LARE LARE Master Planning and Design 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The SITES v2 Rating System credits for 'Sustainable Sites' primarily evaluate:
- LEED building envelope performance
- Site ecology, water, soil, materials, and human health outcomes (Correct answer)
- International building code compliance
- Traffic level-of-service ratings
Correct answer: Site ecology, water, soil, materials, and human health outcomes
SITES v2 awards credits across site ecology, water, soil, materials, human health, and construction to certify sustainable landscape projects.
Question 2: A landscape architect is designing a bioswale in a master plan. Which design parameter is MOST critical to ensure it functions as intended?
- Plant species aesthetic quality
- Longitudinal slope and ponding depth relative to soil infiltration rate (Correct answer)
- Proximity to pedestrian pathways
- Selection of native versus non-native plants
Correct answer: Longitudinal slope and ponding depth relative to soil infiltration rate
Longitudinal slope controls flow velocity and ponding depth must match soil infiltration capacity to achieve targeted runoff volume reduction.
Question 3: Which term describes the process of restoring native plant communities to a disturbed site as part of a master plan?
- Remediation
- Revegetation (Correct answer)
- Mitigation
- Phytoremediation
Correct answer: Revegetation
Revegetation specifically refers to reestablishing plant cover on disturbed land, often using native species to restore ecological function.
Question 4: An urban heat island mitigation strategy within a master plan would MOST effectively include:
- Increasing impervious hardscape to reduce dust
- Expanding tree canopy cover and cool pavement materials (Correct answer)
- Raising building heights to create more shade
- Installing reflective metal fencing along site perimeter
Correct answer: Expanding tree canopy cover and cool pavement materials
Tree canopy intercepts solar radiation and cools air through evapotranspiration, while cool pavements reduce surface heat absorption.
Question 5: In a master plan for a coastal site, a 'living shoreline' approach differs from traditional hardened riprap by:
- Using only concrete seawalls with decorative facing
- Incorporating native marsh vegetation and oyster reefs to absorb wave energy naturally (Correct answer)
- Raising the bulkhead elevation to exceed 100-year flood levels
- Installing sheet pile walls with planted caps
Correct answer: Incorporating native marsh vegetation and oyster reefs to absorb wave energy naturally
Living shorelines use natural elements like marsh grass and shellfish reefs to dissipate wave energy while providing habitat and maintaining sediment dynamics.
Question 6: Which ecological concept guides the placement of wildlife corridors in a regional master plan?
- Edge effect maximization
- Island biogeography and habitat connectivity (Correct answer)
- Monoculture planting for visual continuity
- Grid-based land subdivision
Correct answer: Island biogeography and habitat connectivity
Island biogeography theory demonstrates that connected habitat patches support greater species diversity and allow wildlife movement between reserves.
Question 7: A master plan's 'green infrastructure' network differs from 'grey infrastructure' primarily because it:
- Uses only recycled construction materials
- Employs natural systems to provide services traditionally handled by engineered structures (Correct answer)
- Requires no ongoing maintenance after installation
- Is limited to parks and recreation areas
Correct answer: Employs natural systems to provide services traditionally handled by engineered structures
Green infrastructure uses ecological processes—wetlands, forests, soils—to manage stormwater, filter pollutants, and moderate climate alongside built systems.
LARE LARE Master Planning and Design 3
The SITES v2 Rating System credits for 'Sustainable Sites' primarily evaluate: