Site Planning and Analysis: Site Selection

• Site: An area of land with a building or monument.
• Site Planning: Arranging structures on land and shaping spaces.
• Two methods to establish a site: Site Selection Process and Development Suitability Process.
• Ideal Site: Best possible use and development for a given site.
• Alterantive Site: Selects from a list of potential sites one that suits best the given use and requirements of the project.

Steps in Site Selection Process

• Conduct a site analysis.
• Consider legal and regulatory conditions.
• Consider social and cultural conditions.
• Consider economic conditions.
• Analyze visual and aesthetic conditions.
• Evaluate accessibility and transportation.
• Plan for future development.

SWOT Analysis

• STRENGTHS: Positive aspects of the site/project.
• WEAKNESSES: Negative aspects of the site/project.
• OPPORTUNITIES: What the site/project offers to the neighborhood.
• THREATS: What the site/project poses to the neighborhood.

Site Analysis

• Evaluating the characteristics of a location for a proposed project.

Natural Factors in Site Analysis

• Geology: Study of Earth's structure.
• Geomorphology: Study of landforms, soils, drainage, topography, slopes, and erosion.
• Hydrology: Study of surface water and groundwater.
• Vegetation: plant ecology.
• Wildlife: habitats.
• Climate: solar orientation, wind, and humidity.

Cultural Factors in Site Analysis

• Existing land use and ownership of adjacent properties.
• Traffic and transit patterns around the site.
• Density and legal zoning.
• Socio-economic factors.
• Utilities: water, power, communications, etc.
• Historic buildings, landmarks, and archeology.

Aesthetic Factors

• Natural features.
• Spatial patterns and sequences.
• Visual resources and vistas.

Ecology

• Study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Hierarchical Organization of Ecology

• Individual: Unit of natural selection (survival and reproduction).
• Population dynamics: The unit of evolution.
• Community: Interactions among species.
• Ecosystems: Flow of energy and matter.
• Biosphere: Global process.
• Ecological: Study Levels.

Types of Ecology

• Global Ecology: The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment on a global scale.
• Landscape Ecology
• Life on earth.
• Ecosystem Ecology: Can be both in land & water.
• Community Ecology.

Ecology Additional Terms

• Animals
• Population Ecology
• Organismal Ecology

Ground Form

• Shape or configuration of the land surface.

Landforms

• Mountains.
• Hills: classified into land and ground forms.
• Valleys.
• Desert.
• Plains.
• Plateaus.

Soil

• Biologically active medium in the uppermost layer of Earth's crust.
• Soil Composition
  • Mineral Particles: 50-90% of volume providing structure.
  • Organic Matter: Influences fertility and moisture absorption.
  • Water content: Varies with particle size and climate.
• Loam which is an intermediate mixture of 40% sand, 40% silt and 20% clay.
• Soil Texture: Composite sizes of particles in a soil sample.
• Soil Horizons: Distinct layers with characteristic compositions.
  • Topsoil
  • Subsoil
  • Weathered rock fragments
  • Solid bedrock

Geology

• Fields of study concerning the solid Earth.
• Igneous Rocks: Formed from crystallized molten rock.
  • Intrusive
  • Extrusive
  • Plutonic
• Sedimentary Rocks: Formed from weathered igneous rock particles deposited in layers.
• Metamorphosed Rocks: Formed when sedimentary rocks transform under pressure and temperature.

Geomorphology

• Study of Earth's topographic and bathymetric features.

Geomorphology Composition

• Consists of mineral particles, organic matter, water content, and air.

Social & Psychological Considerations

• Site values / Social Impact
  • public sector (government)
  • plural sector (non-profit education)
  • private sector (for-profit)
  • the fourth sector
  • social enterprise
  • social business
  • conscious capitalism
  • benefit corporation
• Social Impact
  • Social Considerations: include patterns of access to and tenure on land; demographics
  • Monetary Value: the estimate of the site value is based on land assessments provided by the local assessor's office, land sales throughout the area, and the appraiser's general knowledge of local appeal.
  • Site Value: reflects what the land would be expected to sell for its current condition, this includes any work undertaken, or material used, to improve the physical nature of the land to prepare it for development.

Land Capability/Suitability

• Composite Land Characteristics
• class a - very good lands with 0-3% slope
• class b lands with slight limitations with 3-8% slope
• class c moderately good lands within 8% - 18% slope
• class d - fairly good lands with slope range 18% - 30%
• class I level land but too wet or too stony.
• class m - steep, shallow or severely eroded soils with slope range 30%
• class n - very steep with more than 50% slope, soils too shallow, rough dry.
• class x - wetlands that cannot be economically drained
• class y - very hilly, mountainous, rugged, and barren lands

Important Types of Water Resources

• Glaciers
• Groundwater
• Reservoirs
• Lakes
• Sources of water
• River
• Stream
• Reservoir
• Rain
• Pond
• Handpump
• Well

User Requirement

• Assess user needs.
• Implement user-oriented conceptual planning.
• Consider sub-problems: identify users, their characteristics, activities, strengths, and limitations.
• User profiling.
• Maximize strengths and minimize limitations.

Cultural Significance

• Historical considerations.

Activity/Communication Linkages

• Pathways & Walkways: Connect different areas within the site.
• Accessibility: Ensure ease of access for everyone.
• Zoning: Organize the site by activity type.

Community Linkages

• Providing Public Spaces, Room; enclosed, Space: outside, Area: can be open space or one part are open, Facilities: required, Amenities: Additional
• Social Interaction: Promote community engagement.
• Sustainability: Promote walking and cycling.
• Quality Of Life: Enhance the well-being of residents.

Pertinent Laws

• Republic Act. No: 112011
• Ra 7279
• Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Clup)
  • Formulated by the local government.
  • Provides guidelines on land allocation, utilization, development, and management.
• Human Settlements comprise of (a) physical components of shelter and infrastructure; and (b) services to which the physical elements provide support, such as community services which include education, health, culture, welfare, recreation, and nutrition;

Urban Development

• Refers to the process of occupation and use of land or space for activities such as residential, industrial, commercial, and the like or their combinations, necessary to carry out the functions of urban living. it entails the building or rebuilding of more or less permanent structures over land that is often withdrawn or converted from its original use, resulting in the creation of a built environment; and

Urban Development Planning

• Refers to the process that involves the planning of diverse elements that comprise an urbanizing and urbanized area, including its physical infrastructure, environment, housing, transportation, and management of land use and urban growth.

Other Important Laws

• PD1096 National Building Code Of The Philippines
• Water And Sanitation Code
• Philippine Environment Code
• Climate Change Act
• BP344: "Accessibility Law"
• Urban Development And Housing Act
• Architectural Heritage-Laws

Land Use And Zoning

• Land Use: organizing land use to meet needs while respecting capabilities.
• Zoning: collective property right dicating the terms on how properly may be geographically used..
• Zoning codes specifying development types allowed.

Aesthetic and Physical Consideration

• Site context
• sensuous qualities
• vocabulary of space
• images and symbols
• sensuous forms
• Site Context
  • the internal and external characteristics of a building's location.
  • it encompasses the physical, social, and cultural aspects that influence the design process.
  • Physical Context: tangible elements of the site (topography. climate, vegetation, surrounding built environment, infrastructure)
  • Non-Physical Context: the intangible aspects of the site and location. (history and culture, regulations and zoning, accessibility, sustainability).

Additional Key Points

• Appraiser's general knowledge influences property assessments.
• Survival and reproduction relate to individual organisms.
• Metamorphosed rock forms under deep earth pressures.
• Primary design consideration is architectural or site planning.
• Site analysis precedes final design.
• Social impact includes public, private, plural, and fourth sectors.
• Zoning organizes sites.
• Sustainability provides resources for future.
• Use images onsite and in the site development plan
• The formula for pathway width is useful, where 'S' is walking speed.
• Site analysis becomes this and includes characteristics.
• Designers consider appealing to senses (sensuous qualities) for uplifting quality of life.
• Bathymetric features have chemical or biological processes geomorphology
• Site accessibility is concerned with end user movement.
• Cultural concerns include water, power, communications.
• Pathways connect areas and should be more than just formal

Additional Key Points 2

• User requirements factor into social considerations.
• Be aware of the site Context internal, external
• Sensuous forms are sculptures appealing to the senses.
• Part of soil which is black and darker
• The study concerning solid Earth geology
• A local climatic condition is a Microclimate
• Unit of evaluation is the population
• Level land but stony Class L.
• fairly good lands with slope range Class D