UGA Review

Question 1

Fen

Answer 1

A wetland that receives nutrients from groundwater and has non-acidic peats.

Question 2

Meadow

Answer 2

Periodically inundated wetland that may or may not have water present.

Question 3

Mangrove

Answer 3

Wetland associated with saltwater

Question 4

Riparian Forested Wetland

Answer 4

Associated with a river or stream

Question 5

Mildew

Answer 5

Fungal problem characterized by a white powdery growth on the tops and sometimes bottoms of leaves

Question 6

Leaf Spot

Answer 6

The appearance of dark brown spots on leaves in concentric zones of discoloration.

Question 7

Chlorosis

Answer 7

A plant condition caused by iron deficiency, either because iron is missing from the soil or because the iron is unavailable to the plant’s roots. May cause leaves to yellow while the veins remain green.

Question 8

Fasciation

Answer 8

Causes a single stem to appear if it were several stems fused together. Caused by frost, insect or physical damage to a stem early in plant development.

Question 9

When conducting analysis of vegetation onsite, the landscape architect should take the following into consideration:

Answer 9

Age of plant material
Health of plant material
Appearance of plant material
Adaptation of plant material to altered environment

Question 10

Conditional Zoning

Answer 10

A variance to a zoning constraint, which allows a use that would otherwise be restricted, in exchange for some guarantee or proffer made by a developer to the municipality.
For example: higher density is allowed on a parcel is open space will be developed at the same time.

Question 11

Demographics

Answer 11

The vital statistics and characteristics of human population

Question 12

Easement

Answer 12

Access rights to a portion of a piece of property for which the owner gives up his rights of development in order that another party (usually a government or a utility company) have use for specific purpose (i.e. a power line)

Question 13

Eminent Domain

Answer 13

Eminent domain, broadly understood, is the power of the state to seize private property without the owner’s consent. Historically, the most common uses of property taken my eminent domain are public facilities, highways, and railroads.

Question 14

Plat (plot, map, or chart)

Answer 14

A recordable document that gives form and detail substance to plan. A plat is prepared to legally document and record information about a parcel of land. It shows property ownership, existing utilities, property dimensions, reference points, bearings, existing buildings and services in and around the parcel.

Question 15

Proffer

Answer 15

A guarantee made by a developer or owner to provide some kind of service or amenity in exchange for municipal approval of the plan.

Question 16

Program

Answer 16

The goals and expectations for a project. The desired behaviors or activities that occur within the subject site, place or locale.

Question 17

Scenic Easement

Answer 17

A portion of land on one or both sides of a street that is dedicated to open space or landscaping.

Question 18

Setback

Answer 18

That required distance measured from the public right of way in which no private construction may encroach without prior approval from the municipality

Question 19

Take Down

Answer 19

A portion of land on one or both sides of a street that is dedicated to open space or landscaping

Question 20

Covenant

Answer 20

A written agreement relating to property documents such as deeds and leases. The concerned parties agree to perform or not to perform certain acts relating to the property.

Question 21

Conveyance

Answer 21

Legal process of transferring property from one owner to another

Question 22

Deed

Answer 22

A document signed between two people for transferring ownership of property from one person to the other. It contains a legal description of the property, names of the owners and the signature of the person transferring the property.

Question 23

Deed of Trust

Answer 23

Legal document transferring title of property to a third party. The third party holds the deed of trust until the debt is paid in full.

Question 24

Quit Claim Deed

Answer 24

Used for transfers between family members, gifts, to eliminate clouds on a title or in other unusual circumstances

Question 25

Transfer of Development Rights

Answer 25

A legal procedure by which the owner of a property can transfer the development rights of the property to someone else while retaining the ownership of the land. May be used to preserve green space.

Question 26

Right of Way

Answer 26

Legally granted access to or through a piece of property

Question 27

Wetland Banking

Answer 27

A term used to describe actions required to be taken on the part of developers to mitigate and replace the loss of wetlands. Through various federal and state regulations governing land use on wetlands, when impacts to wetlands cannot be avoided or minimized, wetlands must be replaced. The replacement process allows for the creation or restoration of any number of wetlands to provide replacement credit for future wetlands impacts or debits, i.e., reductions in existing wetlands. Consolidates the creation of smaller wetlands, transfers the responsibility of creating wetlands from the developer to others, and provides incentives for others to restore wetlands. (ecologydictionary.org)

Question 28

Scenic Easement

Answer 28

A legal means of protecting beautiful views and associated aesthetic quality along a site by restricting change in existing features without government approval. (www.asla.org/nonmembers/publicrelations/glossary.htm)

Question 29

Preservation Ordinance

Answer 29

A preservation ordinance is local legislation created to protect buildings and neighborhoods from destruction or thoughtless rehabilitation. In general, local laws are stronger than federal laws, so a local historic preservation ordinance provides the real defense against appropriate exterior remodeling and demolition within the historic district. Its special strength comes as the combined voice of residents, the majority of who agreed to use local laws as a tool to preserve the historic character of their homes, businesses, and streetscapes. Open discussion and debate of all affected by the process is crucial to its success. A preservation ordinance and debate of all affected by the process is crucial to its success. A preservation ordinance does such things as establish an objective and democratic process for designation historic properties, protect the integrity of designated historic properties within a design review requirement, and authorize design guidelines for new development within historic districts to ensure it is not destructive to the area’s historic character. Generally, a local preservation ordinance does not restrict the sale of the property, require improvements, changes, or restoration of the property, prevent new construction in historic areas, or require approval of interior alterations or ordinary maintenance. (preservationation.org)

Question 30

Height District

Answer 30

Establishes the maximum height, stories, and Floor Area for each zone

Question 31

Zoning

Answer 31

Determines land use, minimum lot size, lot dimensions, and setbacks

Question 32

Buildable Area

Answer 32

The lot area minus the required yard setbacks. Structures are only allowed in this area.

Question 33

Yard Setbacks

Answer 33

Designated areas for open space. The front yard and rear yard setbacks are generally fixed values, but side yard setbacks vary by the building height.

Question 34

Floor Area Ratio (FAR)

Answer 34

Sets the maximum square footage allowed, expressed as a ratio
3:1 means that for every square foot of buildable area, an owner may build up to three square feet of floor area.

Question 35

Comprehensive Community Master Plan

Answer 35

A general guide on how a community would like to develop in the future. These documents are not legally binding, but it may influence how a board or commission may vote on certain proposed developments.

Question 36

Zoning Map

Answer 36

Illustrates a city’s various districts by use and is used to control population density and growth characteristics. A zoning map typically shows permitted land uses and allowable densities of development.

Question 37

Zoning Ordinance

Answer 37

The written regulation and laws that explain allowed land use and densities allowed within specific areas of the city. May include specific information about uses such as off-street parking and setbacks

Question 38

Assessor’s Map

Answer 38

Typically used to locate buildings and land in order to establish their worth

Question 39

Regional Land Use Maps

Answer 39

Typically illustrate existing land uses and types, areas and types of proposed development

Question 40

Boundary Survey

Answer 40

The process of locating property lines by establishing property corners of a parcel for building permit purposes, or locating easement lines, or to resolve property disputes. Boundary surveys are made by traversing.

Question 41

Cadastral Surveys

Answer 41

Are made to resurvey or retrace the boundaries of municipalities and of state, federal jurisdictions and other public lands within the Public Land Survey Systems of the United States

Question 42

Geodetic Surveys

Answer 42

When surveys are of such wide extent that the curvature of the earth is a matter of importance, they are called geodetic surveys. They generally make use of a coordinate system to locate points on the earth.

Question 43

Metes and Bounds

Answer 43

This survey describes land by boundary dimensions and shape

Question 44

Record or As-Built Survey

Answer 44

For locating existing structures on a parcel of land a record or as-built survey is conducted

Question 45

Route Surveying

Answer 45

Route surveys are made to locate and construct linear routes and gradients such as roads, canals, pipelines and transmission lines

Question 46

Stadia Measurements

Answer 46

A way of determining a distance based on the height observation of a 6 ft object

Question 47

Subdivision Survey or Plat

Answer 47

Recording document that establishes property ownership, utility easements, and public rights of way.

Question 48

Topographic Surveys

Answer 48

Area made for the purposed of representing difference in elevation or relief of the earth’s surface on maps or models. The features shown include both man made as well as natural objects such as streams, lakes, roads, buildings, etc. The distinguishing characteristic of a topographic survey is that it results in a map, which shows not only the horizontal dimensions but also the third dimensions of space.

Question 49

Traversing

Answer 49

A survey technique that describes an area of land by means of a series of connected lines. A traverse may be either open or closed depending on what is being surveyed.

Question 50

Bench Marks

Answer 50

These are reference points of known height, above a sea level, and are used to determine the heights of other points for a given area; used for both horizontal and vertical controls.

• Ordinance bench marks: these are permanent bench marks established by the ordinance survey at a known height above the ordinance datum
• Temporary Bench Mark: these bench marks may take an arbitrary level as a reference point

Question 51

Horizontal Controls

Answer 51

In topographic surveying it is necessary to establish over the area a network of instrument stations from which all necessary details may be observed. This system of horizontal controls can be established by traverse or by triangulation.

Question 52

Vertical Controls

Answer 52

The vertical control consists of a system of benchmarks used to establish heights above average sea level.

Question 53

Quadrangle Markings

Answer 53

The red lines and numbers shown on topo maps. They are also known as cadastral coordinates or legal descriptions

Question 54

Quadrangle Maps

Answer 54

Show the topography of general wetland areas, lakes and streams, as well as township, range, and section information. Additionally, new construction since the last printing will generally be shown in purple.

Question 55

Azimuth

Answer 55

The horizontal direction of a celestial object, measured from the north or south point of the horizon.

Question 56

Elevation

Answer 56

The angel of the telescope with the horizontal.

Question 57

Foresighting

Answer 57

(relates to leveling) a process to determine elevation of an object. It is the vertical distance from the line of site to the object

Question 58

Backsighting

Answer 58

(relates to leveling) the vertical distance from the line of site to the bench mark. It helps check for accuracy during the process of leveling.

Question 59

Bearing

Answer 59

A unit of direction of a boundary line recorded by means of angular measurement in degrees, minutes and seconds. It is recorded by

(a) whole circle bearing: taking North as zero
(b) quandrantal bearings: dividing the whole circle into four quadrants of 90 degrees