Site Analysis & Planning Flashcards

Which GIS data layer would a landscape architect most likely use to identify wetland boundaries during initial site analysis?

Answer: National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)

The USFWS National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) provides mapped wetland and deepwater habitat data, serving as a primary screening tool for wetland identification.

A project site has three distinct microclimate zones. The coolest zone is most likely located:

Answer: In low-lying areas where cold air settles

Cold air is denser than warm air and drains downslope to collect in low-lying depressions and valleys, creating frost pockets and cooler microclimates.

A site analysis reveals that a large portion of a property lies within a 100-year floodplain. The landscape architect should primarily:

Answer: Treat the floodplain as a constrained zone and integrate it as open space or stormwater feature

Floodplains provide important ecological and hydrological functions; best practice — and often regulation — requires treating them as constrained areas suited for open space, habitat, or stormwater management.

What is the primary purpose of a 'land use compatibility analysis' in site planning?

Answer: To assess whether proposed uses are appropriate given surrounding land uses and potential conflicts

Land use compatibility analysis evaluates how well a proposed project fits with neighboring uses, identifying potential conflicts such as noise, traffic, or incompatible activities.

A site's carrying capacity in an ecological planning context refers to:

Answer: The maximum level of use a site can sustain without significant ecological degradation

Ecological carrying capacity defines the upper limit of human use or development that a site can accommodate while maintaining its ecological integrity and function.

Which of the following best describes a 'transect' as used in site inventory and analysis?

Answer: A linear cross-section traversed to systematically record site conditions along a path

A transect is a measured line walked across a site along which vegetation, soils, topography, and other conditions are systematically recorded to characterize site variability.

When conducting a traffic impact analysis for a new park, the landscape architect is primarily concerned with:

Answer: Peak-hour vehicle trip generation and effects on adjacent road capacity

Traffic impact analyses focus on peak-hour trip generation rates and how increased vehicle volumes affect the level of service on adjacent streets and intersections.