Shanaia Jane G.

Bual
Bs Architecture 3-3
1. What is site planning?

Site planning is the art of arranging the external definition of physical environment to support human
behavior. It lies site planning along the boundaries of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture,
and city planning, and it is practiced by members of all these

 ’Art:’ refers to creativity and unique in development concept and not stereotype
 ’External Physical Environment’: man-made structures: roads, buildings and parks. In other
hand, all those elements are not grow by themselves, shaped by the someone’s decision(Local
authority officer, private sectors, etc.)
 ‘Support Human Behavior’: daily activities :sleeping, shopping, working and etc.

Site planning is distinct from city design, which proposes environmental policies for large areas,
undefined time scales, and many clients. Site planning can also be separated from the design of
objects such as bridges or buildings, from interior design, from the layout of small and isolated
exterior settings such as gardens, and from the design of things to be used in scattered places.

Site planning is an integral part of the land-use planning process; it determines the detailed layout of
an area of land so that it functions effectively in relation to a given range of land uses on the site
and others around it. It occurs directly before or is part of the detailed design process, depending on
the complexity and scale of the site. Site planning is about working out the detail of what should
happen on a given area of land, how it should happen and what it will cost to implement and manage
the project on that area of land.

2. What is Green/ Sustainable Site Planning

A sustainable site plan has the least environmental impact while still meeting the client's project
goals. It's not sustainable if it only parks half the cars that the project needs and costs twice as
much as the budgeted amount. Just like any other design, sustainable design must fit within the
typical project parameters and must also consider the environmental impacts.

Sustainable site will guide the sitting of residential areas in a location that will result in minimal
disturbance to the land and ecosystems. It will help to fit the house and driveway into the landscape
with minimal visual impact in order to create a climate-responsive building that minimizes energy use.

3. Objectives of Site Planning

The purposes of the site planning and landscape design guidelines are to assure site specific planning
and design solutions which are consistent with the design goals of maintaining respect for the natural
coastal environment, continuation of local traditions of the land and the informal outdoor lifestyle it
supports. These objectives include:

 Design which is site specific and responds to the unique conditions of each home site.
 Development which integrates into, and harmonizes with the existing coastal landscapes.
 Building forms which reflect site topography.
 Outdoor spaces which respond to orientation, views and microclimate.
 The use of sustainable materials and indigenous vegetation.

The purposes of site planning are:

 To gather data for preliminary planning

o obtain the primary and secondary data
o to identify the potential, constraints and the propose design are suitable to the study
area
 To evaluate the site for compatibility and the proposed project are use
o Identify what types of development are suitable for study area?
o Market studies- demand of land development i.e housing, commercial
o Topography (slope analysis), environment and surrounding area
 To recognize concerns requiring additional study
o Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA,) Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) and Social
Impact Assessment (SIA )study if necessary to the study area
 To form an understanding of the administrative requirements of the project such as building
permits and approvals
o Documentation by local authorities i.e Planning Permissions (Sec. 21)Act 172, Town and
country Planning 1976
o Local Plan and Structure Plan, Policies etc.
o Planning Guidelines for land developments

4. When is site planning applied or needed?

A site plan is needed:

1. whenever it is proposed to change the use of an area of land or build on all or part of it;
2. whenever it is proposed to change the way in which an area of land and its associated landscapes
is managed and maintained.

Site plans are required for all developments involving the construction of buildings or other engineering
structures:

• housing developments
• industrial developments
• commercial developments
• recreational developments
• communications developments.

Site plans are not only required when building operations are proposed; they are needed when it is
planned that any part of the external environment should be used in a different way or for a
different purpose, or that the land is to be managed differently. This includes:

• housing rehabilitation
• industrial rehabilitation
• commercial area rehabilitation
• reclamation of derelict land
• afforestation
• additional or improved parks and open spaces
• changing landscape management practices.

5. What are the elements of good site planning?

Site Location – The site must be placed within its proper geographical, political, and functional
context. This fixes the site in relation to adjacent land uses, community transportation patterns,
utility and infrastructure availability, employment, commercial, cultural and recreational
centers. Each of these has a bearing on the site development potential. For example, the
adjacent land use patterns will determine the appropriate land use for a proposed site based upon
the comprehensive plan. The availability of roads, and in some cases mass transit may have a
significant influence on if, and for what, a site is suitable in terms of access. The presence of
water, sewers, and other utilities can also dictate the suitability of a site as a target for
expansion. And of course the proximity to work, jobs, and schools are a factor in real estate
suitability.

Existing Conditions – Depending upon the size and complexity of the site, this may be one or a
series of base plans or maps that delineates and evaluates the physical attributes and constraints
for the parcel of land. It will cover such items as:

 Topography and Slopes – Treatment of these factors requires base information in the form
of contours and elevations to a degree of accuracy appropriate to the proposed
development. For general planning, topographic information such as is available from U.S.
Geological Survey quadrangle maps may be suitable. However, more detailed site design
requires more specific elevations from aerial or field surveys. Visually, as well as functionally,
the form of the landscape, its slopes and patterns are one of the most important categories
to consider, no matter what the proposed land use. The topographic map provides a
considerable amount of information including drainage patterns and problems, potential on-site
and off-site views, erosion and sedimentation potential, as well as potential for
 development. There are standards that establish categories of slopes related to suitability for
different uses and activities. These standards are somewhat regional. For example, the
acceptable range of slopes in the mid-West is apt to be more restricted than that used in
western Pennsylvania or West Virginia where steeper natural slopes are more prevalent. A
typical slope breakdown might include:

0-2% - Most developable

2-8% - Easily accommodates most categories of development
8-16% - Some development restrictions; upper limits for roads and walks
16-24% - Significant restrictions to most development
24%+ - Generally restricted for development

The slope categories are also keyed to the proposed land use or types of facilities. Obviously
slopes that are suitable for certain activities may be restrictive for others.

 Geology and Soils – General information is available from U.S.Geological Survey quadrangle
maps and U.S.Department of Agriculture soil surveys. More explicit information may be
required from core drillings and specific soil testing. The subsurface geology is the basis for the
visible landform discussed above. Other implications are the engineering characteristics such as
bearing capacity that determine suitable locations for structures and other heavy
elements. Conversely, shallow depth to bedrock may restrict certain construction options on
the basis of cost and impact of development. Similarly, a high water table may limit or
restrict some sanitary sewage options.

Closely related are the soils characteristics which are frequently a direct product of the underlying
geology. The soils may be important in terms of stability, suitability for structural foundations,
erosion susceptibility, surface drainage, and soil fertility to support plant growth. Again, the
suitability of soils is very much dependent upon the proposed uses. A site suitable for intensive
structural development may be unsuitable for recreational activities and vice-versa.

 Vegetation – The existing vegetation patterns and types can be obtained from aerial
photographs and maps. Detailed plant identification and location of specimen plants may
require field study and measurement. The significance of vegetative information relates to a
range of development issues. The visual character and spatial definition of a site is impacted
by the amount and category of vegetation – from ground cover to canopy, from new growth
to mature stands of trees, etc. Vegetation can modify the climate by providing shade,
protecting potential development from winter winds or by channeling summer breezes. Plant
coverage enhances soil stability, provides an indication of soil conditions (e.g., wetlands) and
relates to potential wildlife habitats. Therefore, a site with extensive mature vegetation
would be less suitable for high-density development from the standpoint of environmental
 character. The presence of trees and other plants may on the other hand make a site
attractive for certain kinds of housing and/or for recreation facilities.
 Hydrology and Drainage – U.S. Geological Service quadrangle maps provide a good base of
information for this analysis, supplemented with flood data from the U.S. Corps of Engineers
and local flood maps. Surface hydrology is an integral part of the slopes and subsurface
drainage systems. The kinds of information normally indicated and analyzed include
determination of watersheds (basically a system of ridge lines and valleys or drainage
patterns), duration and volume of flow, swales, streams, standing water, and flood plain
definition. Susceptibility to erosion and the problem of sedimentation to off-site water flow
are also problems to be noted. Generally it is advisable to avoid disturbing natural subsurface
drainage patterns such as high water tables which have implications for locations of structures
or excavations.
 Microclimate – Information on general climatic factors such as seasonal temperature averages,
amounts of precipitation, etc. are available locally. Microclimatic factors refer to variations to
the general climate such as might be created by topography, plants and vegetation, exposure
to winds, elevation above sea level, and relationships to structural elements. These factors are
important to design in terms of delineating the “opportunities and constraints” of a particular
site for development noted by Laurie (See earlier discussion). Slopes are analyzed in relation
to solar orientation to determine “warm” and “cool” slopes, based on sun exposure. Shade
and shadow patterns created by existing vegetation and structures are important to design in
terms of potential positive or negative impacts for development. Plants may be used to
ameliorate undesirable conditions by providing windbreaks, shade, etc.
 Views – A visual analysis is the most practical means of determining positive and negative on-
site and off-site views. This study is useful in determining the visual character of the site
itself as viewed from the outside as well as the visual impact of its surroundings upon
potential on-site development. Factors to be examined include mass and space definition from
natural and man-made elements, off-site views to be accentuated or screened, and on-site view
opportunities or problems.
 Existing Structures / Infrastructure – The availability of essential utilities – water, sanitary
sewer, storm sewer, gas, electric, telephone, etc. – is crucial to the potential for site
development from both an economic and environmental standpoint. If utilities are available to
tap into directly adjacent to a site, the costs of development may be significantly
minimized. Environmentally, if storm and sanitary sewers are not available, the options for
land development may be severely restricted. Available municipal facilities may be at capacity
or receiving streams may be restricted to additional outflow by state and federal
environmental regulations. Off-site systems such as transportation networks (vehicular,
pedestrian, bicycle) may also be the determining factor in the suitability of a site for a
particular land use. This relates to issues of accessibility, ranging from commuting distances to
work, to convenience and safety for pedestrians, to enhancement of recreation opportunities.
 Legal Constraints – These may include legal property boundaries, easements , rights of way;
restrictive covenants, and deed restrictions. Local regulations such as zoning ordinances and
subdivision regulations may impose limitations upon what a developer is allowed to do on a
given site and provide procedural requirements by which development may move forward.
 Access
Access is the next thing to consider in site planning. We forget how the size of cars, roads,
driveways and garages relates to a house. Even the most compact car needs adequate turning
and parking space. The problem for the designer is to make car access graceful and natural,
while saving key vegetation and providing for a transition between the car and the front
door—all the while taking care to avoid making the site look like a small shopping center.

Access roads leading up or down hills need careful study. There needs to be a level place to
stop where the road meets the street. Grades should be below 10 percent unless there is no
other choice and the owner accepts the problems associated with steep roads. In addition,
water must be drained off or led through culverts to avoid washouts and erosion. And the
route should be attractive and should protect the house from headlights.

Arriving at the house, one preferably should not face a huge garage door. If there is no other
option, put the garage door under a generous overhang, perhaps splitting it into individual
single doors. Also emphasize the entry using steps, landscaping, a covered walk or porch – even
small entrance symbols such as lights and mailboxes — anything to keep the garage door from
dominating the composition.

Finally, don’t block access to the back or side yards without thinking through the consequences
carefully—particularly if you plan to landscape or there is room to build on an addition in the
future.

 Bringing in the Sun

After considering the issues above, we typically focus our designs on the sun. Sunlit rooms are
a symbol of contentment to owners in both winter and summer, so we try to bring sunlight
into every room for part of the day without causing overheating. If you save energy in the
process—and you often do—so much the better.

Design with the sun in mind. A well-sited house makes the best use of natural light, bringing
sunlight into every room for at least part of the day. The time to think of the sun is when
you site the house. Good siting enables the house to make the best use of natural lighting and
to enhance the overall house design.

 Wind Considerations
Wind is another important factor in site planning. It is important to know the typical wind
patterns of the local climate in order to place outdoor elements in locations that take
 advantage of desirable summer breezes while permitting extended outdoor activities in cool
weather. For example, in the northeast you can count on

• From the west and northwest: the coldest and strongest winds which freeze everything on
clear winter days or cool things off in hot weather
• From the northeast: cold winds, often with heavy rain or snow
• From the east and southeast: warmer winds that bring in rain and unsettled weather
• From the southwest: cool, welcome breezes in summer

In the northeast, because of the long periods of cool and cold weather, it’s desirable to create
outdoor living spaces facing southeast, because they are protected from cool winds and allow
you to extend outdoor living into the cool swing seasons. Areas facing northwest are
comfortable in hot weather, which still constitute a small number of days despite warming
trends. By contrast, in southern climates with extended periods of hot weather, catching any
available breeze is desirable.

To protect from undesirable winds, one technique (if possible taking account of other site
planning factors) is to place the garage on that side of the house. Solid fences are poor
windbreaks, because strong eddies form directly behind them, but perforated screens or dense
vegetation work well. A landscape architect can help a lot here.

 The Front Door

Many houses prominently feature a formal, symmetrical entrance even though it is rarely used
—nearly everyone goes in the back way. The entry is a key element in any floor plan, but
should be designed as part of a coherent design.

Formal front entries are rarely used. Instead make the entry an integral part of the design. In
this house, designed by the author, a small roofed porch protects the entry that connects
every part of the house.

In most of our designs, there is one important entry that is visually compelling and easily
identified. We usually link the entry hall with the garage and/or basement through a storage
room or mudroom. Sometimes the site forces other solutions, and the plan must be adjusted
accordingly.

6. Enumerate the process/ steps in site planning.

The site planning process can be outlined as follows:

1. A thorough assessment of the natural environment and the associated physical characteristics
of the site and its surroundings.
2. A detailed analysis of the users and their requirements in terms of facilities for each
activity and the sort of environment needed to enable the activity to take place with the
maximum possible user satisfaction.
 3. An assessment of the potential of the site, based on the relationship between the physical
characteristics of the site and the user requirements.
4. An assessment of possibilities for changing the physical characteristics of the site to make a
better match between the users and the site.
5. Assessing the impact on the natural and visual environments of any changes to the physical
aspects of the site. 6. Proposing a plan for the site which is a balance between man’s
requirements and the need to ensure the conservation and enhancement of the natural
environment.

There are several notable models from which we can draw to understand the basic components of the
site planning and design process. Kevin Lynch outlines an eight-stage site planning cycle (see Fig. 1)
that includes:

1. Defining the problem

2. Programming and the analysis of site and user
3. Schematic design and the preliminary cost estimate
4. Developed design and detailed costing
5. Contract documents
6. Bidding and contracting
7. Construction
8. Occupation and management
7. What is site selection?

Site selection uses the same techniques as any site analysis, but a broad search will most often begin
by the reduction of possibilities to a manageable handful of alternatives. This is usually done by
screening: blocking off on an area map the regions that, in the light of objectives, are unacceptable
for such reasons as excessive grade or cost, poor soil, small size, previous development, or lack of
access.

Site selection can significantly affect the environmental impact of a project. Some specific parameters
to consider when selecting a site include the following:

 Avoid flood plains. Continued development in natural flood plain areas has contributed to
increased flooding, decreased flooding, and increased soil loss.
 Provide buffers for bodies of water. Development around bodies of water such as streams and
wetlands should be limited and include buffers of undisturbed areas of 50' – 100' or more.
 Avoid greenfields. Greyfields and brownfields are often less expensive to develop, place less stress
on infrastructure, and limit the environmental impact of developing previously undeveloped sites.
 Keep transportation in mind. The transportation of people and goods to a site can have
significant effects. Try to select sites accessible by public and non-motorized transportation.

8. Formulating Site Selection Criteria

Prior to initiating the site search, or while reviewing an opportunity to acquire a site, it is essential
to carefully define the appropriate criteria for the proposed project by considering the following:

Scale

The scale or size of the proposed project should relate to the level of need for the housing
identified, as well as to the capacity of the organization to develop and/or manage the property.
Scale also should be “contextual,” meaning the project should be consistent with the height and
density of the surrounding buildings. Determining the number of units also could be based on the
degree of community support for the project. The project architect can help determine the
maximum allowable development area (based on zoning and floor area ratios), as well as the
appropriate scale for the identified neighborhood.

Housing Type and Construction Approach

The type of housing to be built is a key siting criteria, and different approaches may lend themselves
best to different neighborhood locations. For instance, a development model of scattered-site, one-
and two-family houses may work best in a low-density neighborhood, whereas larger projects using
multi-unit buildings or commercial hotels are generally only available in urban locations.

The construction approach — new construction versus rehabilitation — also will help guide the site
search. Funding sources sometimes dictate this choice, which may be restricted to one approach.
Construction costs are another important consideration, with rehabilitation costs generally lower than
new construction (unless unusual building conditions are present or historic preservation standards are
required). New construction opportunities will be limited to neighborhoods that have available (and
affordable) vacant land or substandard buildings that can be demolished, and any demolition costs
effectively increase the acquisition costs. Choosing a rehabilitation development strategy would direct
the site search to locations where there are vacant or partially or fully occupied buildings. The
challenges, costs and inevitable delays of relocating existing tenants should be factored into the
decision.

Location

As with all real estate decisions, location is critical in identifying an appropriate site for a supportive
housing development, and each of the following factors must be evaluated:

• Public transportation – Sites should have good access to public transportation options that
serve important destinations for the tenants, such as supportive services providers,
employment, health care, shopping and recreation. Many tenants will not be able to afford
private transportation, so public transit becomes a necessity. In addition, proximity to good
public transportation may be a requirement or provide a competitive edge for funding
applications.

• Employment opportunities – Sites should have reasonable access to employment opportunities

and job training. While these opportunities may not be available in the immediate
neighborhood, they should be accessible through public transportation, and within reasonable
commuting distance.
• Neighborhood amenities — Projects should be located in neighborhoods that have key
residential amenities, such as affordable shopping (especially supermarkets), public libraries, post
offices, banks, parks, open space and recreational facilities. This usually means siting housing in
traditional residential neighborhoods, and not in commercial, manufacturing or warehousing
districts that typically lack such amenities. Proximity to neighborhood amenities may be a
requirement or provide a competitive edge for funding applications.

• Community-based services — It is critical that supportive housing tenants have easy access to
supportive services available in the community, especially to service programs with established,
 formal linkages. Depending upon the project’s target population, services related to substance
use and recovery, case management, crisis intervention, parenting programs and health clinics,
Tenants may need health clinics on an ongoing or intermittent basis. If not located in the
immediate neighborhood, such services should be easily accessible by public transportation.

• Day care — If the planned project will house families with young children, day care services
must be available in the neighborhood or easily accessible near major employment centers. Lack
of access to quality day care will frustrate parents who are working, participating in job
training or seeking employment.

• Public schools and related programs — For projects serving families, the sites should be in
close proximity to public education resources such as public schools, public or private preschools,
or Headstart programs, school readiness programs, and after-school enrichment and recreation
programs. For all target populations, easy access to community colleges, vocational programs
and other higher educational opportunities are important.

• Security — If possible, the site should not be in an area that has a high crime rate, since
supportive housing tenants may be especially vulnerable to victimization. Sites also should abide
by the principles of “defensible space,” which suggests low-rise buildings and open site designs
avoid hidden spaces that are conducive to crime (e.g., playgrounds or courtyards screened from
public view).

Acquisition or Lease Costs

The cost of acquiring or leasing a development site may be the overriding consideration for selecting a
property. Many public funding programs have a maximum acquisition or lease cost (total or per unit
caps) that must be considered during the site search. The allowable costs will often limit the search
to those communities that have lower real estate prices. Most public funders, and all private lenders,
will likely require that the purchase price not exceed the appraised value of the property.

Before initiating the site search, it is also critical to determine whether the funding sources’
preferences lean toward purchase or lease. Some public agencies do not have capital available to
acquire sites, but are able to fund lease payments through annual contracts. It should be noted that
there are some serious drawbacks to leasing, including difficulty in maintain quality, cost and control
over the long term.

Zoning Considerations
Zoning also must be carefully considered in making site selection decisions, since local zoning
regulations can frustrate efforts to gain local approval. The project architect can analyze local zoning
restrictions to help guide the site search. Using zoning maps, it is possible to identify areas in which
to develop a proposed project “as-of-right” — that is, without a zoning variance. If possible, it is
advisable to limit the site search to these areas, since the process of seeking and being granted a
zoning variance will add time and uncertainty to the development efforts. It may

give any opponents to the project additional opportunities, and additional leverage, to block the
planned development. It is often impossible to find suitably priced sites that are politically acceptable
to a community that don’t require zoning approvals or discretionary action by a local planning board
or commission. If this is the case, a critical aspect of the due diligence will be to work closely with
city planning staff to identify what discretionary actions will be needed and how long the process will
take.

Community Acceptance

The potential for community opposition to a proposed development should be considered as the site
search is being conducted. Depending upon the assessment of community and political support in a
given neighborhood, as well as the strength of relationships with local leaders and organizational
capacity, this issue may be addressed once a site that meets the project’s needs and criteria has been
identified. In planning for the siting of new projects, there are significant issues that can create
community acceptance problems that should be considered when identifying potential
neighborhoods/blocks for development, including:

• Outsider Organization – Non-profit sponsors that select sites in neighborhoods in which they
do not operate housing or programs may be identified as outsider organizations. Neighborhood
leadership, who would prefer local sponsorship, may not give the project a fair hearing. This
may be a screen for simply opposing the project, rather than the sponsorship, or it may be a
distrust of outside organizations unknown to the neighborhood.

Faced with such challenges in a specific neighborhood, it may be best to seek out well regarded,
community-based partners with whom to work. Such a partnership can take many forms, from
using the local organization as the services provider, property manager or co-developer, or
limiting the role to focus on community outreach and education.

• Fair Share/Saturation — In some circumstances, community members may claim that their
neighborhood is being asked to accept more than its “fair share” of supportive housing and/or
other housing programs and services. They may feel “saturated” with similar projects and are
becoming “impacted” communities. Some cities, like New York, have fair share plans that will
divert new supportive housing and other housing programs and services away from
neighborhoods that are defined as “impacted” by having an unequal share of the citywide
homeless services and housing programs. If such concerns are raised, it is critical to assess
whether saturation claims are legitimate or overstated and to work with local officials to
evaluate this issue. In areas where such claims seem legitimate, it may be wise to consider
other locations without concentrations of similar projects. On the other hand, if research
indicates that there is no fair share issue, these results should be publicized to disarm the
issue.

• Scale/Impact — The scale of a supportive housing project can have an undue impact on a
neighborhood, and this impact needs to be considered in siting new projects. For example, a
large project in a low-density residential area could have an adverse impact and would likely
attract opposition from neighbors.

• Contextual Design — Related to scale/impact, the design of supportive housing project should
be sensitive to the neighborhood context. Largely an architectural issue, designs should respect
the scale, historic quality, setback/street line and architectural styles in the immediate area.
Residents can more easily reject plans that do not fit into the context of the neighborhood.
The design should communicate the goal of integrating the project into the neighborhood.

• Available Neighborhood Services — Projects should be sited in neighborhoods that have access
to the required supportive services for the project’s target population (e.g., mental health
services) that will not be available on-site. Without the availability of these services, the
project could become vulnerable to community claims that tenants will not be able to access
needed support and could pose a threat to the community.

• Private Open Space — While not a requirement for siting supportive housing, the ability to
provide private open space for the exclusive use of tenants can help ease the introduction of
new projects, and it is also a nice amenity for tenants. The provision of these spaces, which
can be a landscaped garden or seating or recreation area, can disarm community concerns that
new tenants will congregate in front of the building.

• Zoning — As noted in earlier in this section, zoning can be a key factor in successfully siting
new projects. Some of the key aspects of a zoning analysis include evaluating parking
requirements, and height and density restrictions for the proposed site. Local governments
sometimes use zoning requirements to thwart projects housing the formerly homeless or
providing related services. The project architect and attorney determine whether the project
 can comply with zoning requirements. Therefore, it is clearly preferable to avoid the need for a
zoning variance when possible, and to proceed “as of right.” Moreover, some local zoning laws
may violate federal fair housing laws, and they may be vulnerable to legal challenges from
advocates for the homeless.

9. Likert Scale

A Likert is a psychometric scale commonly involved in research that employs questionnaires. It is the
most widely used approach to scaling responses in survey research, such that the term (or more
accurately the Likert-type scale) is often used interchangeably with rating scale, although there are
other types of rating scales.

A Likert item is simply a statement that the respondent is asked to evaluate by giving it a
quantitative value on any kind of subjective or objective dimension, with level of
agreement/disagreement being the dimension most commonly used. Well-designed Likert items exhibit
both "symmetry" and "balance". Symmetry means that they contain equal numbers of positive and
negative positions whose respective distances apart are bilaterally symmetric about the "neutral"/zero
value (whether or not that value is presented as a candidate). Balance means that to the distance
between each candidate value is the same, allowing for quantitative comparisons such as averaging to
be valid across items containing more than two candidate values.

Likert Scale Examples

Agreement Frequency
 Strongly Agree  Very Frequently
 Agree  Frequently
 Undecided  Occasionally
 Disagree  Rarely
 Strongly Disagree  Never
Importance Likelihood
 Very Important  Almost Always True
 Important  Usually True
 Moderately Important  Occasionally True
 Of Little Importance  Usually Not True
 Unimportant  Almost Never True
How can you analyze data from a Likert Scale?
• Summarize using a median or a mode (not a mean); the mode is probably the most suitable for
easy interpretation.
• Display the distribution of observations in a bar chart (it can’t be a histogram, because the data is
not continuous).

AIRPORT SITE SELECTION

Airports are vital national resources. They serve a key role in transportation of people and goods and
in regional, national, and international commerce. They are where the nation’s aviation system
connects with other modes of transportation and for managing and regulating air traffic operations
intersects with the role of state and local governments that own and operate most airports.

SITE SELECTION CRITERIA

People prefer to travel by plane because of time saving. For this reason, an airport is a gateway to
the city for both national and international dimension. According to this information, site selection is
important topic for the city authority. Airports are vital national resources. They serve a key role in
transportation of people and goods and in regional, national, and international commerce. They are
where the nation’s aviation system connects with other modes of transportation and where federal
responsibility for managing and regulating air traffic operations intersects with the role of state and
local governments that own and operate most airports. The engineers and the authority determine
the site in two steps:

DEFINE THE CRITERIA

Criteria can change with the purpose and the type of the airport. Although they can be changeable,
there are certain criteria which are important for the authority.
  Topography:
Topographical considerations that should be taken into account are: (1) the grading that will be
required to meet the standards for maximum runway grades, which vary from one percent to two
percent depending upon the class of the airport; (2) selection of a site which departs sufficiently
from the dead level to allow adequate natural drainage, but does not have portions so steep that
serious erosion may result; and (3) selecting an location where the soil is pervious, yet has a suitable
amount of natural binder, and where the water table (ground water table) does not come too close
to the surface. -

 Environmental Impact:
This impact can be categorized more than 3 subtitle; such as pollution impacts, physical impacts,
ecological impacts and historical resources. Wetlands, water quality, floodplains, historical sites,
pollution impacts and waste facilities are in this assessment. Several categories are considered under
pollution impacts. The potential for noise impacts must always be evaluated for any airport. Other
areas include air pollution, water quality, and solid waste. Physical impacts category evaluates
potential physical impacts related to physical factors of construction of the airport. Included in this
evaluation are impacts such as flood hazard, light emissions, and the airport's effect on energy supply
or other natural resources. Ecological impacts category evaluates the potential impacts on the natural
and historic environment. Biotic communities, endangered species, and their habitat areas are included
under this category. Historical resources category evaluates the potential impacts to historical or
cultural resources that may be of national, state, or local significance. This includes impacts to
properties eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the archaeological potential
of each site. -

 Land and Development Costs:

The land and development costs of the airport should not be excessive. In addition to grading,
drainage, and construction charges, the development cost is affected by the availability of suitable
construction materials near the site and the nearness of necessary utilities. -

 Obstruction and Airspace:

An analysis of the relationship with the airspace requirements of the existing airport system is
essential. It is also necessary to review the envelope area of each site for the presence or absence of
potential obstructions to aircraft activity. Certain obstructions may be considered immovable or too
expensive to move when other options are available (e.g., large land forms, tall communication
towers, major power lines, water towers, etc.). Others, such as smaller power lines, trees, buildings,
and roads, impose a cost of removal or relocation that must be considered.

 Proximity to other airport:

The site should be selected at a considerable distance from the existing airports so that the aircraft
landing in one airport does not interfere with the movement of aircraft at other airport. The
required separation between the airports mainly depends upon the volume of air traffic.

 Accessibility:
One of the most important factors influencing the selection of an airport site is its accessibility to
the destination and source of the passengers and cargo. This is a particularly vital consideration for
commercial airports since one of the great advantages of air travel is its advantage of shorter travel
time over other means of transportation. To provide maximum service to an area, an airport should
be located in reasonable proximity to the population center it is to serve. The location in relation to
business and industry should also receive attention. Preferably, the airport should be located adjacent
to and visible from a major highway route. It is easy to access by using local and transient roadways.
Driving time and distance to the center should be maximum sixty minutes. -

 Residential Impact:
This factor examines the magnitude of property to be acquired for each candidate site. The airfield
layout, the size and shape of existing parcel ownership, and other impacts to neighboring parcels can
affect the amount of property necessary to be acquired. Also included for consideration under this
category will be residence acquisition. The sites should be eliminated if there is more than 10
households due to decrease cost of expropriation.

 Noise nuisance:
The extent of noise nuisance depends upon the climb out path of aircraft type of engine propulsion
and the gross weight of aircraft. The problem becomes more acute with jet engine aircrafts.
Therefore the site should be so selected that the landing and take off paths of the aircrafts pass
over the land which is free from residential or industrial developments.

 Meteorology:
The direction and duration of the prevailing winds at the proposed site should be studied since these
factors will govern the runway layout and will affect the location and arrangement of the airport
buildings. Also, the site should be relatively free from smoke and fog so that the visibility potential
of the site will be good.

 Airport use:
The selection of site depends upon the use of an airport. Whether for civilian or for military
operations. However during the emergency civilian airports are taken over by the defense. Therefore
the airport site selected should be such that it provides natural protection to the area from air
roads. This consideration is of prime importance for the airfields to be located in combat zones. If
the site provides thick bushes.
DECIDE THE AREA
In the past, evaluation of these criteria was hard and authority used primitive methods. On the
other hand, today is information and technology age. There are lots of program which can evaluate
these information. People generally use GIS program to evaluate their criteria. After the criteria
evaluation, they consider other steps and finally they decide the area. In this part, decision steps will
be explained. -

o Evaluate the criteria:

People analyze the city and define the criteria. After that, they should use evaluation programs; such
as GIS, in order to reduce the risk of possibility of making a mistake. These programs evaluate the
whole city according to the criteria or people specify some areas and these programs evaluate these
areas. After the evaluating they choose 4 or 5 sites to evaluate the next step. The following picture
show the evaluation of the criteria.

o Rank the utilized area:

The evaluation program designate the suitable area according to the criteria. Authority select the 4
or 5 suitable areas within the utilized area. To eliminate these sites, people generally use ranking
method. They give score to each site for each topic. For example, ranking method is seen the
following table. This is for airport selection ranking for Spalding Country. The authority select 8 sites
and they evaluate them according to criteria. After that they use ranking method. As it seen, there
are 8 sites and four of them are eliminated. Finally 2 area are selected which have high score.

o Cost estimation and fund estimation:

After the ranking process, authority prepare the cost and fund estimation for 2-selected area. The
important thing is “the best service, the lowest cost”.

o Funding timeline:
After the selection of airport site, authority should prepare the funding timeline. This timeline should
show the steps and cost of the construction process.