SITEPLANNING

&
LANDSCAPING

CHAPTER
ECOLOGICAL SITE
3 CONSIDERATIONS
An ecosystem is a complex system with many parts, both
and non-living. All parts of the system are important. If one
part of the system is removed, lots of other parts can be
affected

AR. MARCELINO ENALAS DUMPA, ASST. PROF

 COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of this topic the students will be able to learn ;
1. the practical applications on how to protect the
project site environment from pollution.
2. the basic knowledge of topography, slope and site
elevation.
3. the understanding of surficial geology with concern to
structure, composition and material stability.
4. the sun and wind orientation and influences in site
planning.
 DEFINITION

ECOLOGY e·col·o·gy /ēˈkäləjē/

• noun
1. The branch of biology that deals with the
relations of organisms to one another and to
their physical surroundings.
2. The political movement that seeks to
protect the environment, especially from
Pollution.
 3.1 INTRODUCTION
ECOLOGY
• a human science
• many practical applications of
ecology:
• conservation biology,
• wetland management,
• natural resource management
(agriculture and forestry),
• city planning (urban ecology),
• community health,
• Others
• For example, the Circles of
Sustainability approach treats ecology
more than the environment, not as
separate from humans.
• Organisms (including humans)
and resources compose ecosystems
which, in turn, maintain
biophysical feedback mechanisms that
processes on living (biotic) and non-
living (abiotic) components of the
planet.
• Ecosystems sustain life-supporting
functions and produce natural
capital like biomass production (food,
fuel, fiber and medicine), climate
regulation, erosion control and flood
protection.
 3.2 GROUND FORM
TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES
• Requires base information in the
form of contours and elevations
to a degree of accuracy from 2-
24% slope, appropriate to the
proposed development.
• TOPOGRAPHIC MAP:
provides a considerable amount
of information including
drainage patterns and problems,
potential on-site and off-site
views, erosion as potential for
development
VEGETATION
• Vegetation can modify the
climate by providing shade,
channeling summer breezes.
• The visual character and
spatial definition of a site –
ground cover to canopy, from
new growth to mature stands
of trees, etc
• enhances soil stability,
indication of soil conditions
(e.g., wetlands) and wildlife
habitats.
 3.3 SOIL & GEOLOGY
GEOLOGY AND SOILS:
• More explicit information may
be required from core drillings
and specific soil testing.
• It is important in terms of;
1. stability,
2. suitability for structural
foundations,
3. erosion susceptibility,
4. surface drainage, and
5. soil fertility to support
plant growth
SITE
• suitable for intensive
structural development
may be unsuitable for
recreational activities and
vice-versa.
• In geotechnical engineering
, bearing capacity is the
capacity of soil to support
the loads applied to the
ground.
SOILS: Eight (8) Properties of Soil;

• supply plants with nutrients

that are held in place by the 1. texture,
clay and humus content of 2. structure,
that soil.
3. density,
• For optimum plant growth,
the soil components by 4. porosity,
volume should be roughly be: 5. consistency,
a. 50% solids (45% mineral 6. temperature,
and 5% organic matter), 7. color, and
and
8. reactivity.
b. 50% voids of which half is
occupied by water and
half by gas.
 Mature Soil Profile
• Mature soil profiles
in temperate climate regions
typically include three basic
master horizons: A, B and C.
• The solum normally includes
the A and B horizons. The
living component of the soil
is largely confined to the
solum.
• In the more hot, humid,
climate of the tropics, a soil
may have only a single
horizon.
 Soil Texture
• determined by relative
proportions of sand, silt, and
clay in the soil.
• The addition of organic
matter, water, gases and time
causes the soil of a certain
texture to develop into a
larger soil structure called
an aggregate.
• can be described further in
terms of color, porosity,
consistency, reaction etc.
Four (4) Evolution of Soil,
• Water is the most
powerful due to its
involvement of the
materials of which a
soil is composed;
a. solution,
b. erosion,
c. transportation, and
d. deposition.
 3.4 WATER RESOURCES
• Hydrology and Drainage –
U.S. Geological Service or
Philippine hydro-geological
survey, quadrangle maps
provide a base of
information for flood data
and local flood maps.
• Surface hydrology : an
integral part of the slopes
and subsurface drainage
systems.
• 4 Kinds of information analyzed
to include determination of;
1. Watersheds (ridge lines and
valleys or drainage patterns),
2. Duration and volume of flow,
standing water, and flood plain
definition.
3. Susceptibility to erosion and
sedimentation to off-site water
flow.
4. Avoid disturbing natural
subsurface drainage patterns
such as high water tables which
have implications for structures
or excavations.
 3.5 MICRO-CLIMATE

• Microclimatic factors:
• Microclimate – a. topography,
Information on general
b. plants and vegetation,
climatic factors such as
seasonal temperature c. exposure to winds,
averages, amounts of elevation above sea
precipitation, etc. are level, and
available locally. d. relationships to
structural elements.
 There are Four (4) Basic Slope Forms

1. Straight
2. S – Shape
3. Concave
4. Convex
 3.6 ORIENTATION
The Sun: In hot climates;
• The main source of heat • Site planners use lot
orientation to avoid solar gains
in all homes. in the summer.
• Site Planners:can • Map out lots and roads, the
optimize the ff.: relationship between buildings
a. how much available and the sun be the key.
• Allow advantages of great
solar energy to heat a
views,
house, and
• Consider road design, lot lines,
b. how much heat be and orientation will influence
removed with air the way that houses face the
conditioning. sun.
In addition, some above code programs such as ENERGY STAR require Home
Energy Ratings Systems (HERS) be used. Technical information on the home
(including orientation and shading area) is entered into a computer
simulation program that generates a HERS score for the home.
3.6.1 Site Planning and Orientation
• If use, the sun's heat, a. TREES:
then has to reach • put in, might shade the
buildings when it is vital areas of the
useful. building.
• Generally, the sun b. COOL BREEZES
should be able to reach • if directed through a
the collection area at 9 building will help cool
a.m. as little and it.
interference as
possible.
Sketch showing how the
sun should have good
access to windows that
act as solar collectors.
c. DIRECT-GAIN SYSTEM

• The most straightforward

way to use the sun's energy
to warm a house through
correctly positioned and
carefully sized windows.
• The windows of living
rooms and, if possible,
bedrooms should face
towards the north.
• There is some latitude
anywhere between 30
degrees east or west of
north is acceptable
d. CLERESTORY e. "The SUN PORCH

• Clerestory windows in the • another passive solar

roof should be vertical in system which has
preference to sky domes tremendous potential for
and the like. many houses, flats and
• When renovating a units that becomes a solar
building, consideration collector.
should be given to moving • Another way of controlling
windows from the east and the summer heat would be
west sides to the north. external shutters or blinds.
The Sun Porch Concept.
 SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
• the soil capacity to
support the loads applied Ultimate bearing capacity:
to the ground. • the theoretical maximum
• The bearing capacity of pressure which can be
soil is the maximum supported without
average contact pressure failure;
between the foundation allowable bearing
and the soil which capacity is the ultimate
bearing capacity divided
should not produce
by a factor of safety.
shear failure in the soil.
 SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
• Sometimes, on soft soil There are three modes of
sites, large settlements failure that limit bearing
may occur under capacity:
loaded foundations a. general shear failure,
without actual shear b. local shear failure, and
failure occurring; in
such cases, the c. punching shear
allowable bearing failure.
capacity is based on
the maximum
allowable settlement.
 CHAPTER 3: ECOLOGICAL SITE
CONSIDERATIONS

THE END