Landscaping On Site

Site Analysis
SITE
SITE INTRODUCTION
PLANNING
PLANNING
Site Planning is defined by Kevin Lynch as

the art of arranging structures on the
land and shaping the spaces between; an
art linked to architecture, engineering, landscape
architecture and city planning.
SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE
SITE INTRODUCTION
PLANNING
PLANNING
In site planning, as in other forms of problem-solving, the critical thinking
process of research, analysis and synthesis makes a major contribution to the
formation of design decisions.
Research material may be gathered from existing projects,

books photographs, or experiments. A program is then formulated
and the elements required to develop the project is listed.
Analysis of the site shall consider all existing features, both
natural and man-made in order to determine those inherent
qualities that give a site its personality. A topographical
analysis is mandatory. Emphasis should be made on the sites
relationship with the total environment and its special values
or potentials .

SITE
SITE INTRODUCTION
PLANNING
PLANNING
There are two methods of establishing a SITE :
1. SITE SELECTION PROCESS

This process selects from a list of potential sites one that suits best the
given use and requirements of the project .
2. DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY PROCESS

This process selects the best possible use and development suited for a
given site .

SITE
SITE INTRODUCTION
PLANNING
PLANNING
SITE ANALYSIS involves the study of the site in terms of the following :
Natural factors :
1. Geology
2. Geomorphology physiography, landforms, soils,
drainage, topography and slopes, and soil erosion
3. Hydrology surface and ground water
4. Vegetation plant ecology
5. Wildlife habitats
6. Climate solar orientation, wind, and humidity.

SITE
SITE INTRODUCTION
PLANNING
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SITE ANALYSIS
Cultural factors :
1. Existing land use ownership of adjacent property,
off-site nuisances
2. Traffic and transit vehicular and pedestrian
circulation on or adjacent to site
3. Density and zoning legal and regulatory controls
4. Socio-economic factors
5. Utilities sanitary, storm-water, water supply, power
supply, and communications.
6. Historic factors historic buildings, landmarks, and
archeology

SITE
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SITE ANALYSIS :
Aesthetic factors :
1. Natural features
2. Spatial patterns spaces and sequences
3. Visual Resources views and vistas

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THE NATURAL FACTORS

SITE
SITE THE NATURAL FACTORS
PLANNING
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GEOLOGY is the natural science that studies the Earth its
composition; the processes that shaped its surface; and its history.
Earth is made up of rocks (including soil, sand, silt and dust); rocks are composed
of minerals; minerals are made up of atoms :
Igneous Rocks formed through the cooling and solidification of
magma or lava. rocks produced by crystallization from a liquid.
THE NATURAL FACTORS

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GEOLOGY
Sedimentary Rocks are formed by the deposition of mud,

clay and other small particles on the surface of earth.

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GEOLOGY
Metamorphosed Rocks when sedimentary rocks are pushed to
deeper levels of the earth, they transform into metamorphosed rocks
due to changes in pressure and temperature .

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GEOMORPHOLOGY - is that branch of Geology that deals with the
origin, nature and distribution of landforms.
Physiography refers
to the description of
landforms.
Landforms are
irregularities on the earths
surface. They are derived
from volcanic, glacial, or
erosional processes.

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GEOMORPHOLOGY
When designing a piece of property for architectural, landscape architectural
and engineering usage, it is essential for the designer to first confront the
nature of the land, particularly its form, its slopes, and its inherent capabilities
for surface and subsurface discharge of water, for supporting vertical and
horizontal structures, and for resisting erosion. This exercise requires four
basic geomorphologic information such as :
Soil Properties Composition and Soil Texture

Drainage
Topography and Slopes
Soil Erosion

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GEOMORPHOLOGY
In site planning, it is important to establish the relationship between soil
composition and land uses (other than agriculture). Soil surveys help guide in
site selection for residential, industrial, and other forms of development that
involve surface and subsurface structures.
Several features, or properties, are used to describe soil for use in site
design. Of these ---
1. COMPOSITION
2. TEXTURE
are generally the most meaningful; from them we can make inferences about
bearing capacity, internal drainage, erodibility, and slope stability.

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GEOMORPHOLOGY
SOIL PROPERTIES:
1. COMPOSITION refers to the material that makes up soil:
mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air.

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GEOMORPHOLOGY
COMPOSITION:
a. Mineral Particles
comprise 50% to 80%
of the volume of the
soil and form the all
important skeletal
structure of the soil.
Sand and gravel
particles provide for the
greatest stability,
usually yield a relat-
ively high bearing
capacity,
Bearing capacity is a soils resistance to penetration
from a weighted object such as a building foundation.

COMPOSITION
BEARING CAPACITY FOR ROCK AND SOIL MATERIALS
Clas Material Allowable
s Bearing Value
(psf)
1 Massive crystalline bedrock, e.g. 200,000
granite, gneiss
Rock
2 Metamorphosed rock, e.g. schist, 80,000
slate
3 Sedimentary rocks, e.g. shale, 30,000
sandstone
4 Well compacted gravels and sands 20,000
5 Compact gravel, sand/gravel 12,000
mixtures
6 Soil Loose gravel, compact coarse sand 8,000
materials
7 Loose coarse sand; loose 6,000
sand/gravel mixtures, compact fine
sand, wet coarse sand
8 Loose fine sand, wet fine sand 4,000
9 Stiff clay (dry) 8,000
10 Medium-stiff clay 4,000
11 Soft clay 2,000
12 Fill, organic material, or silt (fixed by field
tests)
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GEOMORPHOLOGY
COMPOSITION:
b. Organic Matter varies radically in soils and usually imposes a
limitation to any building structure. Organic matter is important
only for soil fertility, moisture absorption and retention
and for landscaping.
c. Water content varies with particle sizes, local drainage,
topography and climate. Most water occupies the spaces between
particles; only in organic soils do the particles themselves actually
absorb measurable amounts of water.
d. Air is what occupies remaining space that is not occupied by
water. In layers where groundwater is formed by gravity water
in the subsoil and underlying rock, there is absence of air.

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GEOMORPHOLOGY
TEXTURE - is the term used to describe the composite sizes of particles

in a soil sample.

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GEOMORPHOLOGY
TEXTURE
There are 12 basic terms for texture, at the center of which is Class LOAM,
which is an intermediate mixture of 40% sand, 40% silt and 20% clay.
Sand Loam Clay

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GEOMORPHOLOGY
DRAINAGE:
GOOD DRAINAGE refers to the soils ability
to transfer gravity water downward through:
1. Infiltration - the rate at which water
penetrates the soil surface (usually
measured in cm or inches per hour);
2. Permeability - the rate at which water
within the soil moves through a given
volume of material (also measured in
cm or inches per hour)
3. Percolation - the rate at which water in
a soil pit or pipe within the soil is taken
up by the soil (used mainly in
wastewater absorption tests and
measured in inches per hour)
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GEOMORPHOLOGY
DRAINAGE:
POOR DRAINAGE - means that gravity
water is not readily transmitted by the soil
and soil is frequently or permanently
saturated and may have water standing on
it caused by :
1. The local accumulation of water ;
2. A rise in the level of groundwater within
the soil column;
3. The size of the particles in the soil
being too small to transmit infiltration
water.

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GEOMORPHOLOGY
TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES

SLOPE ANALYSIS -- Understanding slope forms for site design
requires understanding of local geologic, soil,
hydrologic, and vegetative conditions.

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GEOMORPHOLOGY

SLOPE FORM -- is expressed graphically in terms of a slope
profile, a silhouette of a slope drawn to known
proportions with distance on the horizontal axis
and elevation on the vertical axis
Four basic slope forms are detectable on contour maps:

straight S - shape concave convex

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GEOMORPHOLOGY

ANGLE OF REPOSE -- angle at which soil can be safely inclined
and beyond which it will fail.

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GEOMORPHOLOGY

TOPOGRAPHIC MAP a map
of a portion of the earth that
describes the shape of the
earths surface by contour lines.
7,000
6,000

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GEOMORPHOLOGY

TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
Contours are imaginary lines that
join points of equal elevation on the
surface of the land above or below a
reference surface such as the mean
sea level.
Contours make it possible to measure
the height of mountains, depth of the
ocean bottoms, and steepness of
slopes .
SITE PLANNING
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GEOMORPHOLOGY

SLOPE ANALYSIS -- is an important analytical process made on a
topographic map that makes a proper match between land uses and
slopes and produces an overall pattern of slopes which helps the site
planner in determining the buildable portions of the site.
The process involves breaking down of topography into grades which
will establish the desired patterns for a given land use as in the following
example :
SLOPE PATTERN for ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS
0 5% Generally flat Highly buildable
5 10% Gently rolling Moderately buildable
10 15% Gentle to mild slopes Moderately difficult to build
15 20% Mild to steep slopes Difficult to build
20% and over Harsh, steep slopes Unbuildable

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GEOMORPHOLOGY
SOIL EROSION when rocks are

broken down (weathered) into small
fragments, and carried by wind, water,
ice and gravity. Energy for this
process is solar and gravitational.
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GEOMORPHOLOGY
SOIL EROSION
PREVENTION
Four factors to consider in forecasting erosion rates:
vegetation soil type slope size and frequency and

inclination intensity of rainfall
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GEOMORPHOLOGY
SOIL EROSION
PREVENTION
1. Vegetation:
Foliage intercepts
raindrops
Organic litter on the
ground reduces
impact of raindrops
Roots bind together Cover density, in form of
aggregates of soil ground cover or tree
particles canopy, decreases soil
loss to runoff
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GEOMORPHOLOGY
SOIL EROSION
PREVENTION
2. Soil Type:
Intermediate
textures like sand
will usually yield
(erode) first
To erode clay, the
velocity of the runoff
should be high
enough to overcome
cohesive forces that Similarly, high velocities would be
bind the particles needed to move masses of pebbles
together and particles larger than those of
sand
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GEOMORPHOLOGY
SOIL EROSION
PREVENTION
3. Slope Size and Inclination:
The velocity of runoff is
closely related to the
slope of the ground
over which it flows.
Slopes that are both
steep and long produce
the greatest erosion Slope also influences the quantity
because they generate of runoff since long slopes collect
runoff that is high in more rainfall and thus generate a
velocity and mass. larger volume of runoff.
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GEOMORPHOLOGY
SOIL EROSION
PREVENTION
4. Frequency and Intensity of
Rainfall:
Intensive rainfalls produced
by thunderstorms promote
the highest rates of erosion.
Accordingly, the incidence of
storms plus total annual
rainfall can be a reliable
measure of the effectiveness
of rainfall in promoting soil
erosion.
SITE PLANNING
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HYDROLOGY the natural science that studies the Waters of the
Earth, their occurrence, circulation and distribution, their chemical
and physical properties, and their reaction to the living environment
including their relation to all living things.
Hydrologic cycle or
the planets water cycle,
described by the
movement of water from
the oceans to the
atmosphere to the
continents and back to
the sea .
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HYDROLOGY
Water table is the upper boundary of the zone of groundwater;

the top of unconfined aquifer .
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VEGETATION:
The relevance of Plant Materials in site planning is in their role in :
1. Climatic control
2. Environmental Engineering
3. Architectural and Aesthetic Uses

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VEGETATION:
1. Climatic control
a. Solar Radiation is Earths source of light and heat. It warms
the earths surface, is reflected by paving and other objects,
and produces glare.
Trees are one of the best controls for solar radiation because:
they block or filter sunlight;
they cool the air under their canopies providing natural air
conditioning;
Scientists have recorded that with an air temperature of 84deg F,
surface temp of a concrete paving was 108 deg, while surface temp
under shade trees were 20deg lower.

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VEGETATION:
1. Climatic control
b. Wind helps to control temperature. When winds are of low

velocity, they may be pleasant, but when velocity increases,
may cause discomfort or damage.
Trees help to buffer winds in urban areas caused by convection
and Venturi effects.
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VEGETATION:
1. Climatic control
c. Precipitation . Plants help to control precipitation reaching the

ground. By intercepting rain and slowing it down, they aid in
moisture retention, and in the prevention of soil erosion. They
also help soil retain water by providing shade, or protection
from the wind, or by water shedding function of trees roots.
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VEGETATION:
a. Air Purification Plants

clean air through the
process of photosynthesis
where they use up carbon
dioxide emissions of cars
and trucks and in the
process release oxygen into
the air.
Trees also help filter out other
pollutants, i.e. sulfur dioxide,
dust, pollen, and smoke.
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VEGETATION:
b. Noise To understand noise:
The sound level of normal conversation is about 60 decibels; a
plane taking off produces 120 decibels at a distance of 200 ft.
Sound energy usually spreads out and dissipates in transmission.
Sound waves can be absorbed, reflected or deflected.
Plants absorb sound waves through their leaves, branches,
twigs, especially those with thick fleshy leaves and thin petioles.
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VEGETATION:
b. Noise
Tree trunks deflect

sounds and it has
been estimated that
a 100 ft. depth of
forest can reduce
sound by 21
decibels.

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VEGETATION:
c. Glare and Reflection

Plants reduce glare and
reflection caused by sunlight.
A light source received
directly produces primary
glare while reflected light is
secondary glare. Plants may
be used to filter or block
glare by use of plants with
the appropriate size, shape,
and foliage density.
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VEGETATION:
d. Erosion Control Plants are a primary means of preventing

erosion from stormwater runoff and of controlling erosion during
construction. Erosion is also minimized by the plants action of
intercepting rain, decreasing splash, and increased water
absorption.

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VEGETATION:
d. Erosion Control
Vegetation with extensive
root systems imparts
stability to slopes.
On sandy slopes, the

presence of woody
vegetation can increase the
angle of repose by 10 to 15
degrees.
Vitiveria ziziainoides or
Vitiver Grass miracle grass
of amazing bio-engineering
capabilities.
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VEGETATION:
a. Space Definition Plants can help in several ways: as wall

elements to form outdoor spaces, as canopies to provide
shade, or as ground covers to provide color and texture on the
base plane.
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VEGETATION:
b. View Control While

trees and shrubs can
screen out objectionable
views, they can also
provide backdrops for
sculpture and fountains.
Additionally, they may

provide filtered views of
buildings or spaces, or
frame a view,
maximizing its effect.
c. Mood Plants affects peoples moods.

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WILDLIFE:
Wildlife relates closely to habitats provided by plant communities. The three
groups of habitat elements essential to the different species of wildlife are:
1. Openland Wildlife includes birds and mammals commonly associated

with crop fields, meadows, pastures, and non-forested lands. Habitat
elements essential for openland wildlife include:
a. Grain and seed crops
b. Grasses and legumes
c. Wild herbaceous upland plants
d. Hardwood woody plants
2. Woodland Wildlife These species need various combinations of:

a. Grasses and legumes
b. Wild herbaceous upland plants
c. Hardwood woody plants
d. Cone-bearing shrubs such as pines.
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WILDLIFE:
3. Wetland Wildlife wetland species include birds and mammals needing
habitats with:
a. Wetland food plants or wild herbaceous plants of moist to wet
sites, excluding submerged or floating aquatic plants;
b. Shallow water development with water impoundments not deeper
than 5 ft.;
c. Excavated ponds with ample supply of water at least one acre and
average 6ft depth.
d. streams

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CLIMATE:
Climates can be generally classified into four types: COLD, TEMPERATE,

HOT ARID and HOT HUMID. In each, a site should be investigated in terms of:
a. Solar orientation
for buildings;
b. The best facing

slopes; and
c. Wind flows for

breezes.

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CLIMATE:
Solar orientation
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CLIMATE:
Best facing slopes
Temperatures vary with elevation The more perpendicular a slope is

by about 3 deg for every 1000 ft. to the rays of the sun, the warmer
(300m) in the daytime. the surface temperature.
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CLIMATE:
Wind flows
Abrupt forms cause unpleasant Smooth forms induce smooth

air turbulence. flow of air.
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SITE PLANNING CONCEPT USING NATURAL FACTORS:
PASSIVE COOLING the technology of cooling spaces

through proper siting of structure and use of energy-efficient
materials, with the overall objective of energy conservation.
Solar Orientation
Altitude
Topography
Vegetation
Water Bodies
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THE CULTURAL FACTORS
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EXISTING LAND USE:
Land Use Plans are available in each city and municipality to determine the
areas for commercial, institutional, industrial, residential, and open space
uses. These were planned according to the most rational use of land in
relation to the natural and socio-economic factors, and in accordance with
compatibility with adjacent land uses.
Each site must conform to the land use plan: a residential subdivision, for
example, cannot be developed in a site designated as Industrial.
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TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT SYSTEMS:
The relationship of traffic pattern to each other and to the site must be
studied for adequacy of access and efficiency of circulation within and
outside of the site.
Efficient traffic and transportation systems will result in successful

integration of the different developments in the vicinity.
Direction of dominant traffic flow, both vehicular and pedestrian will also
help establish points of highest visual impact for the site.
Access must also consider pedestrian movement.
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DENSITY AND ZONING:
Density refers to the population per unit land area. This data will determine
whether existing utilities and land areas will be sufficient to sustain additional
future development, which will naturally add to the existing population and
bear on the capacity of these utilities.
Density is expressed in number of families or dwelling units per hectare.
Density influences the privacy, social contact among people, and freedom of
movement of an individual or a group of people.
Zoning regulations, laws and codes are present in every city and municipality
to regulate the type of development. It divides the city or municipality into land
use areas that are designated by building height, building coverage, density
of population, and open space.
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SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS:
The study of the community and its social and economic structures are done
to determine whether there is a need, an interest, or any objections on the
project.
Any proposed project must be compatible with the economy of the particular
community. For example, a high-end boutique is hardly suitable in a low-
income community.
The social structure of the community must be taken into consideration to
ensure that a proposed development will not result in any displaced families,
and any major disruption in their businesses and other activities.
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UTILITIES / SERVICES:
It is important to determine the existing availability of utilities on site in terms

of adequacy and efficiency. This includes:
Sanitary/sewage system
Electric power supply
Water supply
Drainage
Most water systems will supply domestic, industrial, and fire stand-by supply
from a distribution system. Storm drains collect surface water and conduct it
to rivers, creeks, or other bodies of water.
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HISTORIC FACTORS:
1. Historic Buildings
2. Historic Landmarks
3. Archeology
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THE AESTHETIC FACTORS
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NATURAL FEATURES:
When sites are

characterized by
outstanding natural
features of earth,
rock, water or plant
material, these may
be incorporated in the
site development as
natural assets of the
land.
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SPATIAL PATTERNS:
Spatial pattern is defined as the way an open space of a given site is

configured according to an arrangement of elements that evoke activity or
flow, both physically or visually.
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VISUAL RESOURCES:
1. View is a scene observed from a vantage point.
A view can be a theme that may The full view is not always
suggest and give added meaning the best view.
to buildings.
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VISUAL RESOURCES:
2. Vista is a confined view, usually directed toward a terminal or

dominant feature. It has three components: a viewing station, a view,
and a foreground.
A view is usually
better if enframed or
seen through an
appropriate screen.
SITE PLANNING

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Landscaping On Site

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Site Analysis

Site Planning is defined by Kevin Lynch as

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

Research material may be gathered from existing projects,

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

1. SITE SELECTION PROCESS

2. DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY PROCESS

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

THE NATURAL FACTORS

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

Sedimentary Rocks are formed by the deposition of mud,

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

Soil Properties Composition and Soil Texture

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

TEXTURE - is the term used to describe the composite sizes of particles

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

Sand Loam Clay

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES

Four basic slope forms are detectable on contour maps:

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES

TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SOIL EROSION when rocks are

vegetation soil type slope size and frequency and

Water table is the upper boundary of the zone of groundwater;

The relevance of Plant Materials in site planning is in their role in :

3. Architectural and Aesthetic Uses

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

b. Wind helps to control temperature. When winds are of low

c. Precipitation . Plants help to control precipitation reaching the

a. Air Purification Plants

Tree trunks deflect

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

c. Glare and Reflection

d. Erosion Control Plants are a primary means of preventing

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

On sandy slopes, the

a. Space Definition Plants can help in several ways: as wall

b. View Control While

Additionally, they may

c. Mood Plants affects peoples moods.

SITE PLANNING REVIEW

1. Openland Wildlife includes birds and mammals commonly associated