Site Analysis and Climatic Factors Effects in Residential

Building Design
Week 10-11

Source: Short Course on Environmental Planning DCERP & HUMEIN Phils. Inc.
 SITE
• Any area which has played a significant role in the history of
our country.
• Such significance may be:
• Historical
• Cultural
• Archaeological
• Sociological
• Scientific

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 SITE PLANNING

• SITE - A space or ground occupied or to be occupied by a

building or a concentration of building developments or
human activities that fall under the same land use category;

• Through site planning, a site is made suitable for building

purposes, human activities, or life sustaining processes;

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 SITE PLANNING
• A site for human activities (production and consumption) may be
divided into lots, street pattern, and provided with such facilities
as water, sewer, power, drainage, etc.
• Every site is a unique interconnected web of things and
activities that imposes limitations and offers possibilities.
• A SITE (“Project Area” or “Planning Area”) varies in size,
location and characteristics.

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 SITE PLANNING

“
The art of arranging structures on the land
and shaping the spaces between; an art
linked to architecture, engineering,
landscape architecture and city planning.”
„
- Site Planning by Kevin Lynch

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 SITE PLANNING
“
The art and science of arranging the uses of
portions of land. These uses are designated in
detail by selecting and analyzing sites, forming
land use plans, organizing vehicular and
pedestrian circulation, developing visual form
and material concepts, readjusting the existing
landforms by design grading, providing proper
drainage, and developing the construction
details necessary to carry out the projects
„
- A Guide to Site and Environmental Planning, 1980 by Harvey Rubenstein
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 SITE PLANNING
There are two methods of establishing a site:
1. Site Selection Process
• The process selects from a list of potential sites one that suits
best the given use and requirements of the project.

2. Development Suitability Process

• This process selects the best possible use and development
suited for a given site.

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 SITE PLANNING
A. NATURAL FACTORS

Geomorphology Land forms, soil properties (composition, soil texture,

bearing capacity, stability, erosion/ erodability, fertility)
Topography Elevation, slope
Hydrology Surface and ground water, drainage, aquifer recharge
areas, depth to seasonal water table
Geology Seismic Hazards, depth to bedrock
Climate Wind, solar orientation, humidity
Vegetation Plant communities, specimen trees, exotic invasive
species
Wildlife Endangered of threatened species and habitats
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 SITE PLANNING
B. CULTURAL FACTORS

Existing Land Use Ownership of adjacent property, off-site nuisances

Legal Land ownership, land use regulations, easements and
deed restrictions
Circulation Vehicular and pedestrian circulation on or adjacent to site,
traffic volume, street function (arterial, collector)
Density and Zoning Legal and regulatory controls
Socio-economic factors and sensory (noise, odor, visual quality)
Utilities Sanitary, storm-water, water supply, power supply, and
communications
History factors Historic buildings, landmarks, and archeology
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 SITE PLANNING
C. AESTHETIC FACTORS

Natural Features
Spatial Patterns Spaces and sequences
Visual Resources Views

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 Hydrology

Hydrology: the science that

studies the waters of the
earth, their occurrence,
circulation and distribution,
their chemical and physical
properties, and their reaction
to the living environment

•Intense rainfalls promote

highest rate of soil erosion

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 Hydrology
•Aquifer: permeable geological
stratum/formation that can both
store and transmit groundwater
in significant quantities
•Watershed: geographic area
of land bounded by topographic
features and height of land that
captures precipitation, filters &
stores waters to a shared
destination; this is important in
water quality and stormwater
management 12
 Climate
Four types: cold, temperate, hot arid
& hot humid.
Topography, surface materials, plant
cover, location of structures, and
presence/absence of water have
striking impact on the microclimate
Solar orientation
Best-facing slopes
Wind flows

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 Climate

Albedo: characteristic of a surface;

fraction of total radiant energy of a
given wavelength incident on a surface
reflected back by that surface
Passive Cooling: technology of cooling
spaces through proper siting of
structure and use of energy-efficient
materials, with the overall objective of
energy conservation
Climate and Green Building
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 Slope
Relatively Flat/ Level to Nearly Level 0-3%
Easy Grades 4-6%
Moderately Undulating to Steeply Sloping 7-14%
Steep 14-18%
Not alienable and disposable > 18%

Rolling to Hilly 18-30%

Hilly to Mountainous 30-50%

Mountainous & Excessively Steep 50% & up

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Slope & Structures

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 Slope and Angle of Repose

Angle of Repose: the maximum angle at which any earth

material can be safely inclined and beyond which it wall fall.

Soil Stabilization Techniques

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 Slope Analysis
An analytical process made on a topographic
map that produces an overall pattern of slopes,
to help the planner determine the best uses for
various portions of the site, along with the
feasibility of construction.

Slope Requirements* for various Land Uses

LAND USE MIN MAX OPTIMUM
Housing Sites 0% 20-25% 2%
Playgrounds 0.05% 2-3% 1%
Public Stairs - 50% 25%
Lawns (Mowed) - 25% 2-3%
Septic Drainfields 0% 15%
Paved Surfaces
Parking Lots 0.05% 3% 1%
Sidewalks 0% 10% 1%
Streets and Roads - 15-17% 1%
20 mph - 12%
70 mph - 4%
Industrial Sites
Factories 0% 3-4%

* RePqaurikreinmgentsvary 0.05% 3%
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VEGETATION
•Affects site’s microclimate
•Definition or visual screening of exterior spaces
•Absorption or dispersion of sound
•Can control erosion
Wind shadow
 Define space Direct views

Visual screen

Attenuate sound
Can control erosion: Vitiver grass- miracle grass of amazing
bio engineering capabilities
sun

•Solar radiation
•Natural light
wind

•air infiltration to
building

•Ventilation

•Lateral load of
structure
•The roof form and construction
•Presence and drainage of water on the site
•Choice of building materials

Moderately pitched

Flat roof Steeply pitched

 READING MATERIALS:

• National Building Code

• PD 957 and BP 220
• HLURB enhanced guidebook
• UDHA (RA 7279)
• Water Code (PD 1067)

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 REFERENCES:
• “Site Planning and Analysis” Retrieved from
http://www.rri.wvu.edu/webbook/mcbride/section3.html
• “Introduction to Site Planning” Muhammad Salaha Uddin, Khulna University of Engineering &
Technology. Retrieved from
http://www.kuet.ac.bd/webportal/ppmv2/uploads/1403705050lecture_01.pdf
• Rye, D.S. Lecture notes on Site Planning
• Cultural Attributes in Site Planning PPT
• Art of Site Planning PPT
• Ekistics Site Planning and Urban Design PPT by A. Cadavos
• “Site Planning” Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/xthianescala/site-planning-kevin-
lynch
• Ces Orquina. Settlements, Urban Design & Site Planning

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THANK YOU!

Source: Short Course on Environmental Planning DCERP & HUMEIN Phils. Inc.