Sustainable Design and Green Infrastructure 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 Sustainable Design and Green Infrastructure flashcards as text
What is the primary goal of Low Impact Development (LID) in landscape design?
Answer: Mimic natural hydrology by managing stormwater at the source
LID aims to mimic natural hydrology by managing stormwater at its source through infiltration, evapotranspiration, and reuse rather than rapid conveyance.
Which LEED credit category is most directly associated with landscape architecture's contribution to sustainable site design?
Answer: Sustainable Sites
The Sustainable Sites credit category in LEED directly addresses site ecology, stormwater management, heat island reduction, and landscape design practices.
What is a bioswale primarily designed to do?
Answer: Channel and filter stormwater runoff through vegetation and soil
Bioswales are vegetated channels designed to slow, filter, and infiltrate stormwater runoff, removing pollutants through biofiltration and sedimentation.
The concept of 'net-zero water' in sustainable design refers to:
Answer: Balancing water consumption with water harvesting and reuse on site
Net-zero water means the site balances its total water consumption with water captured and reused from rainfall and other on-site sources.
Which of the following best describes the urban heat island effect?
Answer: Higher temperatures in urban areas compared to surrounding rural areas due to heat-absorbing surfaces
The urban heat island effect occurs because dark, impervious urban surfaces absorb and re-emit solar radiation as heat, making cities significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas.
Which sustainable design principle involves modeling design solutions after natural systems and processes?
Answer: Biomimicry
Biomimicry is the design principle of modeling solutions after natural systems and processes, working with nature's strategies rather than against them.
In sustainable landscape design, what does the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) primarily certify?
Answer: Sustainable land development and management practices in the landscape
SITES is a comprehensive rating system developed to evaluate and certify sustainable land design and management practices, functioning as a landscape-focused equivalent to LEED.