PARAMETERS OF SITE SELECTION AND

ANALYSIS

Choosing a site on which to locate a new home is not a simple task. Countless factors
natural, man-made, social and economic must be examined. Where we choose to build and
how we build on a site have an impact on the local and global environments, ongoing costs
(utility bills, maintenance) and our physical and psychological well-being. With todays rapid
growth, dwindling resources and increasing pollution threats, concern for human and
environmental health are causing us to take a closer look at our building practices, starting
with the building site. Whether selecting a site or working with an existing site, and whether
the site is urban, suburban or rural, there are many aspects that can be examined with
respect to how green, that is how healthy for people and the planet, the home on that site
can potentially be.

1. Location
SELECTING A BUILDING SITE CLOSE TO WORK, SCHOOLS, SHOPPING, ETC. WILL MINIMIZE
TRAVEL DISTANCES AND TIME. SHORT DISTANCES, SIDEWALKS, BIKE PATHS AND BUS STOPS
WILL ALLOW FOR HEALTHIER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE AVOIDANCE OF
EXCESSIVE COSTLY, POLLUTING AUTOMOBILE TRIPS. A LOT IN AN ESTABLISHED
NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATED CLOSE TO TOWN IS A PARTICULARLY GOOD CHOICE FOR MANY
PEOPLE. THIS LAND HAS ALREADY BEEN DEDICATED TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, SO
MORE NATURAL LAND DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DESTROYED AND THE COSTLY ROADS AND
UTILITIES ARE ALREADY IN PLACE.

AVOIDING ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS HELPS PROTECT SOME OF THE FEATURES

THAT MAKES MANY AREAS SO SPECIAL OUR CREEKS, LAKES, AQUIFER, TREE-COVERED
HILLS, WILDLIFE, NATIVE WILDFLOWERS & PLANTS. FLAT TO MODERATELY SLOPED SITES
ARE PREFERABLE TO STEEPLY SLOPED LOTS, AS SOIL EROSION, LOSS OF HILLSIDE
VEGETATION AND DAMAGE TO WATERWAYS ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO AVOID WHEN BUILDING
ON STEEP SLOPES.

2. Design For The Climate, Flora, Fauna & Soils

The chosen building site can greatly affect the comfort and energy efficiency of the home
built upon it. A south-facing slope or good southern exposure on a lot which allows for the
long sides of the building to face north and south will facilitate the utilization of our
prevailing summer breezes and desirable winter solar heat gain.

Examination of a particular sites unique characteristics is important. The top of a hill may
be too windy, drying and exposed to the hot sun. A valley may be too damp, windless, foggy
or subject to flooding. Location and type of trees should be evaluated for summer shading
assistance, summer breeze channeling or blocking, winter wind blocking, and winter solar
heat gain penetration.

A lot that allows for placement of the house on a relatively flat area and in a natural clearing
will minimize disruption of the natural vegetation. This will avoid erosion, discourage growth
of invasive exotic vegetation, and be less expensive than massive reconstruction. Minimizing
disruption of natural drainage patterns is generally less expensive up front and avoids costly
maintenance of elaborate constructed drainage systems. When native trees and vegetation
must be removed, they can often be replanted elsewhere on or off the site. Respecting
existing wildlife trails and habitat will enhance wildlife observation enjoyment.
 3. Minimization of Raw Materials
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO MINIMIZE THE USE OF RAW MATERIALS IS TO SELECT A SITE
THAT ALREADY HAS A HOME ON IT, AND REMODEL AS NECESSARY. AT TIMES IT MAKES
SENSE TO MOVE AN EXISTING HOME TO A NEW SITE. SOME SITES MAY OFFER SOURCES OF
USABLE BUILDING MATERIALS SUCH AS WOOD, STONE, CLAY AND SAND WHICH, IF
CAREFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDERED, CAN BE A SOUND ALTERNATIVE TO
IMPORTATION.

One of the best ways to minimize the amount (and cost) of building materials required is to
keep the size of the home reasonable. With thoughtful design a small home can be very
comfortable, functional and respectful of privacy. Smaller, more affordable lots should not be
overlooked.

4. Social/Psychological/Functional
Maximum use of patios, decks, natural clearings, or other outdoor rooms can result in the
need for less indoor square footage that needs to be constructed then heated and cooled,
not to mention the psychological and physical benefits of being outdoors. A prospective
building site should be examined for existing tree groupings, landforms or structures that
will aid in creating pleasant, usable outdoor spaces. Off site conditions which may affect
outdoor livability or indoor living with open windows (such as traffic noise, odors or pollution)
should be considered before selecting a site.

Many site selection and home design decisions that are good for the environment also have
direct positive benefits on the occupants health, well-being and budget. Helping to preserve
our environment through more thoughtful site selection and home design is one very
important step toward a continued high quality of life.

5. CLIMATOLOGY FACTOR

Climate can be subdivided into two major divisions:

1. Micro climate
2. Macro climate
We have to study the micro climate and macro climate of the place in order to design a Bio-
climatic structure. We have already discussed Bio-climatic Architecture. You must give a read
before advancing further. It will give you a clear idea of the Bio climatic aspects to be
considered while designing.

Site Analysis for Construction

Site Analysis is very important before we initiate our construction. Detailed study of site and
its surroundings will help justify our design proposal. Detailed study of the site and
surrounding areas of the site helps in designing the project efficiently.

3 MAJOR SITE SERVICES

- WATER SUPPLY
- ELECTRIC LINE
- DRAINAGE LINE

DEFINITION OF TERMS
 - SITE SURVEYING- Hire a surveyor and get the survey of the land. It will help you
figure out the geological and hydrological structure of the site.

- SITE REPAIR- is a special approach to selection of a building site that can have
economic and aesthetic benefits for the prospective homeowner while restoring the
local environment rather than burdening it.

- SCARRED- area often leaves the more beautiful areas to be looked out upon and
enjoyed.

- FLORA- the plants of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.

- FAUNA- Is all of the animal life of any particular region or time.

- SOIL/S- is a mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and countless

organisms that together support life on Earth. Soil is a natural body called
the pedosphere which has four important functions: it is a medium for plant growth; it
is a means of water storage, supply and purification; it is a modifier of Earth's
atmosphere; it is a habitat for organisms; all of which, in turn, modify the soil.

- BUILDING SITE- an area where a structure is being constructed or repaired.

- SITE- may refer to: Location (geography), a point or an area on the Earth's surface or
elsewhere.

- Archaeological site- a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past
activity is preserved.

- REMODEL- change the structure or form

- SITE SELECTION- A site is selected on the basis of the demand of the construction.

- CLIMATE- the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long

period.

- MICRO CLIMATE- the climate of a very small or restricted area, especially when this
differs from the climate of the surrounding area.

- MACRO CLIMATE- the overall climate of a region usually a large geographic area

- WEATHER- the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat,
dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.

ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATION OF SITE