AR 303_Site Planning and Landscape Architecture

LECTURE NOTES (Arch. Eduardo F Bober, Jr.)

Topography and Site Grading

Site Understanding is IMPORTANT!

• Guide us in the understanding of existing conditions

• Guide our decision/s on placement of
building, parking, driveways, drainage, etc.
• Guide our decision/s on direction to take in
modifying terrain, i.e. cut and fill

TOPOGRAPHY

o Refers to any natural landscape/form or man-

made(artificial) feature or element on a
particular site or location

o Shown as a series of lines in plan’s view

(aerial view) or a particular shape in
elevation/section view (side view)

CONTOUR LINES

o Refers to the lines as shown in the plan; it

depicts a 3-dimensional element in 2-
dimensional form/media
o It is a series of imaginary lines connecting
points of equal elevation formed by the
sectioning of several horizontal planes
o Generally or eventually close on themselves;
any apparent break is merely a map limitation
o A series of “closed” contour lines within a
mapped area indicate either a localized hill or
a depression

CONTOUR LINES CHARACTERISTICS

• Spacing of the lines indicate general

steepness:

Closely spaced lines mean steep
slope

Farther distanced lines mean
 smoother slope

Irregular contour mean rough or rugged
form

Equally spaced lines mean uniform slope

CONTOUR INTERVAL

o Refers to the vertical distance between

successive lines, e.g. 10 meter contour intervals
are shown

DRAWING CROSS SECTIONS

1. Concave slope – space between contours

increases towards the lower ground
2. Convex slope – space between the contours
decreases towards the lower ground.
3. Uniform slope – if the ground has the same slope
throughout; contours are evenly spaced on the
map.

FORMS AS DEPICTED BY CONTOUR LINES

 Ridge – lines directed downwards into a side/both

sides
 Valley – lines directed inward from 2 sides
 Hill – lines in a circular manner, directed
downward on all sides
 Depression – lines in a circular manner, directed
downward in the interior

SLOPE

o Shows the relative inclination of a given area or

earth form
o It is a function of contour intervals and between
two contour lines.
o It can be expressed in:

Percent – 10%

Ratio – 4:1
 Ratio Notations: Civil – h:v or h/v
(e.g. 4:1)
 Ratio Notations: Arch – v:h or v/h (e.g. 1:4)

Degree – 100, 300
SLOPE CLASSIFICATION

By percentage

• 0 to 3 % - level, nearly level (flat to

walkable slope)
• 3 to 5% - gently sloping, usually 1
direction(noticeable slope)
• 5 to 8% - gently undulating and rolling, usually more than one direction
• 8 to 15% - moderately undulating and rolling
• Over 18% - very steep

CALCULATING DISTANCE FROM SLOPE INFORMATION

Distance between contours = (contour

interval/percentage of slope) x 100

Examples:

• Distance = (contour
interval/percentage of slope) x 100
• D = (2mts/4%) x 100 = 50 m

CLASS EXERCISE:

 Given the topographic map,

calculate distance if slopes are: 3%,
8%, 15%, and >18%
 Use the computed distance to generate the slope map from the topographic map
 Use color pencils to define the slope percentages

SITE GRADING OR EARTH MOVING

Grading or earth moving includes cut and fill of earth materials

It should consider the following:

• Changes in site configuration cost money

• Excavation costs money and can be expensive; hauling of earth (whether in or out of site) will cost
additional money
• Excessive grading affects natural drainage patterns and landscaping like roots of trees
• There is a need to consider limiting environmental impact, disruption or degradation
CUT AND FILL

 Cut area – refers to area where soil is removed

 Fill area – refers to area where soil is added
 Excavation – removal of soil
 Embankment – addition of soil

Modification should try to attain balance cut and fill, i.e. total amount of cut equals amount of fill materials.
This can be attained when facilities try to blend with natural setting, e.g.
• Building are sited parallel to contour, and/or match existing and adjacent properties;
• Driveways and roads are designed to be parallel or at slight angle only if required, 8% max if
perpendicular

SITE GRADING

The choice of the design strategy is impacted by:

• Drainage
• Aesthetics
• Disability and access requirements
• Design implications on buildings

At grade

With basement

Split type

GRADING STRATEGIES

SITE GRADING OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

SITE GRADING OF ROADS

GRADING VIS-À-VIS ROAD DESIGN

METHODS OF CALCULATING EARTH VOLUME (CUT AND FILL)

 Average End-Area Method

Used to calculate area of linear elements like roads

Average the area and multiply by the distance
 Contour (Plan) Method

Accurate for making final adjustments

Measure the total surface area of each contour for cut/fill
 Grid Method