Site Analysis: A Contextual Approach to Sustainable Land Planning and Site Design

The complete guide to site analysis—for better plans and better projects Context–sensitive site planning leads to better development proposals and, ultimately, to higher quality built environments. By responding to inherent site opportunities and constraints, context–sensitive development—and redevelopment—creates attractive and pedestrian–friendly places to live, work, and play. The expanded and extensively revised new edition, Site Analysis: A Contextual Approach to Sustainable Land Planning and Site Design retains the earlier edition′s emphasis on the site–planning process. With several project case studies from leading design firms and more than 180 illustrations, the Second Edition ref lects the state of the art in sustainable land planning and site design. Some of the topics covered include: Site selection and programming Mapping of physical, biological, and cultural attributes Site suitability analysis Conceptual design Design development Feasibility studies Site plan review Whether you are a student, a practitioner studying for a licensing exam, or a member of a local board or commission that reviews land development proposals, Site Analysis: A Contextual Approach to Sustainable Land Planning and Site Design will help you better understand the linkages between existing site and contextual conditions—and the sustainable design of the built environment.

Preface. Acknowledgements. PART I: PROCESS AND TOOLS. Chapter 1: Shaping the Built Environment. Introduction. Toward Sustainable Built Environments. The Power of Place, The Role of Design. The Site Planning Process. Conclusion. Chapter 2. Visualization of Spatial Information. Introduction. Graphic Communication. Mapping Fundamentals. Principles of Effective Graphic Communication. Base Maps. Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Conclusion. PART II: SITE SELECTION AND PROGRAMMING. Chapter 3. Site Selection. Introduction. Site Selection Scope. The Site Selection Process. Conclusion. Chapter 4. Programming. Introduction. Programming Methods. Program Documentation. Conclusion. PART III: SITE INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS. Chapter 5. Site Inventory: Physical Attributes. Introduction. Parcel Size and Shape. Topography. Geology. Hydrology. Soils. Climate. Hazards. Conclusion. Chapter 6. Site Inventory: Biological Attributes. Introduction. Vegetation. Wildlife. Conclusion. Chapter 7. Site Inventory: Cultural Attributes. Introduction. Land Use and Tenure. Land Use and Tenure. Property Value. Land Use Regulation. Infrastructure. Building Typology. Historic Resources. Perceptual Quality. Conclusion. Chapter 8. Site Analysis: Integration and Synthesis. Introduction. Spatial Analysis Fundamentals. Site Opportunities. Site Constraints. Site Development Capacity. Suitability Analysis. Integration and Synthesis. Conclusion. PART IV: DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION. Chapter 9. Conceptual Design. Introduction. Sustainable Site Planning. Design Determinants . Creativity and Conceptual Design. The Conceptual Design Process. Anatomy of a Concept Plan. Concept Plan Graphics. Concept Evaluation and Refinement. Conclusion. Chapter 10. Design Development. Introduction. Design of the Built Environment. Design Theory. Open Space. Circulation Systems. Buildings. Conclusion. Chapter 11. Project Implementation. Introduction. Mitigating Development Impacts. Construction Documents. Construction Administration. Public Review and Approvals. Conclusion. Appendix. Glossary. References. Index.

James A. Lagro Jr. is Professor and Chair of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is a planner and a registered landscape architect with more than twenty–five years of experience as an educator, consultant, and designer in private practice. He has been published in Landscape Ecology, Landscape and Urban Planning, and other leading publications.