Description
Book SynopsisA complete guide to site grading for designers and other visual learners Grading With Design in Mind: Landscape Site Grading Principles is a comprehensive guide to grading, written specifically from the design perspective.
Table of ContentsPreface xi
1 Some Background on the Subject of Site Grading
Site Grading Informs Design 1
Let’s Begin 3
The Importance of Grading in Design 4
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words 6
Gaining an Essential Grasp of Site-Grading Concepts 7
What the Student Needs to Know about Site Grading 9
Professional Relationships 12
The Basic Structural Approach to This Book 13
2 Site Grading and the Legal Requirements
What Is Site Grading? 15
Avoiding Grading Problems in the Landscape 18
Encounters in the Field of Grading: Problems That Could Have Been Avoided 19
Site Grading in the Professional Practice of Landscape Architecture 21
Professional Registration to Practice Landscape Architecture 22
3 Site Planning and Grading Process
Introduction 27
The Design Process 28
Steps in the Design Process Continuum 28
Step 1. Background Research 28
Step 2. Site Analysis 30
Step 3. Program Analysis 36
Step 4. Land Use and Circulation Diagram 38
Step 5. Schematic Site Design 40
Step 6. Schematic Design Grading Plan 42
Preliminary Site Grading Plan 45
Design Development and Subsequent Phases in the Design Continuum 47
4 Drawing Conventions
Drawing Conventions: Landscape Drawings and Music Scores 49
Drafting and Representation 51
The Concept of Documentation Conventions in Music and Design 52
Following Drawing Conventions Prevents Miscommunication 56
Construction Documentation 57
Another Word about Scale 58
5 What Is Scale, Why Is It Important, and How Is It Used?
Scale: A Word of Several Meanings 61
The Need for Scaled Drawings 63
Site Grading Is Integral to the Phases of Design 64
Using and Choosing the Right Scale 65
Reference Plan and Match Lines 66
Architect’s and Engineer’s Scales 68
Topographic Maps Are Useful Preplanning Tools 69
Map Scales and Contour Intervals 72
Recognizing Landform Patterns 73
The Information Contained in Topographic Maps 74
U.S. Geological Survey and Scales of Other Countries 75
6 Where Are You?
The Language of Maps 77
How to Find and Locate Places in the Landscape, or: Where Am I? 78
Maps Serve a Variety of Purposes 82
Coordinate Systems 82
Latitude and Longitude: A Geographic Coordinate System 82
Referencing System for a Land Parcel 86
Licensed Land Surveyor 87
Locating a Building or Other Element on the Ground 88
7 Contours
Introduction 91
Reading the Landscape 92
Contour Lines: A Language for Two Dimensions 93
What the Landscape Would Look Like with Contours 94
Contours Explained 100
Slope in Plan and Section 104
8 Signature Landforms
Landform Signatures 109
Watershed Landform Signature 112
Putting It All Together 116
9 Calculating Slope and Other Grading Calculations: Tools for Gaining Mastery in Grading
Introducing Calculation of Slope 120
A Few Slope Conventions 122
Slope Equation: Primary Tool for Most Calculations Required in Grading 124
10 How to Calculate Spot Elevations
Introduction 139
When Are Spot Elevations Needed? 139
Where Spot Elevations Are Necessary 142
Overview for the Grading Conditions Discussion 150
How Spot Elevations Are Used by Contractors 151
How to Calculate a Spot Elevation 151
The Steps for Establishing Spot Elevations on a Sloping Surface 154
Using the Riser Height of Steps to Calculate Spot Elevations 156
Use of Spot Elevations in Grading Plans 156
Coordination of Spot Elevations with Other Elevation Conventions 157
How a Contractor Uses Spot Elevations Shown on a Grading Plan 159
From Schematic Design Plan to Grading Plan 160
11 Working with Contours: Creating Landforms with Design in Mind
Creating Landscapes Using Contours 164
Getting from the Site and the Design to Grading the Site 166
Contours Used to Show Landform 169
Creating Landforms for Programmed Uses 170
Contours Used to Show Surface Drainage 174
Paved Surfaces Water Flow 178
How to Create a Level Area on Sloping Ground 180
12 Signature Solutions
Introduction 185
Signature Grading Solutions 186
Creating a Simple Slope 186
Creating a Level Area on Sloping Ground 188
Signature Solution: Creating a Sloping Surface 189
Creating a Swale around a Level Surface to Direct Surface Water Flow Away from a Building or Activity Area 192
Creating a Drainage Swale 195
Creating a Watershed to Collect Surface Water 198
Catch Basin Design in Paved Area 199
Creating a Sculpted Landform 200
Creating a Detention Pond or Depression 203
Site-Grading Concepts for a Simple Residential Lot 204
Three Initial Site-Grading Strategies 204
Use of Spot Elevations and Contour Grading for a Tennis Court or Other Large Court-Game Surface 206
13 Detailed Grading with Slopes, Contours, and Spot Elevations
Introduction 211
Grading of Paved Surfaces: Walks and Ramps 212
Design Process for Grading a Pedestrian Ramp 213
Design Process for Grading a Bicycle Trail and Park Walkway 215
Integration of Walkway, Steps, and Seating Area 217
Grading Design Where Paved Area Meets Building Entrance Accessible by Stairs 218
Parking Lot Grading Design 218
Site-Grading Design in Lawn Area 222
Sculptural Landform Solutions in Lawn or Landscaped Areas 223
Some Final Examples of Using Spot Elevations and Contours in Site-Grading Design 225
Construction Sequence for a Bus Shelter 227
14 Storm and Surface Water Drainage Management
Introduction 231
Traditional Handling of Surface Storm Water 235
Contour Grading 236
Design Options for Handling Storm Water 239
Catch Basins 239
Canals and Swales 244
Roadside Drainage Swale 245
Aquifer Recharge 246
Retention Ponds 248
Water Detention Swale 250
Rain Garden and Related Water Storage or Absorption Strategies 253
Town Planning That Incorporates Sustainable Storm Water Management 255
15 Estimating Volume of Cut and Fill Using Contour Method
Cut and Fill Is the Process of Earth Moving. 257
Introduction to Estimating Earth-Moving Quantities 259
Contour Method for Estimating Cut and Fill 261
Other Methods of Estimating Earthwork Volumes 265
16 Professional Example of Site Grading by Design
Introduction 267
References 297
Index 298
