LA Landscape study plan

Map the full construction document set (cover sheet, general notes, layout/control plan, grading and drainage plan, planting plan, details, specifications) and state the purpose of each sheet type in your own words

Differentiate plan, section, elevation, and detail drawings by drafting one small sketch of each for a single site element such as a seat wall

Build a personal checklist of the ten most common CD coordination errors (dimension conflicts, missing north arrow, scale mismatch, callout gaps) and test it against a sample drawing set

Sequence the project delivery phases from schematic design through construction administration and note the deliverable produced at each phase

Draft a dimensioned detail of a typical paving edge condition showing base, subbase, edge restraint, and drainage slope

Compare three hardscape materials (unit pavers, poured concrete, decomposed granite) on cost, installation method, and maintenance

Explain how specification sections (Division 31 earthwork, Division 32 exteriors) align with the details shown on drawings

Identify the standard drawing conventions for spot elevations, slope arrows, and match lines

Calculate slope percentage between two spot elevations and convert between percent grade and ratio

Design a grading plan for a small lot that directs surface flow away from a building and into a bioswale, showing spot elevations and flow arrows

Compute runoff volume for a 1-acre site using the rational method with a given runoff coefficient and rainfall intensity

Compare conveyance and infiltration practices (swales, dry wells, detention basins, permeable pavement) by function and siting constraint

Apply the concept of a drainage divide and explain how it shapes which areas drain to which outfall

Assemble a site inventory checklist covering topography, soils, hydrology, vegetation, climate, and utilities

Interpret a soil textural triangle and a percolation test result to judge planting and infiltration suitability

Classify a plant list by water, light, and soil requirements and flag species that conflict with the site's conditions

Explain how soil compaction, pH, and organic matter affect establishment and what remediation each calls for

Read a topographic map to identify ridges, swales, and drainage patterns

Outline the construction administration workflow from pre-bid meeting through punch list and final payment

Explain the roles of the landscape architect, contractor, and owner in submittals, RFIs, change orders, and site observation

Draft a sample RFI and a sample change order response using correct professional tone and format

Detail a retaining wall or freestanding wall showing footing, drainage, reinforcement, and finish

Distinguish zoning terms (setback, lot coverage, floor area ratio, buffer yard) and apply them to a sample parcel

Explain how accessibility standards and local stormwater ordinances constrain site layout

Compare site planning approaches for a mixed-use, residential, and park program

Identify the professional practice obligations around contracts, liability, and standard of care

Explain how easements, right-of-way, and utility corridors affect buildable area

Write a graphic communication critique of one of your own earlier deliverables, identifying what a reviewer or client would misread

Draft a one-page design narrative that explains a site concept to a non-technical client

Identify cultural and environmental resources that trigger review (historic districts, wetlands, floodplains, habitat) and the typical review sequence

Explain how public participation and stakeholder input shape a site plan

Take two timed practice exams under test conditions and log every missed question by domain

Re-study your three weakest domains using the logs from weeks 1 through 7

Recite from memory the grading formula, the runoff calculation, and the CD sheet sequence

Review your own deliverables for factual errors and correct them