PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN I: Site Planning and Landscape 1

Architecture
THDE-1 10:30AM – 12PM
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1. GEOLOGY
 Geologic processes affect the site, its
formation, and type of bedrock below
the soil. The type and depth of
bedrock, which is the consolidated rock
material lying at various depths below
the earth’s surface, determines the
adequacy of the site as a base for
foundations of structures.
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ROCK FORMATIONS • IGNEOUS – rocks produced by
crystallization
IGNEOUS
• SEDIMENTARY – when sediment piles up
and press together
• METAMORPHIC – when rocks transform
METAMORPHIC
due to changes in pressure and
SEDIMENTARY
temperature

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2. GEOMORPHOLOGY
 Deals with the origin, nature
and distribution of the
Landforms.

Landforms - a specific
geomorphic feature on the
surface of the earth, ranging
from large-scale features such
as plains and mountains to
minor features such as hills and
valleys.
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2. GEOMORPHOLOGY

4 GEOMORPHOLOGY
INFORMATION:
a. Soil properties
b. Topography and slopes
c. Drainage
d. Soil Erosion

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a) SOIL PROPERTIES
 Soil surveys
 Soil samples are taken from small pits or by Earth augers or boring
tubes.
 The distribution of the boulders and the depth to bedrock are
important features.
 Borings are usually taken at 15m intervals to depth at least 6m below
the bottom of the eventual foundations, or to the bedrock.

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a) SOIL PROPERTIES
1. Composition – mineral particle, sand and gravel particles,
organic matter, water, and air
2. Texture – describes the composite sizes of particles in a
soil sample. To measure soil texture, sand, silt and clay are
sorted out and weighed.

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GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS / SOIL BORING TESTS

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GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS / SOIL BORING TESTS

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b) TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES
 The topography of a landscape
is its shape. The terrain to the
right has cliffs, slopes, and
some flat areas.

 A topographic map can

represent the three-dimensional
shape of a landscape on a two-
dimensional surface.

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 Slope Map – an aid in determining the different slopes on
particular map
Vertical distance
Percentage of Slope =
Horizontal distance

% of slope = VD (100)
HD  Desirable Slope – when slopes
are selected according to
building type and the activities
associated with it.
 Slope influence the alignment of
modern roads according to
class of roads.
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b) TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES
 Slope Analysis – analytical
process made on a road or
topography map that makes a
proper match between land uses
and slope.

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 SLOPE ANALYSIS
 There are three types of slopes:
steep, moderate, and flat. The slope
of the site usually determines the use
and maintenance of the site. The
chart on the next slide gives the slope
in percentage and a description of
what may be done with it.

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 0 – 5% Generally Flat (Buildable/stable)

6 – 10% Gently Rolling (Moderately buildable)

11 – 15% Gentle to Mild Slopes (Auditorium)

16 – 20% Mild to Steep (Difficult/No building)

21 – over Harsh (Absolutely No building)

 The gradient for roads is 1% to 10%, with a maximum of 17%;

for pedestrians, 20% to 25%.
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b) TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES
 Slope forms – expressed graphically in terms of a slope
profile. A silhouette of a slope drawn to known proportions with
the distance on the horizontal axis and elevation on the vertical
axis.

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b) TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES
 Contours – imaginary lines that join points of equal elevation
on the surface of the land above or below a reference surface
such as mean sea level.

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 CONTOUR LINES
 Contour lines give the design potential of a
site. They affect the siting of all
construction and can be used and
manipulated to relate the site to its
surroundings or to relate one element to
another.

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c) DRAINAGE
 Soil’s ability to transfer water
downward through:
1. Infiltration
2. Permeability
3. Percolation

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c) DRAINAGE
 Poor drainage
 Gravity water is not readily
transferred by the soil
 Soil frequently/permanently
saturated

1. Local accumulation of water

2. Rise in the level of groundwater
within the soil column
3. The size of the particles are too
small to infiltrate
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 SOIL
 Our first consideration is the soil,
the pulverized mantle formed
from the rock and plants remains
by the action of weather and
organism. (Lynch, 1984)

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d) SOIL EROSION
 When rocks are broken
down (weathered into
small fragments and
carried by wind, ice and
gravity)
 Soil is frequently or
permanently saturated

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TYPES OF SOIL EROSION

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 Soil erosion Prevention
 Vegetation
 Organic litter on the ground reduces impact of raindrops
 Roots bind together aggregates of soil particles
 Cover density decreases soil loss to run off

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 Soil erosion Prevention
 Geotextiles

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 Soil type
 Described in all kinds of ways such as heavy, light, sandy,
clay, loam, poor or good. Soil scientists describe soil
types by how much sand, silt and clay are present.

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  Intermediate textures
 SAND is the largest particle in
the soil. When you rub it, it feels
rough. This is because it has
sharp edges. Sand doesn't hold
many nutrients.
 SILT is a soil particle whose size
is between sand and clay. Silt
feels smooth and powdery.
When wet it feels smooth but
not sticky.
 CLAY is the smallest of
particles. Clay is smooth when
dry and sticky when wet. Soils
high in clay content are called
heavy soils. Clay also can hold
a lot of nutrients, but doesn't let
air and water through it well.
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 Slope size and inclination

 Run-off velocity is closely related to the ground over which it

flows
 Slopes influence the gravity to run-off longer slopes
 Slopes under 4% seem flat, and usable for all kinds of
intense activity. Slopes between 4% and 10% are easy
grades, suitable for movements and informal activities.
Slope over 10% seem steep and can be actively used only
for hill sports or free play.

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 Slope size and inclination

 Steeper the land and the more impervious its soil, the more
quickly rain runs off its surface instead of seeping into the
ground.

 Frequency and Intensity of Rainfall

 Intensive rainfalls produced by thunderstorms promote the
highest rates of erosion

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3. WATER RESOURCE / HYDROLOGY
 Water bodies may constrain a possible
design or provide great opportunity to the
designer. These water bodies, such as
rivers, streams, lakes, creeks, marshes,
and drainage channels, must be recorded
and analyzed to determine its constraints
or opportunities.

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 Water table – the upper boundary of the zone
of groundwater and the top of uncontained
aquifer
 Aquifer – An aquifer is a body of saturated
rock through which water can easily move.
Aquifers must be both permeable and porous
and include such rock types as sandstone,
conglomerate, fractured limestone and
unconsolidated sand and gravel.
 Pumping wells - gets from the ground water
 Water Shed – a geographic area of land
bounded by topographic features and height
area of land that captures precipitation filters
and drains water to a shared destination
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4. CLIMATE
 Knowledge of the climate in an area may influence the design
of the structures and of the site. Climate may be subdivided
into three (3) categories:

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  Regional climate - climatic zones, temperature, amount of
rainfall, direction of prevailing winds, and wind velocities
 Local climate - topography of the site, altitude and exposure,
protection by neighboring land forms or wind breaks
 Microclimate - refers to the thick layer of air within a few feet
above the ground over a relatively small area and for short
periods of time. The term can also be used to refer to the areas
of space between buildings, valleys, and sheltered hollows.
 Climatological data is especially helpful when determining the
location and type of vegetation to be used in the development of
the project: trees may produce shade in areas where,
according to the sun path analysis, the sun will be at its
hottest.
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Satellite Configuration Axial Configuration Linear Configuration Organic Configuration

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