5 acres
b. 2.5 acres
c. 3.0 acres
d. 6.0 acres
c. 3.0 acres
Using the usual estimate of 400 sq. ft. per car, the total area requred is 400 x 325 = 130,000 sq. ft. If this total is divided by the number of sq. ft. in and acre (43,560), the result is 130,000/43,560 = 2.98, which is closest to the correct answer of 3.0 cars
The MOST effective way to diminish the effects of urban noise is by:
a. increasing the distance between the noise source and the receiver
b. providing a physical barrier of plant material
c. creating water movement, such as a fountain
d. eliminating private vehicular traffic
a. increasing the distance between the noise source and the receiver
Air which is moving at a speed of 100 ft per minute may be described as:
a. pleasant
b. drafty
c. unnoticeable
d. unbearable
a. pleasant
less than 50 fpm is generally unnoticeable
250 fpm or more is drafty
Bulb tees are generally used:
a. in foundation work involving caissons
b. in underpinning as a form of temporary support
c. in gypsum concrete roof deck construction
d. as water stops in below-grade concreting
c. in gypsum concrete roof deck construction
Bulb tees are used in gypsum concrete construction as structural sub-purlins. The bulb tees are fastened to the primary framing and provide support for the form boards that receive the gypsum concrete. They also anchor the deck against uplift forces, restrict deck movement due to temperature changes, and provide lateral bracing for the roof structure. Gypsum concrete roof decks are lightweight, they set rapidly (30 min), and when used over gypsum or mineral fiber form boards, they are classified as noncombustible.
The planning phase of a sustainably designed architectural project should include which of the following elements?
I. native landscaping that is aesthetically pleasing and functional
II. designing structures in the floodplain that can resist the forces of flood waters
III. consideration of sun orientation, topographic relief, and the scale of adjacent buildings
IV. locating projects within existing neighborhoods that are adjacent to public transportation
a. I and II
b. I and III
c. I, III, and IV
d. all of the above
c. I, III, and IV
Sustainably designed architecture requires attention to which of the following building elements? I. solar shading devices II. urban heat island effect III. increased parking IV. fenestration and glazing a. I, II, and IV b. I and IV c. I and II d. all of the above
a. I, II, and IV
A new building is being constructed adjacent to and existing building whose footings are shallower than those planned for the new structure. the foundation for the new building should be constructed:
a. in the usual way, as the existing building’s footings will be minimally disrupted
b. to the same depth as the footings in the existing building
c. after the footings of the existing building have been extended down to the depth of the footings of the proposed building
d. in two steps: first on the three non-adjacent sides and then on the remaining side
c. after the footings of the existing building have been extended down to the depth of the footings of the proposed building
Access right
right of an owner to have ingress and egress to and from a property
Accessory building
a building or structure on the same lot as the main or principle building
air rights
the right to the use or control of space above a property
altitude
the angle that the sun makes with the horizon
aquifer
an underground permeable material through with water flows
azimuth
a horizontal angle measured clockwise from north or south
barrier-free
the absence of environmental barriers, permitting free access and circulation by the handicapped
bearing
in surveying, a direction stated in degrees, minutes, and seconds as an angular deviation east or west from due north or south
bearing capacity
the ability of a soil to support load
bench mark
a relatively permanent point of known location and elevation
berm
a convex-shaped bank of earth
boundary
the legal recorded property line between two parcels of land
buffer zone
an area separating two different elements or functions
buildable area
the net ground area of a lot that can be covered by a building after required setbacks and other zoning limitations have been accounted for
building line
a defined limit within a property line beyond which a structure may not protrude
building envelope
the enclosure that contains a building’s maximum volume
catch basin
a drainage device used to collect water, with a deep pit to catch sediment
circulation
the flow or movement of people, goods, vehicles, etc., from place to place
climate
the generally prevailing weather conditions of a region throughout the year, averaged over a series of years
coefficient of runoff
a fixed ratio of total rainfall that runs off a surface
collector street
a street into which minor streets empty and which leads to a major arterial
combined sewer
sewer that carries both storm water and sanitary of industrial waste
comfort zone
any combination of temperature and humidity in which the average person feels comfortable
compaction
the reduction of soil volume by pressure from grading machinery
condemnation
taking private property for public use, with compensation to the owner, under the right of eminent domain
conduction
the transfer of heat by direct molecular action
conforming use
lawful use of a building or lot that complies with the provisions of the applicable zoning ordinance
coniferous
describing a cone-bearing tree or shrub. see evergreen
contour
a line on a plan that connects all points of equal elevation
contour interval
the vertical distance between adjacent contour lines
convection
the transfer f heat by the movement of a liquid or gas, such as air
covenant
a restriction of the deed which regulates land use, aesthetic qualities, etc., of an area
crown
the central area of a convex surface, such as a road
culvert
a length of pipe under a road or other barrier used to coney water
deciduous
describing trees that shed their leaves annually, as opposed to evergreen
deed
a written instrument that is used to transfer real property from one party to another
degree days
the number of days that the mean temperature for and day at a particular location is below 65 degrees F
density
a measure of the number of people, families, etc., that occupy a specific area
disposal field
a system of trenches with gravel and loose pipes through which septic tank effluent may seep into the surrounding soil. Also called drainage field or absorption field
district
any section of a city in which the zoning regulations are uniform
drainage
- he capacity of a soil to receive and transmit water
2. the system by which excess water is collected, conducted, and dispersed.
drip line
an imaginary line on the ground described by the outmost branches of a tree
easement
a limited right, whether temporary or permanent, to use the property of another in certain way. this may include the right of access to water, light and air, right-of-way, etc.
effective temperature
the sensation produced by the combined effects of temperature, relative humidity, and air movement
effluent
partially treated liquid sewage flowing from any part of a disposal system to a place of final disposition
encroachment
part of a building or an obstruction that extends into the property of another
expansive soil
clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
the ratio of the floor area of a building to the area of the lot
gradient
the rate of slope between two points on a surface, determined by dividing their difference in elevation by their distance apart
groundwater level
The plane below which the soil is saturated with water. Also called groundwater table
Infiltration
The process by which water soaks into the ground. Also called percolation
insolation
the amount of solar radiation on a given plane
interpolation
determining an unknown value between known values
invert elevation
the elevation of the bottom (flow line) of a pipe
land coverage
the ratio of the area covered by buildings to the total lot area, expressed as a percentage
latitude
the number of degrees north or south of the equator of a particular point on the earth’s surface.
legal description
designation of boundaries of real estate in accordance with one of the systems prescribed by law
limit line
any line beyond which development is prohibited
metes and bounds
a formal description of the boundary lines of a parcel of real property in terms of the length and direction of those lines
non-conforming use
A particular use of land or a structure which is in violation of the applicable zoning code. Generally, if the use was established prior to the code rule which it contravenes, it may continue to exist
open drainage
the removal of unwanted water by means of surface devices
pad
an approximately level building area
plane surface
a topographic configuration created by straight, evenly spaced contours
PUD
A planned unit development, similar to a cluster development but larger in scale including, in addition to housing, commercial and industrial developments.
Radiation
the process by which heat of other energy is emitted by a body, transmitted through space, and absorbed by another body
relative humidity
the ratio of the actual amount of moisture in the air to the maximum amount of moisture the air could hold at a given temperature
restrictions
limitations on the use of a property defined by covenant in deeds, by private agreement, or by public legislation action
retention pond
An area used to retain and hold runoff water during a storm. The water is held until it is able to drain naturally
ridge
a narrow convex land configuration represented by contours pointing downhill
right of way
a strip of land granted by deed or easement for a circulation path
runoff
the surface flow of water from an area
setback
the minimum legal distance between a property line and structure
sheeting
a thin layer of water moving across a surface, also called a sheet flow
silt
a fine grained soil whose particles are .05 to .002 millimeters in diameter
soil
a natural material, formed of decomposed and disintegrated parent rock, that supports plant life
soil boring log
a graphic representation of the soils encountered in a test boring
solar zoning
an ordinance controlling the mass and shape of buildings, which permits the penetration of sunlight between buildings
split lot
a lot that comprises more than one zone
spot elevation
the exact elevation at a key point on the ground or on a structure
spot zoning
zoning that differs from the pattern of the surrounding area
subsidence
the sinking of land
surcharge
earth which is above the top of a retaining wall
swale
a graded flow path used in open drainage systems
transpiration
the process by which water vapor escapes into the atmosphere from plants
trench drain
a linear drainage device used to collect and conduct water
variance
the special permission granted to the owner of a parcel of land waiving certain specific restrictions when the enforcement of these would impose an unusual or unreasonable hardship on the owner
water cycle
the general pattern or movement of the water on, under, and above the earth. also called hydrologic cycle
wind shadow
the area near the bottom of the leeward side of a hill, where the wind velocity decreases to almost zero
zone
area established by a governing body for specific use, such as residential, commercial, or industrial use
zone of aeration
the zone below the ground in which spaces between soil grains contain both water and air
zone of saturation
the zone below the ground in which all of the spaces between soil grains are filled completely with water
zoning
the legal means whereby land use is regulated and controlled for the general welfare
zoning ordinance
exercise of police power by a government in regulating and controlling the character and use of property
Slope for: Storm Drains
0.3% min
Slope for: Sanitary Sewer
0.4% - 1.4% depending on pipe size
Slope for: Street drainage (surface)
0.5% minimum - rarely 0.25%
Slope for: Open land drainage (some ponding)
0.5% minimum
Slope for: Planted areas, large paved areas
1% minimum
Slope for: Drainage ditches, canals
2% minimum, 10% maximum
Slope for: Parking areas
5% maximum
Slope for: Automobile ramps - down (grade separations)
8% maximum
Slope for: paved walkways, sidewalks
10% maximum, 15% for short ramps
Slope for: Streets, paved drives
10% maximum, 17% for trucks in low gear
Slope for: lawns
25% maximum
Slope for: planted banks (unmowed)
50% maximum, depending on stability of soil
Grade Formula
g = v/h x 100
Hardpan
consolidated mixture of gravel, clay, and sand and a good foundation base for buildings
Gravel
granular rock pebbles from 1/4” to 3 1/2” good building foundation - permeable, good drainage
Sand
loose granular rock particles .002” to 1/4” good building foundation - permeable, good drainage
clay
fine grained, firm cohesive material formed from decomposition and hydration of certain rock. clay is plastic when wet and relatively hard when dry. relatively impervious, may swell when it absorbs water and shrink when it dries - least stable and predictable soil for buildings, requires careful investigations
