Elements

Numerous elements go into a given site analysis. These elements include location, neighborhood
context, site and zoning, legal elements, natural physical features, man-made features, circulation,
utilities, sensory, human and cultural, and climate components. The following elements typically are
considered in most sites:

Site Planning

Site planning involves arranging structures on the land and shaping spaces between them. It is an art
linked to architecture, and city planning. The site plan locates objects and activities in space and time. It
may be concerned with a small cluster of houses, a single building and the surrounding space, or a small
community built in a single operation.

Environmental Factors

Environmental study for architectural design involves collection of data, reconnaissance survey, creative
ability and imagination, and the design of solutions to solve building problems.

When an architect is given a design assignment, there are many environmental factors that are to be
considered. The site is the major factor that has to be considered. Site means the area or the land that is
meant for the construction of the proposed project. Site Planning is the art and science of arranging the
various portions of a particular piece of land according to their uses. The site planner decides on the
uses of the site in detail by selecting and analyzing it for the various characteristics of soil, slope,
vegetation, etc.

The landscape involves the design of outside space. This should be thought about carefully to make an
architectural design complete. The climate at the location at the site is very important as it affects the
building that is to be constructed. Services such as water supply, drainage, sanitation, electricity, fire
protection, air-conditioning system, etc. also have to be considered in order to make an architectural
design complete.

Identification of site and its preparation

Each site has a unique nature of its own. The purpose for which it is to be used should be clearly
understood. Every site when disturbed takes time to experience the mutual adjustment of its elements.
For example, the flow of water creates a drainage pattern. Many factors are involved in the analysis of
the site. These include the factors above the ground, below the ground and on the ground, as discussed
in the following.
Natural Factors

Geology

Topography-slope analysis

Hydrography-streams, lakes, swamps

Soil – classification of types and uses

Vegetation

Wildlife

Climate factors – solar orientation, summer, winter winds, humidity, precipitation

Geology

The type of rock below the surface of soil, the depth, and the characteristic features of rock should be
identified. Such rocks could act as a foundation for many buildings. These are natural and could form
visible landforms. The stability of such geological formations is also important.

Topography

The form of land is called its topography. This is the most important factor to be analysed. Geology and
the slow process of natural erosion (soil being worn away because of wind or water) are responsible for
landforms and slopes. A topographic survey will reveal the badly drained areas and natural drainage
channels. It will be also reveal places that have good views and parts of the site that are visible or hidden
from any selected point outside the site. The slopes will decide the roads and paths; a steep slope will
increase building costs.

Hydrography

Hydrography provides information about all types of water bodies present in and around the site: lakes,
streams, any marshy land(swamps), or natural wells. It also reveals the availability or otherwise of a
groundwater table and the depth at which it is available.

Soil

The different types of soil present are analysed. Soil decides the stability of land, foundation, suitability,
excavation, erosion, drainage, and plant growth(as the top soil is essential for good plant growth). The
bearing capacity of soil is an important factor to be considered while locating buildings.

Vegetation
A study of vegetation helps in locating large existing trees, which can be retained. These can be used for
providing seating. The ecology of the area should also be examined to know what plants or shrubs
would grow in that area.

Wildlife

This is an important consideration when choosing sites for parks and recreation. Fishing and hunting are
major recreational activities. The selection of land suitable for such activities depends on natural wildlife
present in the area. Wildlife also adds form, colour and movement to the landscape.

One might also want to be informed about the wildlife present in the area to preserve it and not disturb
the animals natural habitats due to the construction.

Climatic Factors

Across a piece of land, the elevation difference, character of topography, vegetation cover, and water
bodies influence the climate of that area. On the other hand, precipitation and temperature are the
major factors affecting vegetation. In cool and temperate climates, vegetation may be used to block
winter winds.

Cultural Factors

Existing land use – ownership of adjacent property and off-site nuisance

Linkages

Traffic and transit-vehicular and pedestrian circulation on or adjacent to site.

Density and floor area ratio

Utilities – sanitation , water, gas, electricity, stormwater drainage.

Existing buildings

Historic factors – historic buildings and landmarks.

Existing land use

This implies a survey of the present status of the land-whether it is residential, commercial, industrial or
recreational. The ownership of the adjacent site will also affect the land being surveyed.

Offsite nuisances: Disturbances from outside and around the site have to be studied.
Visual nuisance elements: Power lines, water tower, certain industrial complexes, highways,
advertisement boards, junkyards(waste dumps), etc., are some examples of eye-sore elements that
have to be taken into account.

Possible auditory nuisance: Noise produced by heavy automobiles, trains, air traffic etc. and the
surrounding population has to be studied.

Olfactory nuisance: Dumps, chemicals, other wastes in and around the site have to be taken care of.

Safety Hazards: Severe or sudden changes in landform, such as a steep cliff at the edge of the site have
to be noted.

(Further discussions will be explained after basic informations..)

Location

The site should be related to major streets or landmarks previously existing. Aerial photographs help in
this assessment stage. There should be documentation of distances and time from major places. This
should be completed by either driving or walking the distance first-hand.

Neighborhood context

Zoning of the neighborhood is important and information of this type can typically be found at the
municipal planning department of the site. Numerous issues at this stage require direct observation.
Features of this sort include architectural patterns, street lighting, and condition of existing buildings.
This would also include the immediate surroundings of the site. The reaction of the surrounding
buildings towards the site and people moving around should be analysed. Other important components
of the neighborhood context include an analysis of existing paths (pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicle),
landmarks and nodes. Landmarks are distinctive sites that provide way-finding for people in the area,
and which define the character of a neighborhood. Nodes are key public gathering places that
encourage people to linger and socialize.

Site and zoning

Site boundaries can be located by either verifying the dimensions physically or contacting the county tax
assessor’s office. Zoning classifications, set-backs, height restrictions, allowable site coverage, uses, and
parking requirements are obtained by obtaining zoning classifications from a zoning map, which can be
located from the city planning department.

Infrastructure, social, and political boundaries.

Legal
Typical legal information can be obtained from the deed to the property. The deed is held by the owner
of the title insurance company. In the deed is information such as the property description, present
ownership, and the governmental jurisdiction the site is located in, and the city or county.

Natural physical features

Most of this information will be derived from the topographic features on the site. A contour map of this
magnitude can be located from the survey engineer. Drainage problems as well as existing natural
features of trees, ground cover, ground texture, and soil conditions on the site should be directly
observed.

Man made features

Features located on the site such as buildings, walls, fences, patios, plazas, bus stop shelters should be
noted. The site and location of such features should be directly measured. Documentation of existing
historical districts should be made, some of which may already have reports completed. Locating this
information can be done through the municipal planning department for the site.

Circulation:

The uses of streets, roads, alleys, sidewalks, and plazas are important in this inventory step. It is not
necessarily an analysis of these elements but more an analysis of what occurs on these circulation
gateways.

Utilities

Information for utilities concerning the site can be found through the utility departments and companies
in the local area. Generally, the company has a print of the drawing of this information needed.
Information in this print includes the location of all utilities and their locations around or on the site
itself.

Sensory

Much of the sensory information collected will be done through first hand experience. The information
is obtained from sketching and photographs (sometimes aerial photographs). Direct observation of
other sensory elements of noise, odors, smoke, and pollutant areas must also be completed.

Human and cultural

This information can be obtained through census statistics on the neighborhood. Information regarding
these statistics is available from the local municipal planning agency. This information includes activities
among people on the site and their relationships to these activities.

Climate

This information can be obtained through the local weather service or any third party services such as
Data Pot (httpd://datapot.io). Conditions such as rainfall, snowfall, humidity, and temperature over
months must be considered and analyzed. The sun-path and vertical sun angles throughout an entire
year are important to note.

See also
Architectural analytics

Site survey

References/Citations

Victor Olgyay, Design with Climate, bioclimatic approach to architectural regionalism, Princeton
University Press, 1963

Edward T. White, Site Analysis: Diagramming Information for Architectural Design, Architectural Media
Ltd, 1983

G.Z. Brown, Sun, Wind, and Light, architectural design strategies, John Wiley & Sons, 1985

http://wiki.naturalfrequency.com/wiki/Sun-Path_Diagram

M. DeKay & G.Z. Brown, Sun Wind & Light, architectural design strategies, 3rd ed. Wiley, 2014

Michele Leidi, Volumetric site analysis for the conceptualization of architecture in the urban context,
ETH-Zürich, 2014

J. Teller & S. Azar, Townscope II ‐ A computer system to support solar access decision making, Solar
Energy, p. 187–200, 2001

Andrew Marsh, The Interaction of Radiance and Ecotect, 2006