Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Site Planning Flashcards
7 cards from real BLArch Bachelor of Landscape Architecture practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Site Planning flashcards as text
In a USGS topographic map, contour lines that are spaced very close together indicate:
Answer: A steep slope with rapid elevation change
Closely spaced contour lines represent rapid elevation change over a short horizontal distance, indicating a steep slope.
Which factor is most critical when siting a bioretention cell (rain garden) relative to a building foundation?
Answer: Minimum horizontal setback to prevent infiltrating water from undermining the foundation
Bioretention cells must be located at least 10 feet (typically) from foundations to prevent infiltrated water from saturating soils and causing structural damage.
A 'program of requirements' document in site planning establishes:
Answer: The complete list of spatial needs, functional relationships, and performance criteria for a project
A program of requirements (or simply 'program') defines what spaces are needed, how large they should be, how they relate, and what performance standards they must meet.
When calculating floor area ratio (FAR), which of the following is correct?
Answer: FAR = total floor area of all building stories ÷ total lot area
FAR is computed by dividing the total gross floor area of all stories by the area of the parcel, expressing how much building mass is allowed relative to lot size.
Which type of retaining wall relies on the weight of its own mass to resist overturning and sliding?
Answer: Gravity retaining wall
Gravity retaining walls—including dry-laid stone and massive concrete walls—resist earth pressure through their own weight without relying on structural reinforcement.
In site planning, a 'level of service' (LOS) rating for a pedestrian pathway is primarily based on:
Answer: Pedestrian volume, density, and freedom of movement on the path
Pedestrian LOS (A through F) is assessed using flow rate, space per pedestrian, and the degree to which walkers can move at their desired speed without conflict.
A 'cross-section' drawing in site planning most effectively communicates:
Answer: Vertical relationships between grades, structures, and subsurface conditions along a cut plane
Cross-sections slice through the site vertically, showing the relationship between topography, proposed grades, building heights, and below-grade conditions at a specific location.