I.C.

31 A Checklist of Site Data

A Checklist of Site Data

1. Initial personal reconnaissance notes, sketches, photos - 5. Ecology
apparent character, problems and possibilities. a. Dominant plant/animal communities –
2. Collation of existing data: base and contour maps, aerial location and relative stability
photos, geological soil and water surveys, climate b. Their dependence on existing factors, self-
records, ecological studies, engineering reports, borings, regulation, and sensitivity to change
census materials, histories, social studies market reports,
c. Mapping of general plant cover, including
traffic studies, legal and public control documents,
wood areas
official proposals, record of current controversies.
d. Specimen trees to be retained: their
3. Summary description of the off-site context and its
location, spread, species and elevation at
changes: geographic location, surrounding populations,
base
social and political structure, general economy,
ecological and hydrographic system, land use patterns, , 6. Man-made structures :
access system, principal off-site destinations and a. Existing buildings outline, location, floor,
facilities. elevations, type condition use
4. Data en the site and its immediate context: b. Circulation facilities (roads, paths, rails,
A. Physical data transit, etc.) location, capacity and
condition
1. Geology and soil:
c. Utilities (storm and sanitary sewers, water,
a. Underlying geology, rock character and
gas, electricity, telephone, steam, etc.)
depth
d. Location, elevation and capacity
b. Soil type and depth, value as an
engineering material and plant medium 7. Sensuous qualities:
c. Fill, ledge, slides, subsidence a. Character and relation of visual spaces
2. Water : b. View points, vistas, visual focal points
a. Existing water bodies - variation and c. Character and rhythm of visual sequences
purity d. Quality and variation of light, sound,
b. Natural and man-made drainage channels smell, feel
– flow capacity purity B. Cultural data
c. Surface drainage pattern, amount, 1. Resident and using population
blockages, undrained depressions a. Number and composition
d. Water table – elevation and fluctuation, b. Social structure and institutions
springs
c. Economic structure
e. Water supply – quantity and quality
d. Political structure
3. Topography:
e. Current changes and problems
a. Pattern of landforms
2. On-site and adjacent behavior settings: nature,
b. Contours location rhythm, stability, participants,
c. Slope analysis conflicts
d. Visibility analysis 3. Site values, rights, and restraints
e. Circulation analysis a. Ownerships, easements and other rights
f. Unique features b. Legal controls: zoning and other
4. Climate regu1ations
a. Regional data on variation of temperature, c. Economic values
precipitation, humidity, solar angle, d. Accepted territories
cloudiness, wind direction and force e. Politit1al jurisdictions
b. Local microclimates: warm and cool
slopes, air drainage, wind deflection and
local breeze, shade, heat deflection and 4. Past and future:
storage, plant indicators a. Site history and its traces
c. Sound levels, smell, atmospheric quality

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I.C.31 A Checklist of Site Data

b. Public and private intentions for future

use of site conflicts
5. Images
a. Group and individual identification and
organizations of the site
b. Meanings attached to site, symbolic
expression
c. Hopes, fears, wishes, preferences
i. Classification of site by areas of
similar structures, quality and
problems
ii. Identification of key points, lines and
areas
iii. Analysis of current and likely future
changes – the dynamic aspect of the
site
iv. Identification of significant problems
and possibilities

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