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
The concept of 'carbon sequestration' in landscape design refers to:
Answer: The capture and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide by plants and soil
Carbon sequestration refers to the process by which plants absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and store it in biomass and soil organic matter, helping mitigate climate change.
Which hydrological parameter is commonly used to estimate stormwater runoff from a landscape site?
Answer: Runoff Curve Number (CN)
The Runoff Curve Number (CN), developed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, estimates stormwater runoff volume based on land cover type, hydrologic soil group, and antecedent moisture conditions.
Native plant species are preferred in sustainable landscape design primarily because they:
Answer: Are adapted to local climate and soils, requiring less water and supporting native wildlife
Native plants evolved with local climate, soils, insects, and wildlife over millennia, making them better adapted to local conditions, requiring less supplemental water and inputs, and supporting native pollinators and fauna.
What does 'life cycle assessment' (LCA) evaluate in sustainable materials selection?
Answer: The environmental impacts of a material from raw material extraction through end-of-life disposal
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive analysis of a material's environmental impacts across its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction through manufacturing, transportation, use, and end-of-life disposal.
Which of the following best describes 'adaptive management' in sustainable landscape practice?
Answer: A management approach that incorporates monitoring, evaluation, and strategy adjustment based on observed outcomes
Adaptive management is an iterative, science-based approach that involves monitoring landscape performance, evaluating outcomes against stated goals, and adjusting management strategies based on what is learned over time.
The 'triple bottom line' framework evaluates sustainable design projects based on:
Answer: Environmental performance, social equity, and economic viability
The triple bottom line framework — often summarized as 'people, planet, prosperity' — assesses projects simultaneously on environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic viability.
In sustainable landscape practice, what is the primary environmental advantage of using recycled or reclaimed materials?
Answer: They reduce demand for virgin resources and decrease embodied energy and carbon emissions
Recycled and reclaimed materials reduce the extraction of virgin natural resources and minimize the embodied energy and greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing new materials from raw inputs.