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Site analysis
Factors influencing site planning
What is each factor?
How important it is?
How does it influence on Site Planning?
Where to get the information?
What is the typical questions should be
concerned?

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Site selection
 For every site there is an ideal use,
 For every use there is an ideal site.
 Suitable site for suitable program
– The matching of a given program for a project (…school,
resort) with a suitable site is a function of site analysis
– Site selection is determined by a comparative analysis of
several available sites for the same determined program to
see which site can best fit the requirements.

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Factors influencing site planning
 1. Natural factors : Geology and soil, topography,
habitat, microclimate, Hydrology
 The categories of data and its interpretation is related to the
proposed project. The level of detail depends on the nature
of the program --how simple or complex and the type of site
--rural or urban
 2. Man-made factors : existing uses, man-made
features, legal regulations and historical associations.
 3. Aesthetic factors : visual qualities and relationship.

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Natural factors:Landscape diversity
 Landscape diversity or landscape characters
– Hot-dry Desert-like Region, low moisture, salt
lakes or flats
– Cold region, snow half of the year or more,
high mountain.
– Cool-temperate Region, seasonal change,
topographic scenic - - marine, plain, pastoral,
mountainous areas.
– Tropical rain Hot- humid Region

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Natural factors:Landscape
diversity

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Natural factors:Landscape
diversity

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Natural factors:Landscape
diversity

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Natural factors:Landscape
diversity

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Natural factors:Landscape diversity

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Natural factors: Geology
 Geomorphology : the geology dealing with the origin and
nature of landform with emphasis on erosional process.
 Physiography : the description of landform.
 Bedrock: is consolidated rock material lying at various
depths below all points of earth surface.
 Geologic map
 The important of geologic information
 where to get the information (sources of data)

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Geologic base: The depth and type of rock below the
soil’s surface are significant factors for site
development, to answer the question of its
specification as a foundation base.

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Natural factors: Geology

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 Typical questions:
– 1. Which kind. What type of bedrock in which area?
– 2. How deep is the bedrock?
– 3. Is mass movement of land surface likely to occur?
• Tectonic: the movement caused along earth fault
line, often accompanying earthquakes.
• Surficial process: surface material - mass
movement caused by the force of gravity and
unstable land such as area of fill or ledge.
Natural factors: Geology

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Natural factors: Topography
 Landform
 topographic map and interpretation
 Slope analysis
 The constraint and opportunity of landform
 where to get the information

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Topographic map
.
Locations
natural features
man-made features
elevation and relieves
vegetation
hydrographic, water body
roads, buildings
contour line
Example of a U.S.Geological Survey map.
Source: A Guide to Site Planning and Landscape Construction
Information provided
in topographic map.

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RTSD map: Royal Thai Survey Department

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Slope analysis
 Slope analysis is
the tool to indicate
each portion of
land with percent
slope to see the
potential in
developing each
part for suitable
use.
steep slope district: undisturbed natural
slope with greater than 25% grade, or
precautionary slopes is 15-25% grade

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 Typical questions:
1. Contour interval, pattern of landform
2. Natural drainage pattern
3. Unique features
4. Slope analysis and percent slope.
5. Site danger signal.
Slope analysis

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Slope analysis

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 Hydrological circle
 surface and subsurface water
 Sensitive landscape character
 floodplain
 where to get the information : Hydrographic
service department, harbor department
Natural factors:Hydrology

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Hydrological circle
 Hydrological circle
– Surface water :
• existing drainage
pattern
• water body - -
pond, lake,
wetland
– subsurface water :
• Aquifer
• Aquifer recharge
areas

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Natural factors:Hydrology

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Floodplains: Flood circle is the natural
process which should be recorded as hydrological
data affecting directly to the planning of that
site

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Hydrological circle

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 Typical questions
– 1. Drainage pattern and major water channel
– 2. Unique feature and size such as water body
– 3. Aquifer and recharge area, the depth of rise and
fall 0f water table
– 4. Floodplain of 50 and 100 year storms.
– 5. What pattern, quantity and quality will be
affected by the design
Natural factors:Hydrology

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 Soil classification
 soil survey data
 the important of soil information
 where to get the information: Department of
underground resources, Boring test and results
analysis from agricultural department
Natural factors:soil

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Soil classifications  Soil classification:
general soil type based
on soil texture. The
triangle indicates the
relative proportions of
three particle sizes --
sand, silt and clay.
 Key words for soil
characteristics-- Soil
texture, soil porosity,
Soil chemistry, soil
moisture

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Soil map
Soil survey data and the
important of soil
information
related to building
construction and basement
related to water supply and
septic system
related to functions of land
use planning
related to vegetation and
wildlife habitat.

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 Typical questions:
 1. Which kind and what
depth for engineering
and plant value?
 2. Chemical property of
soil for engineering and
plant value?
 3. How deep is the water
table and how much it
fluctuates?
Natural factors:soil

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 Landscape ecology
 the important
 mapping the existing habitat
 movement pattern
 where to get the information
Natural factors: vegetation and
wildlife

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Vegetation map
 Vegetation map
or existing trees
map
 Existing mature
trees with 7-10
cm. Or more in
caliper.
 Existing plant
groups which is
important to
preserve the
ecology and
landscape
character

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Vegetation map
 Vegetation map
or existing trees
map
 Existing mature
trees with 7-10
cm. Or more in
caliper.
 Existing plant
groups which is
important to
preserve the
ecology and
landscape
character

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 Evidence of life form
 pattern of movement
Natural factors: vegetation and
wildlife

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Natural factors: vegetation and
wildlife
Wetland species include birds
and mammals needing
habitats with (a) wetland
food plants or wild
herbaceous plants of moist
to wet site, exclusive of
submerged or floating
aquatic plants.

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Natural factors: vegetation and
wildlife

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 Climate : region
 temperature
 micro-climate
• WIND VOLOCITY
• PRECIPITATION RATE
• TEMPERATURE
• HUMIDITY
 where to get the information: Department of
Meteorology
Natural factors:climate

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Climate: Region
cold
Cold-temperate
Hot-arid
Hot-humid

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Climate and how to create micro-
climate
 The Alhambra is the example of how
architecture in hot-arid area can create
inside micro-climate suitable for human-
comfort by using pool and fountain in
the courtyard

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Example
The microclimate study of
Woodland New Community,
Texas for the site planning
and energy conservation
design of the building
The site planning
proposal for Woodlands
New Community which
follow the energy
conservation and fit to
the site natural
environment (WMRT
architects&planner)

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Example of
use
•.Harvey M. Rubenstein ,A
guide to Site Planning and
Landscape Construction page
18-69, (John Wiley & Son,
inc. N.Y.1996)

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Example of use

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Man-made factors: land use
 Existing land use on-site, 0ff-site
 the potential of change
 color symbol of land use
 facilities or site amenity

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Site surrounding
 Aerial
photograph
 overall view of
the site
 site
surrounding
and its fabric

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Potential of change
Transformation of agricultural landscape pattern to a
suburban housing pattern . The road network is the
primary organizing structure. Streams has largely been
channeled, straightened or eliminated
(Courtesy of USDA Soil Conservation Service)

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Road cut through undisturbed forest changes the
landscape character, disturbs natural environment and has
a tendency for a lot of development along road sides
Potential of
change

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Facilities
The map shown
facilities’ location of
Bronx Community, also
shown the recreation
facilities such as parks
and Zoo in the site
extend
Public school
Social service
Hospital
Fire station
Library, Post office

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 Linkage and movement pattern
 communication
 circulation system :
 accessibility
 potential of change
Man-made factors: circulation

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Street system
 The street system of Philadelphia
1960 and New town Risender 1972

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Street
Capacity

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The comparison
between mass transit
and private car
The number of people
in one hour between
each type of
transportation

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Potential of
change
The escalated
Highway project which
runs through the city
center usually
rejected by the
community such as in
Philadelphia, Chicago
and San Francisco

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 Density : F.A.R
 Zoning district
 Set back, fire lane and other regulation
 Parking schedule
Man-made factors: Law and
regulation

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 FAR is one of the density
control device, FAR is a term
the zoning ordinance will use
to quantify and limit the
amount of square footage of
building area as a function of
the building site
F.A.R.=1/2
One-story bldg. Two-story bldg.
Man-made factors:Law and
regulation
Site area
 Floor area ratio(FAR)= building area

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 Zoning setback
and height
limits-- these
minimums and
maximums
provide the
basis for the
maximum
building
envelope on the
site.
Law and
regulation

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Aesthetic factors: Visual quality
•Landscape special character
•Spatial pattern of the site
•Visual quality and character
•Visual disturbance

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 Natural features
 Urban features
 Visual value/
characters
– vista
– panoramic view
– visual channel
– framed view/ filter view
– point of interest
Aesthetic factors: Landscape special
character
Rocky outcrops

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Aesthetic
factors:
Natural view
Urban view

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Aesthetic factors:
visual character
Vista Panoramic view
Framed view Filtered view

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 Visual disturbance
Aesthetic factors:

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Off-site condition
Site extend, site surrounding and network which
also related to off-site land uses and quality. The off-
site condition analysis must concern both existing
and potential change.

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On-site condition
•Site quality and quantity
•Character and quality of existing analysis will be
effected by design

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Site evaluation.
Both on-site and off-site condition of the site, every
factors related must be evaluated which will lead to site
analysis and suitability map of the site.

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Recommended reading
• .Robinstein, Harvey M., A Guide to Site and
Environmental Planning , (Prentice Hall P T R, Eaglewood
Cliffs, NJ. 07632)
• .Harvey M. Rubenstein ,A guide to Site Planning and
Landscape Construction page 18-69, (John Wiley & Son,
inc. N.Y.1996)
• .John Ormsbee Simonds, Landscape Architecture,
(Mcgraw-Hill 1997)
• .รองศาสตราจารย์เดชา บุญค้า, การวางผัง
บริเวณ หน้า 7-29, เอกสารประกอบการสอน
ภาควิชาภูมิสถาปัตยกรรม จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย
• .Michael Laurie, An Introduction to LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE, page 132-151
• .Kevin Lynch, SITE PLANNING
• Theodore D. Walker, PLAN GRAPHICS.