LARE Section 4 key terms

A drawing that uses spot elevations, contour lines, and slope callouts to show how the ground surface will be reshaped, drained, and tied to existing site conditions after construction.

A point-specific ground elevation marked on a plan, usually with a decimal value, used to fix critical locations such as door thresholds, walls, and drainage inlets where contours are too coarse.

A line on a plan connecting all points at the same elevation, whose spacing reveals steepness: closely spaced contours mean a steep slope, widely spaced contours mean a gentle slope.

The relationship between vertical rise and horizontal run, written as a ratio such as 1:12, meaning one unit of fall for every twelve units of horizontal distance, used to specify ramps and drainage grades.

The earthwork process of removing soil where the new grade is lower than existing grade and placing it where the new grade is higher, ideally balancing volumes on site to avoid importing or exporting soil.

The design condition where every paved and planted surface slopes toward an intended collection point, so water flows away from buildings and standing water is prevented rather than trapped.

A structure that holds back earth where a grade change is too steep or too space-limited for a planted slope, resisting lateral soil pressure through its own mass or through reinforcement and drainage.

A small opening in a retaining wall or below a paving edge that lets accumulated subsurface water escape, reducing hydrostatic pressure and preventing the wall from overturning or cracking.

A shallow, vegetated channel with gently sloping sides that conveys and slows stormwater across a site, allowing infiltration and filtration instead of piping runoff directly away.

A below-grade box with a grate at the surface that intercepts stormwater, traps sediment and debris, and connects to a storm drain pipe, commonly placed at low points in paving.

A trench backfilled with gravel and containing a perforated pipe that collects subsurface water and carries it away, often used to lower the water table behind walls or below turf.

A designed, vegetated stormwater channel that treats and conveys runoff using engineered soil and dense planting, slowing flow and removing pollutants while providing a linear landscape feature.

A shallow planted depression that captures runoff from roofs, walks, or paving and lets it infiltrate over one to two days, using soils and plants selected for both temporary ponding and drought.

Temporary storage of runoff in a basin, tank, or roof so it is released slowly at a controlled rate, reducing peak flows and downstream flooding after a storm.

Any material such as asphalt, concrete, or a roof that prevents rainfall from soaking into the ground, increasing runoff volume and speed and often triggering regulatory limits on site coverage.

A paving system with open joints, porous material, or gaps between units that lets water pass into a stone reservoir below, reducing runoff while requiring appropriate subgrade and maintenance.

The systematic recording of existing conditions such as topography, soils, vegetation, climate, views, and utilities, followed by interpretation of how those conditions constrain and suggest design opportunities.

The mapping of land steepness into categories, usually expressed as percent slope, to determine where building, paving, planting, or erosion control is feasible and where disturbance should be avoided.

Field or laboratory examination of a soil sample to determine texture, structure, pH, drainage rate, and bearing capacity, informing plant selection, foundation design, and infiltration feasibility.

The speed at which water moves downward through soil, measured in inches per hour, used to size infiltration practices and to judge whether a site can absorb stormwater on site.

The relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay particles in a soil, which govern drainage, water-holding capacity, and nutrient retention and determine how a soil behaves for planting and grading.

A polar chart showing the seasonal path of the sun across the sky for a given latitude, used to predict shadow patterns, solar exposure, and glare at different times of year.

The placement of buildings, outdoor spaces, and plants relative to compass direction and sun angles, so that winter sun is captured and harsh summer exposure is moderated.

The direction from which wind most frequently blows at a site during a given season, shaping comfort, ventilation, snow drifting, and the placement of windbreaks and outdoor rooms.

A row or belt of trees, shrubs, or built screens placed across the prevailing wind to reduce wind speed and protect outdoor spaces, crops, or buildings downwind.

The foundational drawing of existing site conditions, drawn to a stated scale and showing property lines, contours, structures, utilities, and vegetation, onto which all design layers are overlaid.

An early, diagrammatic drawing that tests organizing ideas, circulation, and the arrangement of program areas before detailed design, often using simple shapes and freehand notation.

A planning diagram of circles or blocks representing spaces and arrows representing required adjacencies and circulation, used to test functional relationships before committing to geometry.

The design phase following concept development in which the chosen scheme is refined into scaled plans, sections, and rough materials, establishing the project's scope and character.

The phase in which the approved schematic design is advanced with greater dimensional precision, material selection, and coordination with structural and mechanical systems before construction documents begin.

The final, contractually binding drawings and specifications that describe quantities, materials, dimensions, and installation requirements precisely enough for bidding and for building the work.

Written project requirements that accompany drawings, describing materials, products, execution, and quality standards in a standardized format that legally governs the work alongside the plans.

The ratio between a drawn distance and the real distance it represents, such as 1 inch equals 20 feet, chosen so that required detail is legible at the drawing's intended use.

A scaled drawing locating each plant by symbol, with a schedule or key giving species, size, spacing, and quantity, and coordinating planting with irrigation and lighting.

A table on or accompanying a planting plan that lists plant symbols, botanical and common names, size, quantity, spacing, and remarks, serving as the ordering and installation reference.

A vertical cut through the site or a construction assembly that shows heights, depths, and the relationship of built elements to grade and to each other, complementing the plan view.

An enlarged drawing of a specific assembly, such as a paving edge, wall footing, or tree pit, showing materials, dimensions, and connections at a scale large enough to build from.

The procurement phase in which contractors submit prices against completed documents or a selected contractor negotiates a contract, after which the owner awards the work.

The landscape architect's services during building, including submittal review, site observation, clarification of documents, and processing of pay applications and changes to keep work consistent with design intent.

A written modification to the contract that adjusts scope, price, or schedule after execution, requiring authorization and typically arising from unforeseen conditions or owner-directed revisions.

A formal written question from a contractor seeking clarification or missing information in the contract documents, answered by the design professional and logged to keep the record complete.

Product data, shop drawings, or samples sent by the contractor for the design professional's review to confirm that proposed materials and methods meet the requirements of the specifications.

A compiled list of incomplete or defective work identified near substantial completion, which the contractor must correct before final payment and final acceptance of the project.

The stage at which the work is sufficiently complete for the owner to occupy and use it for its intended purpose, triggering warranty periods and the punch list process.