NM Landscape key terms

A scaled drawing of existing site conditions-property lines, topography, utilities, roads, and structures-that serves as the foundation for inventory, analysis, and design drawings.

The systematic gathering and recording of physical, biological, cultural, and regulatory information about a site before analysis or design begins.

A mapping method that identifies the area visible from a chosen viewpoint, accounting for terrain and obstructions; used to protect views or screen undesirable ones.

A technique that maps land steepness by grouping contour-derived gradients into ranges, helping locate roads, buildings, paths, and areas needing erosion control.

A written statement of a project's goals, users, spaces, sizes, relationships, and performance requirements that guides planning and design decisions.

A client document inviting consultants to submit qualifications, approach, schedule, and fees for a described project; it defines scope and selection criteria.

A scheduling technique that identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks, showing which activities control the project completion date and where delays matter most.

A legal right to use another person's land for a specific purpose, such as utilities, access, or drainage, without owning the property.

An early evaluation of whether a proposed project can meet financial, regulatory, physical, and market constraints, often comparing alternatives before committing to design.

The first design phase, producing rough plans, sections, and diagrams that test program fit, circulation, and site relationships before details are resolved.

The central organizing idea or diagram of a design-such as a grid, axis, or cluster-that explains how major elements relate and guides later decisions.

The planned movement of pedestrians, vehicles, bicycles, and service equipment through a site, including paths, roads, intersections, and accessible routes.

A long-range framework drawing and document that sets land use, circulation, open space, and development intensity for a site or district, guiding phased implementation.

A local law dividing land into districts and regulating permitted uses, building height, setbacks, density, and other development standards.

A land development regulation that emphasizes the physical form of buildings and streets-such as frontage, height, and massing-rather than separating land uses.

A design approach that reduces crime opportunity through natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance of public spaces.

Designing environments and products so the widest possible range of people can use them without adaptation, including people with disabilities, older adults, and children.

Landscape design using drought-tolerant plants, efficient irrigation, soil improvement, and mulch to reduce water use while matching local climate conditions.

The final, coordinated drawings and specifications that legally describe what is to be built, forming the basis for bidding, permits, and construction contracts.

Written requirements describing materials, products, workmanship, and performance standards for a project, typically organized by construction trade or MasterFormat division.

A written modification to bidding documents issued before proposals or bids are due, clarifying or changing drawings and specifications for all bidders equally.

A written agreement signed by the owner and contractor that modifies the contract scope, price, or schedule after construction has begun.

A formal written question from the contractor seeking clarification of drawings or specifications during construction; the designer's answer is documented and may lead to a change order.

A contractor-prepared drawing showing fabrication, installation, or assembly details for a specific product, reviewed by the designer for conformance with the design concept.

A list of remaining defects or incomplete work identified near project completion that the contractor must correct before final acceptance and final payment.

The stage when the work is sufficiently complete for the owner to use it for its intended purpose, triggering warranty periods and reduced retainage.

Drawings marked by the contractor to show actual installed conditions, dimensions, and changes, then archived by the owner for future maintenance and renovations.

A line on a map connecting points of equal elevation; its spacing indicates steepness-closely spaced lines mean steep slopes, widely spaced lines mean gentle slopes.

A labeled point on a drawing giving the exact ground or finished grade elevation at that location, often used at building corners, inlets, and high or low points.

The process of removing earth (cut) and placing it elsewhere on site (fill) to achieve proposed grades; balancing the two minimizes hauling and cost.

The rate of rise or fall of a surface, expressed as a ratio, percentage, or angle; it governs drainage, accessibility, and stability of paths and slopes.

A shallow, vegetated channel that conveys and infiltrates stormwater, often following a contour and designed with gentle side slopes for mowing and stability.

A depression that temporarily stores stormwater runoff and releases it slowly, reducing peak flows and downstream flooding after a storm.

A shallow planted area with engineered soil and mulch that captures, filters, and infiltrates runoff, removing pollutants and reducing stormwater volume.

The elevation of the lowest inside surface of a pipe, culvert, or channel at a given point, used to calculate flow direction and hydraulic capacity.

A common stormwater calculation that estimates peak runoff as the product of rainfall intensity, drainage area, and a runoff coefficient representing surface imperviousness.