Site Planning Process

In our most recent EVDS 2702 class, we learnt about site planning. This is a very interesting and useful process to know. The guest speaker began with explaining concept plans and producing and comparing alternate developement layouts. In this process the planner takes his or her site map and begins to try out different designs and layouts that might work for the site. When the planner has produced an adequate amount of drawings they will look all of them over and make alterations and deside which ideas are best.

Next the planner begins the preliminary site plans. This involves determining physical layouts for roadways sidewalks and paths. It also involves determining the drainage of the land. The planner needs to know if the land naturally slopes into a stream or some other water body or not. If not, plans for drainage infrastructure may be needed as well. This would involve extending land drainage sewers.

The suitability analysis follows. This largely involves calculating the slope of the area. Universal accessability is fundamental these days. Universal accessability is design that allows people with handicaps to enter an area with ease. This is why slope plays a big factor with design. Slope is a percentage which represents how steep an incline is. For example, 100% slope is when the rise and the run are equal. In other words the land as it rises over the run will rise at a 45 degree angle. 5% slope is the maximum amount of slope for universal accessability. This means that in a distance of 1 metre of run, the rise can be no more then 5cm.

From concept plans to preliminary plans to suitability analysis, these ideas are fairly key to good realistic design. Keeping these ideas in mind will further lead a planner towards a successful design.