NM Landscape flashcards
NM Landscape · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- ALTA/NSPS survey
- A boundary and title survey standard that defines minimum accuracy and shows easements, utilities, improvements, and encumbrances; commonly required for real estate and development transactions.
- Contour interval
- The vertical distance between adjacent contour lines; selected so no more than about five to ten contours cross a feature, often one or two feet for site design.
- Critical root zone
- The soil area around a tree that contains roots essential for stability and uptake; a common rule is one foot of radius per inch of trunk diameter at breast height.
- Hydrologic soil group
- An NRCS classification from A to D describing infiltration capacity; group A sands infiltrate rapidly, while group D clays produce the most runoff.
- Solar altitude
- The angle of the sun above the horizon; summer solstice altitude equals 90 degrees minus latitude plus 23.4 degrees, and winter solstice subtracts 23.4 degrees.
- Wind rose
- A graphic showing wind frequency and speed by compass direction; used to place shelterbelts, orient outdoor spaces, and plan natural ventilation.
- Overlay mapping
- A site analysis method that stacks constraint layers such as slopes, soils, floodplains, and utilities; a weighted suitability score is the sum of weight times rating.
- Adjacency matrix
- A grid that scores the desired proximity or separation between program elements; results inform bubble diagrams and block plans.
- Critical path
- The longest chain of dependent activities in a schedule; it sets the minimum project duration and its activities have zero total float.
- Total float
- The amount of time an activity can slip without delaying project completion; calculated as late start minus early start or late finish minus early finish.
- Design-build
- A delivery method in which one entity holds a single contract for both design and construction, allowing overlap and faster delivery but less owner control.
- Accessible route slope
- Under ADA standards, running slope must not exceed 1:20 (5 percent) and cross slope must not exceed 1:48 (2.08 percent), with a clear width of at least 36 inches.
- Sight triangle
- A triangular area at driveways and intersections kept clear of walls, vegetation, and signs so drivers can see approaching traffic; leg length depends on approach speed.
- Floor area ratio
- Gross floor area divided by lot area, used in zoning to regulate building bulk and density independently of lot coverage.
- CPTED
- Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design; a set of principles including natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance to reduce opportunities for crime.
- Planting layer
- A design technique using canopy, understory, shrub, and groundcover strata to create depth, habitat, and visual interest while matching plants to site conditions.
- MasterFormat
- A CSI standard that organizes construction work into numbered divisions and sections; it structures specifications and is often used for cost codes.
- Three-part specification
- A specification section format with Part 1 General, Part 2 Products, and Part 3 Execution; it separates administrative requirements, materials, and installation procedures.
- Addendum
- A written modification to bidding documents issued before bid opening; it becomes part of the contract documents and must be acknowledged by bidders.
- RFI
- A request for information submitted by the contractor during construction; the designer's written response clarifies documents but does not change the contract unless a change order follows.
- Substantial completion
- The stage when work is sufficiently complete for the owner's intended use; it triggers warranties, the punch list, and often a reduction in retainage.
- Record drawings
- Drawings revised to show actual constructed conditions, based on contractor markup and field observation; they document the project for future maintenance and renovations.
- Contour line
- A line on a plan connecting points of equal elevation; close spacing indicates steep slopes, and V shapes point upstream along drainageways.
- Spot elevation
- A point elevation noted on a grading plan at critical locations such as inlets, building entrances, and corners to control drainage and construction.
- Cut and fill
- Earthwork calculation comparing excavated volume to placed fill; balancing the two minimizes haul, with shrinkage and swell factors adjusting volumes.
- Building pad slope
- Finished grade should slope at least 2 percent away from foundations for roughly 6 to 10 feet; walks should not exceed 5 percent.
- Swale longitudinal slope
- The grade along a drainage swale, typically 1 to 5 percent; steeper grades require check dams, riprap, or other erosion protection.
- Rational method
- A peak runoff formula, Q = CiA, where Q is cubic feet per second, C is the runoff coefficient, i is rainfall intensity in inches per hour, and A is area in acres.
- Time of concentration
- The travel time for runoff from the hydraulically most distant point to the outlet; it selects the rainfall intensity from an intensity-duration-frequency curve.
- Curve number
- An NRCS TR-55 parameter from 0 to 100 based on land use and hydrologic soil group; higher values indicate greater runoff potential.
- Detention basin
- A facility that temporarily stores stormwater and releases it at a controlled rate; a retention basin holds water permanently through infiltration or evaporation.
- Manning equation
- An open-channel flow formula, Q = (1.486/n) A R^(2/3) S^(1/2), where n is roughness, A is area, R is hydraulic radius, and S is slope.