Mixed Deck — All LARE Topics Flashcards

Which slope is considered the maximum practical limit for mowed lawn areas in landscape design?

Answer: 25%

Slopes up to 25% (approximately 14 degrees or 1:4 ratio) are generally considered the maximum for mowed lawn areas to maintain safe and effective mowing operations.

In landscape grading design, a 2% minimum slope away from building foundations is primarily intended to:

Answer: Ensure positive drainage that prevents water intrusion into structures

Positive drainage away from foundations at 2% minimum prevents water from pooling against structures and causing moisture damage.

Which design strategy best exemplifies the principle of ecological stewardship when managing stormwater on a large commercial site?

Answer: Creating bioretention cells and rain gardens to filter runoff on-site

Bioretention cells and rain gardens mimic natural hydrology by infiltrating and filtering stormwater on-site, reflecting ecological stewardship.

A landscape architect is designing a bio-retention basin (rain garden) with a bottom elevation of 95.0 ft. The overflow inlet is set at 97.5 ft and the basin perimeter berm top is at 98.0 ft. What is the maximum design ponding depth?

Answer: 2.5 ft

Maximum ponding depth = overflow inlet elevation − bottom elevation = 97.5 − 95.0 = 2.5 feet; water exits via overflow before reaching berm top.

Which approach does Low Impact Development (LID) primarily emphasize for managing stormwater?

Answer: Treating stormwater at the source through distributed, small-scale practices

LID emphasizes distributed, small-scale practices that manage runoff close to its source, mimicking pre-development hydrology.

Which soil amendment is most appropriate for improving the drainage of heavy clay soils in a landscape planting bed?

Answer: Coarse sand

Coarse sand, when added in sufficient quantity (at least 50% by volume), improves drainage in clay soils by increasing macropore space.

On a stormwater management plan, 'INV EL' notation refers to:

Answer: The invert elevation (inside bottom) of a pipe or structure

Invert elevation (INV EL) is the inside-bottom elevation of a pipe, catch basin, or manhole, critical for ensuring proper drainage flow.

Which GIS layer would be MOST critical when siting a new community park within a flood-prone municipality?

Answer: FEMA 100-year floodplain maps

FEMA 100-year floodplain maps identify regulated flood hazard areas that directly constrain building placement, grading, and infrastructure.

In open channel hydraulics, critical flow occurs when:

Answer: The Froude number equals 1.0

Critical flow occurs when the Froude number (Fr) equals 1.0, representing the transition between subcritical and supercritical flow.

A green roof is being considered for a commercial building. Which factor most significantly limits its stormwater retention capacity?

Answer: Substrate depth and composition

Substrate depth is the primary determinant of a green roof's water retention capacity, as deeper media holds more water through its pore space.

A 'cross-section' drawing is most useful for communicating:

Answer: Grade changes and vertical relationships through a cut plane

Cross-sections cut through the site at a specified line to reveal vertical grade relationships, slopes, and subsurface conditions that cannot be shown on a plan view.

A landscape architect is designing a rain garden on a residential lot with silty clay soils. Which modification is most appropriate to improve performance?

Answer: Amend native soil with compost and sand to improve infiltration

Amending heavy clay soils with compost and sand increases infiltration rates, which is essential for rain garden function.

The design principle of 'scale' in landscape architecture refers to:

Answer: The relationship between elements in the landscape and the human body or surrounding context

Scale describes how landscape elements relate in size to the human figure and to each other, creating spaces that feel intimate, monumental, or appropriately proportioned.

Under LARE scoring, what is a 'vignette' problem in the graphic sections?

Answer: A scaled drawing task completed within a test software environment

Vignettes are graphic design tasks where candidates use computerized drawing tools to complete a scaled site design within the LARE testing software.

What is the primary purpose of a punch list during project closeout?

Answer: To list remaining incomplete or deficient work items for contractor correction

A punch list identifies items that must be corrected or completed before the project achieves substantial completion.

When is a Request for Information (RFI) most appropriately used during construction?

Answer: When the contractor needs clarification on ambiguous or incomplete contract documents

An RFI is the contractor's formal mechanism to request clarification on unclear, conflicting, or missing information in the contract documents.

A landscape contractor submits a claim for additional compensation due to an owner-directed change. The claim includes overhead and profit. What percentage of overhead and profit is typically specified in AIA general conditions for owner-directed changes?

Answer: 10% overhead and 10% profit

AIA Document A201 typically allows contractors to add 10% for overhead and 10% for profit on the cost of changes to the work.

A landscape architect is conducting an inventory of a site with a seasonal high water table at 18 inches below grade. Which design approach is most appropriate for planting trees in this area?

Answer: Plant in raised berms or mounds

Planting in raised berms or mounds elevates the root zone above the seasonal high water table, preventing root suffocation in saturated soils.

Which contract provision typically addresses the contractor's obligation to maintain a safe work environment on a landscape construction site?

Answer: Safety and protection clause

The safety and protection clause outlines the contractor's responsibility to maintain safe working conditions and protect workers, the public, and adjacent properties.

On a grading plan, a designer places a spot elevation of 102.5 at a low point in a parking lot. The nearest catch basin rim elevation is 102.0. This condition will result in:

Answer: Ponding water at the low point

If the low point spot elevation (102.5) is higher than the catch basin rim (102.0), water cannot flow into the basin and will pond at the low point.