Site Planning

introduction
The process of site selection for sustainable development
identifying and analyzing site w.r.t sustainable design
criteria.
The resource efficiency measures are aimed at applying
appropriate site planning techniques to enhance:
Efficient utilization of site resources,
Minimize on-site vehicular pollution,
Enhance energy efficiency of site lighting,
Enhance functional efficiency of the utility lines.


Site assessment

Site assessment is done at three levels:
Site Selection
Site Analysis
Site development and layout


Site selection
The process of site selection for sustainable development
involves identifying and weighing the appropriateness of
the site with respect to sustainable building design
criteria.
This often needs to be done long before the projects
design phase commences. The development of the project
should not cause damage to the natural surroundings but
try to improve it by restoring its balance.

Site selection
Proposed and existing land use
Reuse of existing urban sites Brownfield development
Site characteristics towards sustainable goals
Natural ventilation & light
Site in terms of access to public transport, other public
amenities
Environmental costs
Guidelines for site selection
Select a site taking into account its proposed and
existing land use
Select a site that is neither a farmland nor a land that serves
to preserve the habitat of any endangered species of plants or
animals.
The land should not come under the preservation or
heritage belt of the city and should also not be a public
parkland, community land, or wetland.
Guidelines for site selection
Reuse negative urban spaces or industrial sites
This should be done when existing urban amenities and
infrastructure can be utilized, thus reducing the pressure on
undeveloped land.

Efforts should be made to reuse negative urban spaces or
industrial sites or brown fields to reduce the pressure on the
undeveloped land .
Guidelines for site selection
Identify the site characteristics in light of the
sustainable goals of the project
The design team should gauge whether the site takes
maximum advantage of natural resources, such as solar
energy, natural vegetation, and geographical features.
It should also analyze the proximity or remoteness of
the site from existing transportation corridors, and its
ability to match the needs of the building owner, users,
and their occupancy patterns.
Resource and needs assessment of the project should be
done at this pre-design stage.

Guidelines for site selection
Natural light and ventilation
It is important to design the proposed building after
conformity of climatic analysis, which ensures adequate
solar access and natural ventilation .

This enhances the passive design concepts and helps in
reducing energy consumption.
Guidelines for site selection
Identify and balance the site inputs available in the
form of resources against the environmental cost
inherent in its development
The design team should measure the scale and amount of
energy, labor, arid material inputs available On-site in the
form of natural resources or feature against the cost output
in the site development cycle.
The team should also see whether the waste output can be
dealt with acceptable environmental costs, and whether
development impacts can be minimized on site.

Site analysis
The site analysis evaluates all the on and off-site
determinants whether environmental, cultural, historical,
urban, or infrastructural that affect
the development of the site and its building programme.

The main objective is to allocate and define the use of
various parts of the site in a manner that is most appropriate
to the specific activities to be carried on the site.
Site analysis
Site analysis can be done on the basis of
following considerations:
Environmental
Utility/infrastructure existing & reqd
Cultural/Historical- vernacular trends, cultural
customs, building techniques
Urban city form, potential views, regulations
Site Characteristics
Prepare a Site inventory
Existing vegetation, flora and fauna
Topographical features
Contours, slopes, natural drainage
pattern
Cultural or historically significance

Site Characteristics
Density, size and type of structure existing &
proposed
Air movements
Heat island effect
Air quality of the site
Solar access
Soil and ground water quality of the site
Data regarding natural hazards for the site


Site inventory
characteristics

Building design
elements

Site design elements
Geographical latitude and
microclimatic factors
Building a layout for
solar radiation
Location of windows
entrances.
Architectural
elevations
Surface to volume
ratios
Location of green and
paved areas
Selection of vegetation
And integration with
native landscape.
Biodiversity and buffer
zones
Topography and adjacent
landforms
Building proportions
Wind loads
Architectural
elevations
Drainage strategies
Gravity fed sewer lines
Land fillings
Natural site features for
water drainage
Location of
groundwater retention
ponds
Solar access Building position for
Photovoltaics and
solar passive
techniques
Construction of walls
Selection of building
materials and finishes
Location of energy
efficient features such as
solar ponds
Placement of selective
species of trees such as
deciduous on the south
side

Geologic and seismic data
Foundation type
Structural
specifications
Structural considerations
for site landscaping
,such as retaining walls,
fixed seatings,etc

Soil type texture and load
bearing capacity
Foundation design and
location
Site grading procedures
that minimize erosion
Plant selection as per
soil type
Air movement pattern Placement of wind
towers
Location of
fenestration on the
basis of pressure
differentials, passive
design
Site layout of building to
trap wind for ventilation

Site inventory
characteristics

Building design
elements

Site design elements

Parcel shape and
access with adjacent
land uses and
buildings
Planning for the
capacity to
accommodate the
proposed
development
Marking the
potential access
points, which do
not burden the
lower density or
adjacent land use
Neighboring or
proposed future
developments
Design flexibility
for future
extension
Location of utility
and infrastructure
for future
extension

Site inventory
characteristics

Building design
elements

Site design elements
Site analysis
Render a site analysis on the basis of site inventory
characteristics and establish a list of factors
affecting the sustainable design

These considerations depend on the morphology of
the on-site building clusters, and hence can again be
reviewed at a combined scale.

Density and size
The density and size of the built area affect the
degree to which the microclimate can be modified in
terms of wind conditions, air temperature, radiation
balance, and natural lighting.

This density depends on the proportion of the land
covered by the buildings and the average height of
the buildings (the effect of which can be modified by
the relative height of individual buildings onsite).

Air movement.

Large built volumes perpendicular to the wind
divert the latter and tend to create a wind shadow
of a length equal to 15 times the buildings height
(with wind velocity halved down).
Buildings suffer from poor ventilation and high
wind intake at the openings, if placed parallel to
the winds direction.


Heat island effect

Dense urban areas tend to have higher air
temperatures as compared to the surrounding low-
rise rural areas.
It is because of the absorption and storage of a high
percentage of radiation received by the built mass
and minimized radiative heat losses from it.
The denser parts of the cities (or dense
developments) may reach temperatures more than
12 degree Celsuis that of the surrounding areas.
Solar access
This would indicate the utilization of direct (and not
reflected or diffused) solar radiation, mainly for day lighting
and heat gain.
This would control minimum distances to be kept between
the built-up volume and open space. The design of the layout
should allow for wind protection and solar access in winter,
and at the same time provide adequate sun protection and
ventilation in summer.
The design should be such that it controls the heat island
effect, size and density of the layout, and provides the desired
comfort conditions.
This would also help to decide the alternatives for the type
of the layout and the proportion of the built volume and open
space in the layout.
Building types

The choice of building type depends mainly on the
cost of the land, infrastructure, land availability, and
suitability as per the requirements.

Each building type and combinations of different
building types form a matrix of environmental
conditions that affect both macro and microclimate
around and inside the building.

Building types
A design layout should incorporate different
building types so as to ensure adequate solar
access and ventilation.
Row buildings can be used as windbreakers,
high-rise buildings can increase ventilation in
dense developments, while low-rise buildings
should be sited so that they avoid excessive heat
exchange with the environment and utilize their
links with open spaces.

Open spaces
The proportion of open space and its built-up edges should
be designed so as to ensure winter solar access as well as
summer ventilation. Vegetation may provide shade and
promote evaporative cooling. In hotdry climates,
evaporative cooling through appropriately sized wet surfaces
or fountains have a desirable effect.
Streets
Street proportion and orientation should be optimized so as
to take advantage of the sun, wind, and vegetation. pedestrian
areas should be exposed in winters. The streets should be
protected from parallel wind directions.
Mobility
Categorize the climate zone according to the geographical
attributes of the site.
Analyze the climate zone into which the site falls (hot-dry,
hot-humid, Cold, and temperate) and investigate the
climatically responsive historical and building design
practices amenable to that zone. Identify the climatic
restraints and the various alternative strategies viable in that
particular zone.
Assess the existing air quality of the site environment.
If it falls in an industrial or commercial area, determine at
the pre-design stage whether it is free of noxious chemicals
and pollutants, hazardous to development; also, ensure that
the development will not further deteriorate the air quality.


Perform soil and groundwater tests to identify the
presence of contamination or chemical pollutants
due to past agricultural or industrial activities on
site or due to other activities adjacent to the site

The soil should also be tested for its loadbearing capacity,
compactibility, and infiltration rates so that the structural
analysis, foundation design, and methods for mechanical
compaction can be formulated.

Study the existing pattern of the natural vegetation on the
site as well as its susceptibility to rehabilitation and
damage once the construction stage is initiated so that the
protective measures can be taken.

Examine the historical data for past trend of natural
hazards, such as earthquakes. floods, or landslides, so that
the proposed development can be designed with the
ability to withstand such eventualities


Analysis of utility / infrastructural
considerations
Review the potential of the existing utility and
transportation infrastructure and capacity
Integrate the existing utility and infrastructural network into
the proposed development project. Assess the planned
capacity of the existing utility lines and infrastructure, and
identify whether additional infrastructure needs to be planned
for the proposed project.
Take into consideration the impact of proposed future
development on the infrastructure. Sharing existing
transportation or parking facilities may minimize the budget
for infrastructure.

Analysis of cultural / historical
considerations
Review the traditional or vernacular architecture of the region
The regional architectural style may be revealed through the use of
vernacular architecture to form a design that is responsive to the local
cultural characteristics, thus enhancing community values.
Restore historical or cultural resources on-site
Historical features on-site can be integrated by either modifying or
incorporating parts of the existing structure into the proposed design, thus
adding to the cultural fabric of the area provided that these structures are
nor legally protected.
Use of historical, energy-efficient building techniques
Historical, energy efficient building techniques that have been evolved
and sustained in responsive to local climatic or cultural characteristics can
be used or modified to suite the proposed sustainable design.

Analysis of urban contextual considerations
Analyze the city form
The delineation of the city form due to the layout of roads,
open spaces, or architectural forms should be analyzed. For
example, a building may be a visually unifying element,
providing connection and continuity with adjacent buildings.
Sites at the end of important vistas or adjacent to major city
squares should be reserved for important public buildings.
Review the potential of views
Important city views of plazas, squares, monuments and
natural features (such as parks and waterfronts) should be
considered. Its important to design the proposed building in a
manner that will enhance and preserve such views for the
public.
Analysis
Prioritization
- Set of constants
- Set of variables
- Set of constraints
Impacts of development
Minimizing the impacts
Improving conditions.

Analyze the efficiency model for the site on the basis
of a set of constants, variables, and constraints Form
an efficiency array with the following.

Set of constants: Factors that cannot be changed, such as
access road to the site, soil characteristics, natural vegetation,
or the climate zone.
Set of variables: Factors that might give efficient results
when mingled in different patterns, such as circulation pattern
site materials, etc.
Set of constraints: Some factors that form psychological
constraints for design, such as building by-laws or local area
regulations. The most optimal and compatible combination
can then be considered for a specific site development fit.

Site development and layout
After the potential factors affecting the sustainable design have been
analyzed and assessed, and the site has been selected, the optimal patterns
for sustainable development should be layered on each other to organize
all he proposed building elements to achieve an effective and operational
site development fit.
The main intent remains to optimize the use of resources and energy
savings by reducing the site disturbance during the constructional and
occupancy phases of the project.
The underlying goal can then be finalized through a generic design
Processconceptually arriving at the best design through the project
requirements vis--vis sustainable development by sequential
incorporation of various design factors.
Site development and layout
Site development can be carried or out on the basis of best
practices followed in each of the following potential areas.
Land use and existing features
Siting and orientation
Landscaping
Utility or site infrastructure
Pavements
External lighting
Construction management.







Natural Site Features

Preserve natural drainage systems. Locate buildings,
roadways, and parking areas so that water flowing off the
developed site during extreme storm events will not cause
environmental damage and result in excessive
contamination of the watershed from silt, oils, automobile
fluids, and other pollutants. minimize cooling loads
through optimal orientation.
Also, consider how site development and construction
will affect on-site and off-site drainage systems. Avoid
sites where impacts will be excessive.


Protect the topsoil from erosion. Use collection
storage and reapplication of the topsoil, sediment basin,
contour trenching, mulching, and soil stabilization
methods to protect the topsoil from erosion during
construction.
Vegetation

Minimise native vgtation disruption.

Locate and size facilities to avoid cutting mature vegetation and
minimize disruption to, or disassociation with, other natural
features. Balance this strategy with the fire risk-reduction
guidelines described in the Design Principles.
Minimize visual impacts. Use natural vegetation and adjust the
building plan and elevation to diminish the visual impact of
facilities and minimize impacts on the cultural and natural view
shed.
Hydrology

Minimize erosion. Locate and design facilities to minimize erosion
and impacts on natural hydro-logical systems.
Avoid hydrological system contamination. Safe-guard the
hydrological system from contamination by construction activities
and building operation.
Minimize runoff. Avoid large, impervious surfaces and building
footprints that concentrate storm water runoff into channels, which
can carry soil away from the site .Manage the storm water so that it
irrigates site vegetation.
Allow precipitation to naturally recharge groundwater. Use swales
and dry retention ponds to maximize infiltration and minimize runoff.
Geology/Soils

Minimize excavation. Site the long axis of a building or a
parking lot with the natural topography to minimize site
disturbance and excavation.
Minimize disturbance to groundcover. Protect and plant
groundcover that prevents soil loss to wind and storm
water erosion.
Avoid soil compression. Locate construction vehicle
parking and materials storage in proposed development
areas such as future parking lots. Avoid locations
designated as future landscaped or natural areas.
Transportation
and Parking
Parking is often a significant user of land. Reducing the
area devoted to parking results in:
Reduction of polluted surface runoff
Greater groundwater recharge
Reduced heat island effect and glare
Opportunities for creating more natural landscaping and
pedestrian friendly environments
Improved air quality



Good siting practices should:

Integrate the building architecturally into the natural context of the site,
which minimizes the appearance
Minimize site-clearing to reduce costs
Take advantage of natural site features, such as topography, sunlight,
shade, and prevailing breezes, to promote energy conservation
Preserve existing vegetation, which can reduce landscape maintenance
costs
Mitigate erosion to reduce topsoil loss and protect surface water quality
Avoid the need for supplemental irrigation and fertilizer, to minimize
groundwater and surface water pollution
Manage for snow and snow melt run-off to reduce maintenance costs
Sedimentation
Preserving mature stands of native vegetation can:
Add character to the site
Provide energy-conserving shade and wind protection
Eliminate the waiting period for expensive new plantings to mature to
provide the potential benefits of preserved vegetation
Carefully planned building placement should:
Maximize benefits for site occupants
Minimize storm water runoff
Minimize natural habitat disturbance
Protect open space
Reduce the risk of fire and erosion
Save energy by providing for solar energy utilization, day lighting,
shading, and natural ventilation

Maximize factors that contribute to the health and
productivity of employees, such as:
Thermal comfort
Access to fresh air
Acoustic privacy
Aesthetic views
Functional outdoor space


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