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EXAC EXAM 1 > 2. Site and Environment > Flashcards

2. Site and Environment Flashcards

Programming • Site and Environmental Analysis • Cost Management • Coordinating Engineering Systems • Schematic Design • Design Development

1
Q

According to CHOP, what is site evaluation?

A

Site evaluation is a pre-design service that looks at one or more sites and evaluates them in relation to the building program, budget, and construction schedule (should be billed as a separate service, whether done in pre-design OR schematic design)

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2
Q

List examples of environmental regulations in relation to site planning.

A
  • Water, sewer, recycling, solid waste disposal
  • Clean air requirements
  • Soil conservation
  • Protected areas, wetland, floodplains, coastal zones, wild and scenic areas
  • Fish and wildlife protection
  • Protection of archaeological resources
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3
Q

List examples of cultural regulations in relation to site planning.

A
  • Site history
  • Former site uses
  • Hazardous dumping
  • Landfill
  • Old foundations
  • Archaeological grounds
  • History of existing structures
  • Historic worth
  • Affiliations
  • Outline
  • Location
  • Floor elevations
  • Type
  • Condition
  • Use
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4
Q

List some exceptions or allowances made to the general requirements of a zoning ordinance.

A
  • Projections of architectural features such as roof overhangs, cornices, bay windows, and balconies
    accessory structures such as low-level decks, fences, and detached carports/garages
  • Precedents set by existing, neighbouring structures
    sloping roofs, chimneys, and other roof projections may be allowed to extend beyond the normal height limitation
  • Height limit may be directly related to the slope of the site
  • A reduction in the setback may be made for sloping sites
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5
Q

What are the primary objectives of sustainable site design (per RAIC)?

A

Sustainable site design involves two primary issues:
site location & site impacts.

Site location: to reduce and minimize negative impacts
Site impacts: reduce and minimize negative site impacts as a result of the site development and its buildings

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6
Q

What are the four main factors to consider in site location? (RAIC)

A
  1. The process for site selection
  2. Opportunities for urban development
  3. Opportunities for brownfield redevelopment
  4. Transportation
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7
Q

List some examples of negative environmental impacts on a site (RAIC)

A
  • Site disturbance
  • Erosion and sediment deposits
  • Water pollution
  • Loss of landscape
  • Creation of heat islands
  • Light pollution
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8
Q

What are the fundamentals principles of sustainable design? (RAIC)

A
  1. Include all stakeholders in the site selection process
  2. Sustainable site selection considers the impact of development on the local environment as well as the surroundings (high traffic area or polluted site) impact on the end users of the building
  3. Sustainable land use aims for developing a ‘complete community,’ range of lifestyles, incomes, and ages
  4. Land use considerations: planning for community energy, transportation, and ecological factors
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9
Q

List examples of site water systems management.

A
  • Use green roofs as an initial filter in the collection of rainwater and to minimize run-offs
  • Use soft or permeable surfaces instead of impervious ones
  • Use swales and retention ponds to facilitate natural infiltration
  • Redirect building stormwater and graywater to irrigate landscapes areas; do not use potable water for this use
  • Control and reduce offsite discharge of stormwater
    collect and store rainwater for use in toilets and urinals, irrigation, or for washing vehicles
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10
Q

In relation to site analysis, what do geotechnical engineering reports provide information on?

A
  • Existing subgrade conditions including soil quality, water table, and presence of buried materials which may inform:
  • Building location
  • Foundation design (size/ depth)
  • Foundation waterproofing measures
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11
Q

What are the two broad classes of soils, and which one is more stable?

A
  1. Coarse-grained (gravel, sand)
  2. Fine-grained (silt, clay)
  • Coarse grained soils are more stable as a foundation material than silt or clay
  • Clay soils tend to be unstable as the shrink and swell with the variation in moisture content
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12
Q

What is a geotechnical engineer’s soil profile?

A
  • A soil profile is a diagram of a vertical section that shows the soil layers/strata; info is gathered from a test pit or borehole
  • The stability and strength of the soil under loading (shear resistance and compressive strength) and presence of groundwater are detailed the report
  • For shearing strength on sloped sites, compact clay retains its strength when unconfined, whereas granular soils would require a confining force (retaining wall)
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13
Q

Sustainable design planning encourages “infill” development. What are the advantages of this?

A
  • Possible lower first cost (reusing existing infrastructure rather than creating new systems)
  • Less environmental impact (not disturbing an existing, undisturbed, natural open space)
  • Creating higher density development, which more efficiently uses the infrastructure
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14
Q

What is a Consultant? (CHOP)

A

Consultant: One from whom advice is sought. The requirements for licensing vary depending on the
professional field of activity.

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15
Q

What is an Engineer? (CHOP)

A

Engineer: A professional skilled in the design, development, and construction of physical works. To
practise or hold oneself out to the public as an engineer, the individual must be licensed under
provincial or territorial legislation

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16
Q

What is a Prime Consultant? (CHOP)

A

Prime Consultant: The consultant that is retained directly by the client for the provision of the main
part of professional services; these services usually include management and coordination of sub-consultants and other consultants engaged directly by the client or others.

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17
Q

What is a Sub-Consultant? (CHOP)

A

Sub-consultant: The consultant that is retained by (or under contract to) the prime consultant.

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18
Q

Who would be considered basic consultants that are most often engaged by the architect?

A

Structural, mechanical, and electrical engineer

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19
Q

Other than the basic consultants, name examples of other engineering consultants.

A 
Acoustical engineer
Civil engineer
Environmental engineer
Geotechnical engineer
Hydrological engineer
Process engineer
Seismic engineer
Traffic engineer
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20
Q

Who are specialist consultants and provide some examples.

A

Building projects often require specialist
consultants. Many specialist consultants are members of an association or may be certified to perform their services.

Examples:
Acoustical consultant
Building code consultant
Building envelope consultant
Conservation or Heritage architect
Cost consultant
Elevator consultant
Environmental consultant or ecologist
Interior designer
Land surveyor
Landscape architect
Lighting consultant
Quantity Surveyor
Specifications writer
Sustainability or LEED® Consultant
Transportation planner
Urban and regional planner
Value engineering consultant
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21
Q

Which RAIC documents would you use between architect and consultant?

A

RAIC Document Nine is recommended for an agreement with engineering consultants and other design professionals such as other architects, landscape architects, interior designers, and food service consultants.

Document Nine is not a “stand-alone” agreement and it is expected that the “prime agreement” (RAIC
Document Six or Seven), or alternatively the relevant portions of the prime agreement, be appended to it. This ensures that the consultants have a full understanding of the expected and required services.

22
Q

Define what a system is.

A

A system can be defined as an assembly of interrelated or interdependent parts forming a more complex and unified whole, service a common purpose. A building is the physical embodiment of a number of systems and subsystems that must be necessarily related, coordinated, and integrated with each other, as well as with the 3-Dimensional form and spatial organization of the building as a whole.

23
Q

What factors should be considered when designing various systems?

A

The following should be considered when designing various systems:
Performance requirements (compatibility, safety, control, life cycle assessments)
Aesthetic qualities
Regulatory constraints
Economic considerations
Environmental impact
Construction practices (tolerances, construction schedule, safety, industry standards, division of labor and work).
Model codes

24
Q

What is a site analysis?

A

A site analysis is the process of studying the contextual forces that influence how we might situate a building, layout and orient its spaces, shape and articulate its enclosure, and establish its relationship to the landscape.

Any site survey begins with the gathering of physical site data.

25
Q

What is a subsurface investigation?

A

A subsurface investigation involves the analysis and testing of soil disclosed by excavation of a test pit up to 10’ (3m) deep, or by deeper test borings in order to understand the structure of the soil, its shear resistance and compressive strength, its water content and permeability, and the expected extent and rate of consolidation under loading.

26
Q

What is the allowable bearing capacity of soil?

A

It is the maximum unit pressure a foundation is permitted to impose vertically or laterally on the soil mass.

27
Q

What can be permitted in lieu of a geotechnical investigation?

A

In the absence of geotechnical investigation and testing, building codes may permit the use of conservative load-bearing values for various soil classifications.

While high-bearing capacity soils present few problems, low-bearing capacity soils may dictate the use of a certain type of foundation and load distribution pattern, and ultimately, the form and layout of a building.

28
Q

What is a water table?

A

A water table is the level beneath which the soil is saturated with groundwater. Some building sites are subject to seasonal fluctuations.

Any groundwater present must be drained away from a foundation system to avoid reducing the bearing capacity of the soil and to minimize the possibility of water leaking into a basement.

29
Q

Describe various ground slope conditions between 5%-25% in terms of being able to be build on.

A
  • Ground slopes over 25% are subject to erosion and are difficult to build on.
  • Ground slopes over 10% are challenging to use for outdoor activities and are more expensive to build on. - Ground slopes from 5% to 10% are suitable for informal outdoor activities and can be built on without too much difficulty.
  • Ground slopes up to 5% are usable for most outdoor activities and are relatively easy to build on.
30
Q

What is passive solar heating?

A

Passive solar heating refers to using solar energy to heat the interior spaces of a building without relying on mechanical devices that require additional energy.

Passive solar systems rely instead of the natural heat transfer processes of conduction, convection and radiation for the collection, storage, distribution and control of solar energy.

31
Q

What are the two essential elements in every passive solar system?

A
  1. Equator-facing glass or transparent plastic for solar collection. Area of glazing should be 30%-50% of floor area in cold climates, and 15%-25% of floor area in temperate climates depending on average outdoor winter temperature and projected heat loss.
  2. A thermal mass for heat collection, storage, and distribution, oriented to receive maximum solar exposure. Thermal storage materials include brick, concrete, stone, tile, rammed earth, sand, water or other liquid.
32
Q

What are the three ways in which passive solar heating can be accomplished?

A
  1. Direct gain
    - Collects heat directly within an interior space
  2. Indirect gain
    - Controls heat gain at the exterior skin of a building. The absorbed solar energy moves through the wall by conduction and then to the space by radiation and convection
  3. Isolated gain
    - Collect and store solar radiation away from the space to be heated. As air or water in a collector is warmed by the sun, it rises to the served space or is stored in the thermal mass until needed. Simultaneously, cooler air or water is pulled from the bottom of thermal storage, creating a natural convection loop.
33
Q

What is a structural system of a building?

A

The structural system of a building is designed and constructed to support and transmit applied gravity and lateral loads safely to the ground without exceeding the allowable stresses in its members.

The superstructure is the vertical extension of a building above the foundation. Columns, beams and loadbearing walls support floor and roof structures.

The substructure is the underlying structure forming the foundation of a building.

34
Q

Name the five major categories of a structural system.

A
  1. Tensile structure
  2. Compressive structure
  3. Trusses
  4. Shear structure
  5. Bending structure
35
Q

Finish grades should be sloped to drain surface water away from a building at a ____% minimum, and ____% minimum for impervious surfaces.

A

5% minimum finish grade, 2% impervious surface

36
Q

What is a swale?

A

Swales are shallow depressions formed by the intersection of two ground slopes, designed to direct or divert the runoff of surface water.

37
Q

What are recommended surface drainage slopes for grass lawns and fields? Paved parking areas?

A

Grass lawns & fields: 1.5% to 10% recommended

Paved parking areas: 2% to 3%

38
Q

What is a drywell?

A

A drywell is a drainage pit lined with gravel or rubble to receive surface water and allow it to percolate away to absorbent earth underground.

39
Q

What is a catch basin?

A

A catch basin is a receptacle for the runoff of surface water. They have a basin or sump that retains heavy sediment before it can pass into an underground drainpipe.

40
Q

What is a culvert?

A

A culvert is a drain or channel passing under a road or walkway.

41
Q

What is a riprap (or gabion)?

A

A riprap is a layer of irregularly broken and random-sized stones placed on the slope of an embankment to prevent erosion.

The depth of layer should be greater than the maximum size of stone. Filter fabric or graded sand and gravel are underneath for drainage.

42
Q

What is a retaining wall?

A

A retaining wall is designed to resist the lateral pressure of the soil being retained. This active pressure increases proportionally from zero at the upper grade level to a maximum value at the lowest depth of the wall.

The total pressure may be assumed to be acting through the centroid of the triangular distribution pattern, one-third above the base of the wall.

43
Q

List 4 ways a project manager will ensure effective cost management.

A
  1. Initiate and control the preparation of cost
    information;
  2. Manage team members to ensure that the
    work stays within the agreed-upon budget;
  3. Set or adjust limits;
  4. Exercise maximum influence on decisions
    affecting costs.
44
Q

What is a Class D Estimate and describe its scope?

A

Functional Program

Prepared prior to commencement of the
design; based on the functional program and historic data; adjusted to take into account assumptions
regarding inflation, location, risk, quality, size and project timing; a rough order of magnitude.

Expected degree of accuracy: 20%

45
Q

What is a Class C Estimate and describe its scope?

A

Schematic Design

Prepared at an early stage in the project,
when drawings are preliminary in nature;
based on: type of construction; quantities of materials;
includes all assumptions or qualifications
to the estimate; includes a relatively large design contingency allowance which is used to provide for
changes in scope and because information is more limited.

Expected degree of accuracy: 15%

46
Q

What is a Class B Estimate and describe its scope?

A

Design Development

The estimating process is repeated when additional specification and drawing information becomes available, using an expanded format under the original headings; the reduction in uncertainty made possible
by better information from the design team allows for a reduced design contingency allowance.

Expected degree of accuracy: 10%.

47
Q

What is a Class A Estimate and describe its scope?

A

Construction Documentation

As the construction documents become more
complete, the process continues and the
contingency allowance is reduced further.

Expected degree of accuracy: 5%.

48
Q

Describe the elemental cost method.

A
  • Divides the building into major elements
    such as structure, exterior closure;
  • Uses these elements to provide a cost
    framework which is useful throughout the
    life of the project;
  • Is applicable to new or existing buildings;
    uses these elements to form the basis for
    applying relevant cost information from
    similar projects.
49
Q

What is the difference between construction budget and project budget?

A

Construction budget is the client’s budget for the construction cost including contingencies for cost
increases, whereas project budget is the client’s estimated total expenditure for the entire project. It includes, but is not limited to, the construction budget, professional fees, costs of land, rights of way, and all other costs to the client for the project.

50
Q

Describe the regulatory factors related to site planning and list a few examples.

A

Regulatory forces, such as zoning ordinances are regulations take into account existing land-use patterns and prescribe acceptable uses and activities for site as well as limit the size and shape of the building mass and where it may be located on the site

Examples:

  • Permitted uses
  • Minimum area
  • Height restrictions
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage (floor area ratio, % of coverage)
  • Open space requirements
  • Parking requirements
  • Minimum green space
  • Allowed building materials (design)
51
Q

Describe the physical factors related to site planning.

A
  • Microclimate
  • topography (adapt form and layout of building to site)
  • sun, wind, water
  • natural habitat (indigenous qualities of space)

EXAC EXAM 1 (15 decks)

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