SPD Quiz Flashcards
Uniform Soil Classification System
This system was developed in an attempt to inform engineers regarding the properties of a given soil. These properties include drainage potential, bearing capacity and erosion potential.
Drip Line
The drip line indicates the boundary of the trees outer roots. Minor cuts and fills near a tree should be made with stacked rock wall forming wells. This is an expensive solution, but allows for adequate moisture and air to circulate around the tree trunk.
The number of accessible parking spaces for a project depends on what?
The total number of spaces provided; the type of facility
Slope percentage
G (grade) = d (height) / L(length)
Alluvium
Soil, sand, mud deposited by flowing water
Bedrock
The most stable soil type
Humus
Soft dark soil containing decomposed organic matter, poor bearing capacity
Loam
Rich soil containing equal parts of sand, silt, and clay.
What factors affect a buildings plan orientation besides climate?
The buildings relationship to the street. The orientation of nearby structures. The aesthetics of the site.
Rome is an example of which of the following types of city planning?
Baroque Planning : The type of urban planning links important monuments, places, and views with broad radiating streets and avenues.
Cut and Fill
A method of grading used to create a level area on a sloped site. To cut is to remove soil; to fill is to add soil. Ideally, this type of grading should be limited in order to minimize the impact on a naturally occurring site.
Riparian Rights
Water rights: These water rights entitle a landowner whose property is adjacent to a river or other body of water the use of that water for various purposes including: irrigation, generating electricity, transportation, and fishing.
Angle of Repose
The greatest angle at which soil will lay without sliding. This angle varies with the size and shape of the soil grains.
Wale
A horizontal brace of steel or timber used to support sheathing, or other members such as concrete formwork.
Trenching
Creating shallow excavations used for pouring small footings and foundation walls, or to provide drainage of surface water.
Shoring
Temporary wood or steel bracing, usually set at an angled position, and used to hold walls in place.
Excavation
The removal of soil from its natural position to allow for construction below grade.
Underpinning
Providing additional support to an existing foundation by rebuilding or reinforcing.
Raker
A temporary diagonal brace used to support vertical sheeting against earth walls created by excavation.
Name two methods of reducing hydrostatic pressure on a foundation wall?
- Install a perforated pipe and backfill with a layer of gravel and soil.
- Install open web matting against the foundation wall prior to backfilling with gravel and soil.
Contour Interval
The vertical distance or change in elevation between sequential contour lines on a topo map.
City Beautiful Movement
Conceived as a reform movement it was championed by advocates such as Daniel Burnham who sought to improve the socially, morally, and physically decaying cities through beautification.
convex
Convex slopes occur when the distance between contour lines increases towards the top of the hill.
concave
Concave slopes occur when the distance between contour lines increases towards the base of the hill
What are ways of fighting erosion?
Proper Site Drainage: minimize impervious surface areas/ install water treatment areas
Native planting
Retaining Wall
Application of RipRap: rough stones of various sizes.
Core boring
By using a hollow drill bit, intact cylindrical soil samples including bedrock, are removed at a regular depth intervals. Reliable yet expensive
Test Pit
An open trench is dug. This allows for visual inspection of the soil, removal of intact samples, and identification of the depth of the water table.
Auger boring
A spiral, fluted drill is used to bring soil material to the surface. Because the bit can bit can be obstructed by rock it is most efficient in sand or clay.
Wash boring
Used to locate bedrock, this method involves forcing water through a pipe driven into the soil. The water forces the soil material to the surface.
Soil load
Determines bearing capacity by measuring the settlement of soil after applying incremental loads of soil on a platform erected on the site.
What determines roof gutter size?
The size of the roof area to be drained and the maximum recorded local rainfall
How is a parcel of land described?
It is described according to the property lines and boundaries. A metes and bounds survey identifies the length and compass orientation of each property line. It can also be described by its location within a township.
Sheepsfoot
A tampling-roller which has large teeth used to increase soil stability and bearing capacity. Used during the soil compaction process.
What are the three soil categories?
Coarse-grained soils, Fine-grained soils, Highly Organic Soils
Aquifer
A permeable stratum of soil material that allows the passage of water under ground and is the water source for wells.
Hydrology
The study of the occurrence, movement, and quality of water on a site. Concerned with water forms , drainage patterns, runoff, water table, and aquifer zones
Flume
An elevated artificial channel that carries fast moving water and is used to transport items such as logs, fish
Sheet Flow
Water that drains in a thin layer across a sloped surface, pavement, grass or landscape.
Weir
An embankment, levee or dam formed to hold a river or stream or divert a flow of water
Swale
A type of above ground drainage used to control runoff. A shallow, sloping, sometimes grassy depression incorporated into landscaping.
Name five ways to improve soil bearing capacity
Fill:
Compaction: usually or existing soil with a technique similar to compaction fill
Densification: use of heavy pounding piles,vibration or weights
Surcharging: adding fill to existing soil
Mixing: addition of soil or gravel
Well-Graded Soils
Has a good representation of all particle sizes, in proportionate quantities, from the largest to the smallest.
Uniformly-Graded Soils
Consists primarily of particles that are all approximately the same size.
Gap-Graded Soils
Consists of both large and small particles but the continuity of gradation is interrupted, typically by the absence of intermediate-size particles.
Proctor test
A test method used to determine the optimum relationship between moisture content and compaction of soil
Percolation test
A test method to determine the rate at which soil absorbs effluent. Used to asses the suitability of soil for a leachfield. This test measures the time it takes a water level to drop one inch in a test hole. Test holes can be made in several locations to determine the average condition.
The primary objectives of food pedestrian circulation design are ?
Safety, security, convenience, continuity, comfort, and attractiveness
Walks should not have a slope greater than?
1:20 or 5 percent
The incline of a curb ramp should not exceed ?
1:12 ; ramps should be a minimum of 3 feet wide and no longer than 30 feet in length
Land use development patrons are most frequently determines by?
Street systems. Road systems must be carefully adapted to the topo
Ridge vs valley
When contour lines represent a ridge they point in the direction of the down slope, and when they represent a valley they point in the direction of the upslope.
Auger Borings
They are designed to bring up soil samples by means of an ordinary 2- or 2-1/2 inch auger fastened to a long pipe or rod.
Wash Borings
Are useful in locating bed rock when the soil is to compat to use an auger. These Borings are made with a two to four inch diameter pipe that is driven into the soil and contains a smaller jet pipe through which water is forced.
Core Borings
Are more costly than most other methods, but they are the most reliable. They can penetrate through all materials, to great depths, and bring up complete cores of the material through which they pass.
Dry sample Borings
They utilize a drive pipe with a special split sampling pipe at the tip instead of a drill. The sampling pipe is driven down approximately five inches, then lifted out. And the contents removed and stored.
Specific gravity
To determine void ratio
Retention Pond
A holding pond or catch basin, prevents excessive storm water runoff on a site from over loading the storm sewer system by temporarily holding the water and releasing it at a controlled rate.
Bioswale
Construction that is designed to allow sediment to settle while water drains into the ground
Infiltration basin
Construction designed to retain storm water until it can seep into the ground
What is the recommended max slope for parking ?
5%
Max 2% for ADA
MIN 2%
Imageability
Study determines how existing buildings, streets, and public spaces contribute to the neighborhoods image
Proxemics
It deals with the issues of territoriality, spacing and positioning between people, and how the organization of the environment can affect these issues.
Where are utilities located?
Anywhere in the right of way
What is the width of a sidewalk?
5ft
According to ADA guidelines what is the maximum allowable vertical change of level on in accessible route without using a ramp for bevel?
1/4”
Standoff distance
The stand off distance is the space between a building and the potential location of a blast threat
Strength and stiffness of soil is reduced by earthquake shaking or other rapid loading
Strength and stiffness of soil is reduced by earthquake shaking or other rapid loading
What is the minimum flow velocity in a wastewater system?
Wastewater systems are located to provide gravity flow to treatment facilities or disposal locations. Grades are slopes to provide a velocity between 2.5 feet per second and 10 feet per second.
Wastewater systems are located to provide gravity flow to treatment facilities or disposal locations. Grades are slopes to provide a velocity between 2.5 feet per second and 10 feet per second.
50 feet/min – barely noticeable 50-100 feet/min – ideal 100-200 feet/min – pleasant but noticeable 200-300 feet/min – feels drafty \+300 feet/min – gusty and uncomfortable
An Architect must ensure that moisture doesn’t enter a building through the foundation. What type of coating would help to ensure that this doesn’t happen?
Bituminous coatings
Which term is defined as the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil divided by a factor of safety?
Ultimate bearing capacity is the theoretical maximum pressure which can be supported without failure.
Allowable bearing capacity is the ultimate bearing capacity divided by a factor of safety.
Gradation
A Dense gradation
A dense gradation refers to a sample that is approximately of equal amounts of various sizes of aggregate. By having a dense gradation, most of the air voids between the material are filled with particles. This results in the most stable soil.
Narrow gradation
Also known as uniform gradation, a narrow gradation is a sample that has aggregate of approximately the same size.
Gap gradation
A gap gradation refers to a sample with very little aggregate in the medium size range. This results in only coarse and fine aggregate.
Open gradation
An open gradation refers an aggregate sample with very little fine aggregate particles. This results in many air voids, because there are no fine particles to fill them.
Rich gradation
A rich gradation refers to a sample of aggregate with a high proportion of particles of small sizes.
There are 4 types of zoning in the United States: Euclidean, Performance, Form-based, and Incentive?
Euclidean zoning is characterized by the segregation of land uses into specific geographic districts which stipulate limitations on development activity within each type of district.
Performance zoning uses performance-based or goal-oriented criteria to establish review parameters for proposed development projects
Incentive zoning is intended to provide a reward-based system to encourage development that meets established urban development goals
Form-based zoning regulates the form that land use may take instead of type of land use.
Which term is defined as the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil divided by a factor of safety?
Allowable bearing capacity
meridian
A meridian (or line of longitude) is the half of an imaginary great circle on the Earth’s surface, terminated by the North Pole and the South Pole, connecting points of equal longitude. The position of a point along the meridian is given by its latitude
What is the minimum width for a two lane road designed for two way traffic?
24 ft
The maximum area of signage on the exterior of a building is regulated by who?
Zoning
What is the most efficient parking stall type ?
90 degrees
View plane restrictions are usually governed by ?
Zoning
What forces contribute to Lateral Loads?
Soil pressure, Hydrostatic Pressure, Lateral Soil Loads,
What is the ideal foundation soil?
Bedrock
What are the two types of organic soil
Peat, Topsoil
Must be cleared from the site and stored because building cannot bear on it (spongy)
Consolidation
Pressure acting on a soil causes the volume of the soil to decrease/ shrink
Silt
Not sticky when wet, liquefies when wet
Gravel
Generally stays the same under wet and dry conditions; friction
Clay
Brittle when dry, sticky when wet, plate-like shape, cohesive
Sand
Frictional
What is the EPA’s superfund?
Established to clean-up hazardous waste sites.
Brownfield
A building on a contaminated site
What is grubbing and clearing?
Removing existing stumps/trees to prepare site for construction
What is the angle of repose?
The steepest angle that the side of the excavated area can be before the soil backslides into the pit
What is a soldier beam?
Wide-flange beams driven into the soil (method of shoring)
What is lagging ?
Wood beams supported in between soldier beams
What are the types of spread footings?
Wall footing, column footing, slab on grade, combined footing, cantilevered footing, matt footing.
What does a grade beam do?
It braces one column footing to the next
What does a tie beam do?
It only tackles horizontal load, Grade beams can handle vertical loads.
How does shallow frost work?
It protects the footing by insulating through the earth to prevent the earth from freezing
How are caissons formed? How are piles formed?
The belled shape is drilled into the ground and filled with concrete. Piles are drilled into the ground
What are the two types of piles?
End bearing Piles, Friction Piles
Why would someone use helipiles or mini piles?
Shoring up an existing building would cause excess vibration associated with ramming piles would be a problem
Ramming noise would be a noise issue
Large amount of soil displacement is undesirable.
What are three reasons to underpin?
Building renovation makes the new building heavier
Existing foundation was never sufficient
Adjacent site work weakened my foundation
What are three ways to improve the foundation?
Extend the foundation to some deeper strata with more competent support
Make the foundation wider so that it rests on more soil
Improve the earth with imported fill or grout.
What are three types of foundation modifications?
Add new foundation footings under existing foundation
Add new piles /caissons under existing foundations
Add new mini piles under existing foundation- least intrusive
What are geotextiles?
To act as roots and replace what would be a short retaining wall
Filter fabric to protect fill from the intro of soil also as drainage mat for the same purpose.
Draped on a hill to limit erosion or as silt fencing
Alta/Acsm survey
Shows improvements, Easements, Rights of way, and other things impacting land ownership
What are the restrictions for Fire lanes?
Fire lanes have to be 20’ wide
They must be at least 10’ away from the building overhang for clearance for the ladders
There should be an outside turning radius of 54’ and inside radius of 30’
Must carry at least 35 tons
If you can reach 150’ around the building a fire lane is not necessary.
What are two ways to keep a basement dry?
Drainage and waterproofing
What is the maximum slope on which it is feasible to plant grass?
25%
What building parameters are controlled by zoning ?
Allowable uses, the amount of land covered by buildings, bulk of structures (air and light blockage ), setbacks, parking and loading
How deep should test borings be drilled ?
At least 20 feet into such strata
Which organizational pattern Forbes the basis of development in ancient, classical Rome?
Precinctual ; patterns allow growth in any direction and are generally flexible, compact, and efficient
At what point are breezes unbearable ?
250fpm …100fpm is comfortable
How large is an acre?
43,560 ft
What principles should be observed for underground utility locations ?
Wastewater should have first priority
Trunk or main lines should not be under major arteries
Trunk lines for multiple utilities should not be on the same street
The center of the street should be for waste water lines
Utility lines should be installed before a street is paved
What are the typical dimensions for water mains?
6” for typical residential
8” for high density
What is the typical spacing of fire hydrants ?
150 feet for high density districts
600 feet for suburban areas
Public water supply is not justified in what size areas ?
1,000 persons per square mile or less.
What is the spacing required for manholes ?
Every 500 ft or at the end of each line and change in direction.
A regions climate or microclimate is governed by ?
Topography, structures, exposure, ground cover, elevation, and water bodies
If wind velocity doubles what happens to the wind pressure ?
It increases fourthfold.
What is the minimum slope for underground drainage ?
0.3 percent
What are the two types of BMPS
Structural BMP include silt fences, sedimentation ponds, erosion control blankets, and temporary or permanent seeding
Non-structural BMPS include picking up trash, sweeping sidewalks
What is the primary purpose of erosion and sediment control ?
To protect surface waters
What are the objectives of permanent storm water controls ?
Reduce the volume and velocity of runoff
Reduction of the pollutants in the storm water that does leave your site
Townships and sections begin in what year ?
In 1785 by the US System of Surveying the Public Lands
Drain tiles in a septic field should be at what slope ?
1/24 inch per foot
What is included on a topo map?
Property lines, easements, utilities, natural features, streams, man made features, roads, buildings, contours indicating elevation
Which 2 of the following lighting types is most poorly suited for application in a cold climate?
Fluorescent
HID
What did the city beautiful moment focus on?
Civic centre, parks, and grand boulevards
