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NM Landscape practice questions

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Question 1Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

During a site inventory for a landscape renovation, which item is most important to locate and document because it can restrict planting depth and excavation?

  1. Seasonal flower bed locations
  2. Decorative garden benches
  3. Utility lines and easements Correct answer.
  4. Irrigation controller brand

Explanation

Utility lines and easements constrain excavation depth and planting locations, and damaging them creates safety, legal, and service risks. Benches, seasonal beds, and controller brands are inventory details but do not restrict digging.

Question 2Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

In landscape project management, what is the primary purpose of a written change order?

  1. To record daily weather conditions for the project file
  2. To advertise the finished project to prospective clients
  3. To document an approved scope or price change Correct answer.
  4. To replace all original contract documents and drawings

Explanation

A change order is the formal written record that the owner and contractor agree to alter the scope, price, or schedule after the original contract is signed. It protects both parties by documenting the approved modification and its cost or time impact.

Question 3Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

At project closeout, why does the landscape contractor submit as-built drawings to the owner?

  1. To calculate the final profit margin on the job
  2. To show the designer's original concept before construction
  3. To record actual installed locations and dimensions Correct answer.
  4. To list the crew members who worked on the project

Explanation

As-built drawings show the owner and future maintainers where improvements were actually installed, including deviations from the design. They support maintenance, future renovations, and record-keeping at closeout.

Question 4Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A planting plan specifies 12-inch on-center spacing for 4-inch perennial plugs in a rectangular bed measuring 12 feet by 30 feet. Using a simple grid takeoff, approximately how many plugs are required?

  1. 360 plugs Correct answer.
  2. 540 plugs
  3. 180 plugs
  4. 240 plugs

Explanation

At 12-inch on-center spacing, each plug occupies about one square foot in a simple grid. A 12-foot by 30-foot bed is 360 square feet, so approximately 360 plugs are needed before allowing for edge conditions or waste.

Question 5Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

When preparing a bid for a landscape installation, which document best defines the contractor's responsibilities and prevents disputes about work included?

  1. A verbal agreement with the general contractor
  2. The supplier's plant availability list
  3. The project plans and written specifications Correct answer.
  4. A photograph of a similar completed project

Explanation

Plans and written specifications define the scope, materials, installation standards, and site conditions that the bid is based on. Relying on verbal agreements, supplier lists, or photographs leaves responsibilities ambiguous and increases dispute risk.

Question 6Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

During site analysis, a landscape manager observes standing water in a proposed turf area after rain. Which action is the most appropriate first step before finalizing the grading plan?

  1. Install the turf immediately to absorb the water
  2. Increase the irrigation run time to dilute the standing water
  3. Check soil infiltration and existing drainage patterns Correct answer.
  4. Specify a larger pump for the irrigation system

Explanation

Standing water signals poor infiltration or drainage, so the first step is to verify soil conditions and existing drainage patterns before designing grading or drainage improvements. Increasing irrigation, adding a pump, or planting immediately would likely worsen the problem.

Question 7Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

In a landscape construction schedule, which activity should typically be completed before fine grading and planting?

  1. Mulching all planting beds
  2. Rough grading and subsurface drainage Correct answer.
  3. Pruning newly installed shade trees
  4. Final walkthrough with the owner and punch list

Explanation

Rough grading establishes the site's basic elevations and drainage, and subsurface drainage must be installed before fine grading and planting. Final walkthrough, mulching, and pruning occur later in the sequence.

Question 8Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A client requests a landscape project with many undefined design details and expects to pay the contractor for actual labor, materials, and an agreed markup. Which contract type fits this request?

  1. Time-and-materials contract Correct answer.
  2. Unit-price contract
  3. Lump-sum contract
  4. Design-build contract with a guaranteed maximum price

Explanation

A time-and-materials contract pays the contractor for actual labor and materials plus an agreed markup, which suits projects with undefined details. Lump-sum and unit-price contracts require more defined quantities or scope.

Question 9Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape contractor estimates direct job costs of $48,000. The company applies 12% overhead and 8% profit on direct costs. What is the total bid price?

  1. $60,000
  2. $52,800
  3. $51,840
  4. $57,600 Correct answer.

Explanation

Total bid price equals direct costs plus overhead and profit: $48,000 × 1.20 = $57,600, because 12% overhead plus 8% profit equals 20% applied to direct costs. The other figures apply different percentages or use a different base.

Question 10Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

Before crews begin excavation for a landscape retaining wall, which project management step best reduces the risk of a utility strike?

  1. Scheduling excavation during dry weather
  2. Posting warning signs around the site perimeter
  3. Reviewing utility locate marks before excavation Correct answer.
  4. Assigning the newest crew member to operate the trencher

Explanation

Reviewing utility locate marks and confirming them before excavation is the key control that prevents striking buried lines. Warning signs, weather, and crew assignments do not verify the location of utilities.

Question 11Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape site plan is drawn at a scale of 1 inch = 20 feet. A fence line measures 60 feet on the site. How long should the fence line be drawn on the plan?

  1. 6 inches
  2. 3 inches Correct answer.
  3. 12 inches
  4. 20 inches

Explanation

At a scale of 1 inch = 20 feet, divide the measured site distance by 20: 60 ÷ 20 = 3. The fence line should be drawn 3 inches long on the plan. This conversion is a basic base-mapping skill used during site inventory.

Question 12Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape inventory crew needs to record the existing canopy spread of a mature shade tree. Which field measurement is most appropriate?

  1. Measure the height from grade to the lowest live branch.
  2. Measure the distance from the trunk to the nearest property line.
  3. Measure the trunk circumference at 4.5 feet above grade.
  4. Measure the distance across the dripline in two perpendicular directions. Correct answer.

Explanation

Canopy spread is the width of the tree crown, so it is best estimated by measuring across the dripline in two perpendicular directions and averaging them. The other measurements describe trunk size, clearance, or setback rather than crown width.

Question 13Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

In landscape project management, what is the primary purpose of a punch list near substantial completion?

  1. To record daily weather conditions that may support a time extension.
  2. To calculate the contractor's overhead and profit markup.
  3. To identify incomplete or defective work that must be corrected before final acceptance. Correct answer.
  4. To document owner requests for additional work outside the contract.

Explanation

A punch list is compiled during the substantial-completion walkthrough and lists incomplete or deficient items that the contractor must correct before final acceptance and final payment. Additional work, markup, and weather records are handled through other project documents.

Question 14Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A 40-foot by 30-foot patio is to be regraded to drain at a 2% slope away from a building along its 30-foot dimension. How much elevation drop should be built across that 30-foot dimension?

  1. 0.5 foot
  2. 0.6 foot Correct answer.
  3. 0.75 foot
  4. 0.3 foot

Explanation

A 2% slope drops 0.02 foot for every 1 foot of run. Multiplying 0.02 by the 30-foot dimension gives 0.6 foot, or about 7.2 inches, of elevation drop. This positive slope directs surface water away from the building.

Question 15Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

Which soil-sampling procedure best produces a representative sample for a landscape planting bed?

  1. Collect samples only from areas where the existing plants are declining.
  2. Collect one sample from the center of the bed and submit it without mixing it with other samples.
  3. Collect only the top inch of soil from the highest point in the planting bed.
  4. Collect random subsamples at root-zone depth, mix them, and submit the composite. Correct answer.

Explanation

A composite sample made from several random subsamples at root-zone depth averages spatial variation across the bed and gives a more reliable laboratory result. Sampling one spot, only the surface, or only declining areas can bias the results.

Question 16Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape schedule shows Activity B has 3 days of total float. A supplier delay pushes Activity B by 4 days without changing any other logic or durations. What is the effect on the project completion date?

  1. The project completion date is delayed by 4 days.
  2. No effect, because Activity B still has float.
  3. The project completion date is delayed by 1 day. Correct answer.
  4. The project completion date is delayed by 7 days.

Explanation

Total float is the amount an activity can slip without delaying the project finish. The 4-day delay uses up the 3 days of float and extends the completion date by the remaining 1 day.

Question 17Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

Using the common tree-protection rule of 1 foot of critical-root-zone radius per inch of trunk diameter measured at 4.5 feet, what is the critical-root-zone radius for a tree with a 16-inch trunk diameter?

  1. 4 feet
  2. 8 feet
  3. 16 feet Correct answer.
  4. 32 feet

Explanation

The rule assigns 1 foot of radius for each inch of trunk diameter, so a 16-inch tree has a 16-foot critical-root-zone radius. This zone is protected from grade changes, compaction, and trenching during construction.

Question 18Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A 1.2-acre site receives a 2-inch rainfall. Assuming a runoff coefficient of 0.30, what is the approximate runoff volume in cubic feet?

  1. 29,040 cubic feet
  2. 1,308 cubic feet
  3. 2,614 cubic feet Correct answer.
  4. 8,712 cubic feet

Explanation

Convert the area to square feet: 1.2 × 43,560 = 52,272 square feet. Convert 2 inches to 0.1667 foot, multiply by the area to get 8,712 cubic feet of rainfall, then multiply by the 0.30 runoff coefficient to get about 2,614 cubic feet.

Question 19Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A client wants the landscape contractor involved during design to provide constructability and cost input and to hold a guaranteed maximum price. Which project delivery method best matches this request?

  1. Time-and-materials contract
  2. Construction manager at risk Correct answer.
  3. Lump-sum bid
  4. Design-bid-build

Explanation

Construction manager at risk brings the contractor into the project during design for preconstruction input and typically commits to a guaranteed maximum price. Design-bid-build separates design from bidding, while lump-sum and time-and-materials describe payment arrangements rather than this collaborative delivery method.

Question 20Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape manager is analyzing a proposed seating area and needs to document how winter afternoon shade from existing trees will affect comfort. Which inventory product is most directly useful?

  1. A utility locate plan showing buried lines
  2. A property survey showing easements and setbacks
  3. A soil texture and pH map
  4. A sun-and-shade study using solar paths and existing tree locations Correct answer.

Explanation

A sun-and-shade study models seasonal solar angles against existing tree canopies and structures, so it directly shows where winter afternoon shade will fall. Soil, utility, and boundary information does not address shade patterns.

Question 21Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

When compiling a base map for a landscape inventory, which source is generally the most reliable for locating existing property boundaries and recorded easements?

  1. A current ALTA/NSPS land title survey prepared by a licensed surveyor Correct answer.
  2. A hand-drawn site sketch provided by the property owner
  3. A public web mapping aerial photograph printed at the largest available scale
  4. A nursery availability list showing plant material sizes

Explanation

Property boundaries and recorded easements are legal descriptions, so the most reliable base-map source is a current boundary or ALTA/NSPS survey prepared by a licensed land surveyor. Web aerials and owner sketches may be useful for general orientation but can be distorted, outdated, or unverified, and a plant availability list contains no locational information.

Question 22Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

In landscape project management, which document establishes the contract sum, scope, schedule, and the contractor's authority to proceed with the work?

  1. A product submittal
  2. A request for information (RFI)
  3. The final punch list
  4. The executed owner-contractor agreement Correct answer.

Explanation

The owner-contractor agreement, once executed, establishes the contract sum, scope, schedule, and the contractor's authority to proceed. An RFI clarifies documents, a submittal verifies products, and a punch list records closeout corrections rather than authorizing the work.

Question 23Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

During an irrigation inventory of an existing landscape, which field measurement is required to calculate a zone's precipitation rate?

  1. The valve box manufacturer and model number
  2. Catch-can test results for the zone Correct answer.
  3. The controller programming schedule
  4. The backflow preventer's test tag

Explanation

Precipitation rate is calculated from the depth of water collected in catch cans over a measured run time, adjusted for head spacing and pattern. Valve and controller details identify equipment but do not measure how much water the zone applies, and a backflow test tag only records device testing.

Question 24Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape contractor is preparing a preliminary budget from a schematic design using costs per square foot of paving and per tree from a recently completed comparable project. Which estimating method is being used?

  1. Assembly estimate
  2. Unit-price estimate
  3. Detailed quantity takeoff
  4. Parametric estimate Correct answer.

Explanation

A parametric estimate uses a measurable project characteristic, such as cost per square foot or per tree, derived from comparable past projects. Unit-price and assembly estimates are built from measured quantities and component costs, while a detailed takeoff requires complete drawings and specifications.

Question 25Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

During construction, the owner's representative asks for clarification about a detail that is unclear in the planting plan. Which project communication should the contractor issue?

  1. A change order
  2. A certificate of substantial completion
  3. A request for information (RFI) Correct answer.
  4. A shop drawing submittal

Explanation

An RFI formally requests clarification or interpretation of contract documents and creates a written record of the answer. Change orders modify cost or time after a change is directed, while submittals and completion certificates serve different contractual purposes.

Question 26Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape installation schedule uses the critical path method. Which statement correctly describes an activity with zero total float?

  1. It can be delayed without affecting the project completion date
  2. It lies on the critical path Correct answer.
  3. It has the lowest direct cost of any activity
  4. It must be completed before any other activity can start

Explanation

Total float is the amount of time an activity can slip without delaying project completion. An activity with zero total float has no such leeway and therefore lies on the critical path; its cost and start relationships are not what define float.

Question 27Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape manager is analyzing solar exposure for a proposed outdoor seating area. Which inventory tool best records the pattern of sun and shade across a typical day?

  1. A catch-can irrigation test
  2. A soil penetrometer reading
  3. A solar pathfinder or sun-path chart Correct answer.
  4. A soil pH test kit

Explanation

A solar pathfinder or sun-path diagram records the sun's seasonal path and the obstruction profile, showing when a given point will be shaded. Soil tests measure compaction or chemistry, and catch cans measure irrigation application, not sun exposure.

Question 28Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

An owner wants one firm to hold a single contract responsible for both the design and construction of a landscape project. Which project delivery method fits this requirement?

  1. Construction management agency
  2. Design-build Correct answer.
  3. Design-bid-build
  4. Unit-price contracting

Explanation

In design-build, one entity holds a single contract for both design and construction, giving the owner one point of responsibility. Design-bid-build separates designer and contractor, CM agency provides management services only, and unit-price contracting is a payment method rather than a delivery system.

Question 29Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A site has 1,800 square feet of asphalt parking with a runoff coefficient of 0.90 and 2,200 square feet of lawn with a runoff coefficient of 0.25. What is the area-weighted composite runoff coefficient for the site?

  1. 0.48
  2. 0.54 Correct answer.
  3. 0.72
  4. 0.62

Explanation

The composite runoff coefficient is the area-weighted average: (1,800 × 0.90 + 2,200 × 0.25) ÷ 4,000 = (1,620 + 550) ÷ 4,000 = 0.5425, which rounds to 0.54. Simply averaging 0.90 and 0.25 would give 0.575, which is why area weighting is necessary.

Question 30Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape project is behind schedule because of a design ambiguity. The contractor proposes a value engineering change that would reduce cost but alter the design intent. Which action should the project manager take before implementing this change?

  1. Deduct the estimated savings from the next payment application
  2. Direct the crew to install the change and document it later
  3. Implement it immediately because reducing cost always benefits the owner
  4. Submit the proposal for owner and designer approval Correct answer.

Explanation

A value engineering change that alters design intent requires review and written acceptance by the owner, typically with designer concurrence, before work proceeds. Unilateral implementation or self-approved deductions breach the contract's change process and can leave the contractor liable for nonconforming work.

Question 31Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape inventory team must document the location and extent of invasive plant infestations across a 60-acre natural area. Which field method is most appropriate for this inventory task?

  1. Map only invasive species shown on the proposed planting plan
  2. Estimate infested acreage from memory after the site visit
  3. Record one GPS point per species at the main trailhead
  4. Delineate infested areas as GPS polygons with species notes Correct answer.

Explanation

Polygon mapping captures both the boundary and the area of each infestation, which supports later analysis and treatment pricing. Single points do not show extent, memory-based estimates are not defensible, and the planting plan is not an inventory source.

Question 32Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

In landscape construction administration, what is the purpose of a submittal?

  1. To record daily weather and labor hours for the contractor
  2. To request final payment from the owner after completion
  3. To transfer ownership of the site from the contractor to the owner
  4. To provide product data or shop drawings for designer review Correct answer.

Explanation

Submittals are the contractor's means of showing that proposed materials, products, or fabrication methods comply with the contract documents. The designer reviews them before installation so that substitutions or conflicts can be resolved.

Question 33Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape architect is analyzing a proposed overlook and needs to identify the areas of the site that will be visible from that point. Which analysis map should be prepared?

  1. A grading plan
  2. A utility plan
  3. A soils map
  4. A viewshed map Correct answer.

Explanation

A viewshed map calculates the area visible from a defined observation point and is the standard tool for visual analysis. Soils, utilities, and grading plans address other site resources and do not directly answer the visibility question.

Question 34Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

During a tree inventory for a landscape project, which observation is a standard part of a tree condition assessment?

  1. Depth of the paving base course near the trunk
  2. Crown dieback and structural defects Correct answer.
  3. Infiltration rate of the surrounding soil
  4. Irrigation emitter spacing at the tree pit

Explanation

Tree condition assessments commonly rate crown vigor, dieback, and structural defects such as cavities or included bark. Irrigation spacing, paving base depth, and soil infiltration are separate site or construction measurements.

Question 35Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape contractor encounters unforeseen rock excavation that was not shown in the contract documents. The owner agrees to additional compensation. Which document formally authorizes this change to scope, price, and time?

  1. A submittal
  2. A lien waiver
  3. A request for information
  4. A change order Correct answer.

Explanation

A change order is the written instrument that modifies the contract scope, price, or schedule after both parties agree. Submittals, RFIs, and lien waivers serve different administrative functions and do not change the contract terms.

Question 36Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape estimator prepares a quantity takeoff for 4,500 square feet of sod at $0.65 per square foot installed. The estimate includes a 10% contingency. What is the total budget for the sod?

  1. $3,500
  2. $4,950
  3. $2,925
  4. $3,218 Correct answer.

Explanation

The base sod cost is 4,500 square feet times $0.65 per square foot, or $2,925. Adding 10% contingency gives $292.50, for a total of $3,217.50, which rounds to $3,218.

Question 37Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

In a critical path method schedule for landscape installation, what does a finish-to-start relationship mean between two activities?

  1. The predecessor and successor must always overlap in time.
  2. The successor can start only after the predecessor finishes. Correct answer.
  3. The successor may start at any time before the predecessor starts.
  4. The predecessor can start only after the successor finishes.

Explanation

A finish-to-start tie is the most common CPM logic link: the successor cannot begin until the predecessor is complete. This relationship protects sequence, such as paving before planting or irrigation before sod.

Question 38Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

An owner wants to keep its landscape architect under a separate design contract but engage a contractor early for constructability reviews, then negotiate a guaranteed maximum price before construction. Which delivery method best fits this arrangement?

  1. Design-bid-build
  2. Pure design-build
  3. Owner self-perform with separate trade contracts
  4. Construction manager at risk Correct answer.

Explanation

Construction manager at risk allows the owner to retain a separate designer while bringing the contractor on early for constructability and cost input, later converting to a guaranteed maximum price. Design-bid-build withholds contractor input until bidding, while design-build combines design and construction in one contract.

Question 39Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape project has a budget at completion of $200,000, planned value of $80,000, earned value of $70,000, and actual cost of $90,000. What is the cost performance index, and what does it indicate?

  1. CPI = 0.89; the project is behind schedule
  2. CPI = 1.13; the project is ahead of schedule
  3. CPI = 1.29; the project is under budget
  4. CPI = 0.78; the project is over budget Correct answer.

Explanation

CPI is earned value divided by actual cost, so $70,000 divided by $90,000 equals about 0.78. A CPI below 1.0 means the work performed is costing more than planned, so the project is over budget.

Question 40Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape renovation has a base construction estimate of $180,000. The designer adds a 15% design contingency and then applies 6% escalation for construction timing. What is the resulting project budget?

  1. $219,420 Correct answer.
  2. $225,000
  3. $207,000
  4. $190,800

Explanation

Apply the design contingency first: $180,000 times 1.15 equals $207,000. Then apply escalation: $207,000 times 1.06 equals $219,420.

Question 41Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

On a topographic survey used for landscape inventory, what does the contour interval represent?

  1. The scale ratio of the drawing at its plotted size
  2. The vertical elevation difference between adjacent contour lines Correct answer.
  3. The bearing of the steepest slope on the site
  4. The horizontal distance between two benchmark monuments

Explanation

The contour interval is the fixed vertical distance between successive contour lines, such as 1 foot or 0.5 meter. It indicates how much elevation changes between lines, not the horizontal spacing or the drawing scale. A smaller interval shows finer topographic detail.

Question 42Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

During a field soil inventory, which simple test gives a quick estimate of soil texture by manipulating a moist sample?

  1. Penetrometer test
  2. Ribbon test Correct answer.
  3. Percolation test
  4. pH meter test

Explanation

The ribbon test estimates texture by squeezing moist soil and observing how long a ribbon forms before breaking. It distinguishes sandy, loamy, and clayey feel in the field. Percolation, penetrometer, and pH tests measure other soil properties.

Question 43Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

In a landscape construction package, what is the primary role of the specifications?

  1. To define materials, workmanship, and quality standards for the work Correct answer.
  2. To establish the contractor's approved schedule and payment dates
  3. To show the geometric layout and dimensions of built elements
  4. To record field measurements taken during the site inventory

Explanation

Specifications are written requirements that describe materials, installation methods, quality standards, and testing. Drawings show location and dimension, while specifications govern qualitative requirements. Schedules and payments are handled by contract documents and administrative forms.

Question 44Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A proposed accessible walk crosses 120 feet of horizontal distance and rises 6 feet. What is the percent slope?

  1. 6 percent
  2. 5 percent Correct answer.
  3. 2 percent
  4. 12 percent

Explanation

Percent slope equals vertical rise divided by horizontal run, multiplied by 100. Here, 6 divided by 120 equals 0.05, or 5 percent. The 120 feet is the horizontal run, not the slope length.

Question 45Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape installer uses a Gantt bar chart for a planting and irrigation schedule. What is a key limitation of this tool compared with a network diagram?

  1. It does not clearly display logical dependencies among activities Correct answer.
  2. It cannot be updated after construction begins
  3. It cannot show the planned start and finish dates of activities
  4. It cannot show activity durations in days

Explanation

A Gantt chart displays bars against a time scale, making dates and durations easy to read. However, unless dependency links are added, it does not show the logical sequence and predecessor relationships as clearly as a network diagram. It can still be updated and can include durations.

Question 46Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

A landscape estimator takes off 3,200 square feet of concrete paving at $8.50 per square foot. The estimate adds 10 percent for overhead and profit. What is the total estimated cost?

  1. $30,200
  2. $24,480
  3. $29,920 Correct answer.
  4. $27,200

Explanation

First multiply 3,200 square feet by $8.50 per square foot to get $27,200. Then add 10 percent overhead and profit: $27,200 times 1.10 equals $29,920. The overhead and profit are applied to the direct cost.

Question 47Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

During construction administration, what is the purpose of a request for information (RFI)?

  1. To certify that the work is substantially complete
  2. To formally ask for clarification or interpretation of the contract documents Correct answer.
  3. To submit a product sample for the designer's approval
  4. To authorize the contractor to proceed with a changed scope

Explanation

An RFI is a formal written question from the contractor seeking clarification of drawings, specifications, or other contract documents. It documents the question and the designer's response so the project record is clear. Scope changes and product approvals use separate processes.

Question 48Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

In a design-bid-build delivery method, how are the design and construction contracts typically arranged?

  1. The designer subcontracts directly to the general contractor
  2. The owner contracts separately with the designer and with the contractor Correct answer.
  3. The contractor holds a single contract covering both design and construction
  4. The owner contracts with a construction manager who holds the design contract

Explanation

In design-bid-build, the owner first contracts with a design professional, then advertises and awards a separate construction contract. The designer and contractor generally have no direct contract with each other. This separation is a defining feature of the method.

Question 49Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

Resource leveling is applied to a landscape installation schedule. Why can it extend the project duration?

  1. It converts finish-to-start relationships into start-to-start relationships
  2. It reduces the scope of work to fit available labor
  3. It removes all float from noncritical activities
  4. It may delay activities beyond their float to smooth resource use Correct answer.

Explanation

Resource leveling adjusts activity timing to reduce peaks and valleys in labor, equipment, or materials. When an activity is shifted beyond its available float, it can become critical and push out the completion date. It does not change scope or automatically alter all relationships.

Question 50Inventory, Analysis and Project Management

An owner is choosing between two irrigation systems with different initial costs and long-term water and maintenance costs. Which analysis best supports a comparison over the project's service life?

  1. Low-bid comparison using only initial construction cost
  2. Unit-price comparison of controller hardware
  3. Simple payback based only on the first year's water savings
  4. Life-cycle cost analysis Correct answer.

Explanation

Life-cycle cost analysis discounts and sums initial, operating, maintenance, and replacement costs over a defined study period. It allows alternatives with different capital and operating profiles to be compared on a common basis. Low-bid, simple payback, or hardware unit prices capture only part of the cost.