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UNIT I SHAPING THE LANDSCAPE

Grading and the soil Contour manipulation


Maps for grading Grading around buildings and structures
Representation of landform Evenly sloped surfaces ,roadways drainage
Contour Interpretation Grading Standards
Classifying the land form Calculating Grades
The six cardinal laws of contours The grading Plan
Calculation of cut and fill

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


GRADING

Preparation of land for any use beyond its natural condition involves
changing the landform by grading.

Grading involves changing the elevations of the existing landscape to


accommodate structures, pathways and to facilitate the removal of surface water.

It also considers the installation of subsurface structures for the distribution of


water, gas, power, telephone service and the disposal of waste water and storm
runoff.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


GRADING

F il
Failure to maintain
i i naturall drainage
d i systems can cause flooding,
fl di accelerate
l erosion,
i
undermine foundations and damage desirable vegetation.

Grading should be done in sympathy with the natural setting and have to be worked
within natural constraints
constraints.

The design solution has to satisfy the client


client’ss needs within the budget and at the same
time seek to enhance the efficiency of the natural environment.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


GRADING AND THE SOIL

Grading depends on the character and composition of the soil.

The soil itself will directly determine what can and cannot be done, especially
when the budget will not permit replacing or extensively modifying the soil.

A - Coarse material with organic matter


B - Clay minerals with little organic
material
C - Weathered parent material
D - Parent material

SOIL PROFILE

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


SOIL FORMATION

Soil are produced by the weathering of rocks.


Weathering occurs when rocks become exposed to water, air and organisms that cause the
rock to change or break into successively smaller pieces.

Two kinds of weathering are chemical weathering and physical weathering.


Chemical weathering involves a change in the chemical make-up of the parent rock
material.
Physical weathering is the simple breaking up of the parent rock into smaller particles.

Some projects require a knowledge of the soil as a growth medium while others may be
concerned with regional land stability.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


SOIL CLASSIFICATION

Soils are typically classified by:


Agricultural characteristics
Geologic characteristics
Engineering characteristics.

The agriculturalist is concerned primarily with soil as a plant growth medium.

The geologist classifies soils by their physical and morphological properties .

The engineer classifies soils by their mechanical and structural capabilities.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


MAPS FOR GRADING

The basic tool used to record and display information about the land form is a
topographic map.

MAP SCALES
Maps can be classified as large scale or small scale.

The large scale map is used for site specific work that requires fine detail.
The small scale map is used for a general data display covering large land areas.

Rough grading can be achieved by small scale maps but for finished grading plans large
scale maps are a necessity.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


REPRESENTATION OF LAND FORM

The three dimensional land form is represented by two dimensional graphic techniques.
The oldest method used to represent land form is called hachures.

Hachures are evenly spaced lines drawn parallel to the


lines of steepest slope, with breaks at equal increments
of vertical change in elevation.

The most practical application is for presentation plans


since they cover the sheet completely and recording
other information is difficult. They have little
application in construction drawings.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


REPRESENTATION OF LAND FORM

Contour lines
The most popular method of representing land
form is the use of contour lines.

Contour lines are the same elevation along their


entire length and have the same vertical
separation.
i

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


REPRESENTATION OF LAND FORM

Contour lines: This principle is very easy to visualize by putting an object in


water.
If water is added in one foot increments, and a line traced around the object at the
water surface, each point on that line will be the same elevation.

Then if the object is represented in plan, the lines show up as contour lines
p g a vertical change
representing g in elevation of one foot between the two lines.

Contours allow the display of other information on the same map.


map It also
allows the designer to approximate intermediate elevations with relative
accuracy
accuracy.
AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA
REPRESENTATION OF LAND FORM

Drawing contour lines with object in water

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


REPRESENTING LAND FORM IN ELEVATION

A the
As h elevations
l i are important
i to visualize
i li the h final
fi l form
f off a structure, land
l d form
f can be
b
studied using drawings representing the vertical configuration. The drawings used for this
i called
is ll d profile
fil or sections.
ti

Sections are normally associated with either an existing or proposed condition


whereas a profile indicates both the existing and the proposed conditions.

A section is a two dimensional plane taken perpendicular to the earth’s surface. It


indicates the vertical configuration of the earth
earth’ss surface along its entire length but only
on that line.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


REPRESENTING LAND FORM IN ELEVATION

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


IMPORTANT STEPS IN PREPARING A SECTION

The plane of a section must be clearly shown on the plane and labeled
labeled.

The section sheet is prepared with the vertical elevation increments labeled on both the
sides of the sheet and the horizontal dimensions to be indicated.

The subscripts N S E W are added to indicate the compass direction of increasing


horizontal measure if a series of sections is beingg pprepared.
p

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


IMPORTANT STEPS IN PREPARING A SECTION

The scales horizontal and vertical are clearly labeled. It is common to exaggerate the
vertical scale by five to ten times when doing most sectional drawings that involve land
form.

The points where the contour lines intersect the plane of section are projected down
to the appropriate elevation line on the sectional drawing. When it is not possible or
convenient to project directly, a tick-sheet is used to transfer the information.

The points are then connected with a smooth free hand line to depict the vertical
configuration of the surface.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


CONTOUR INTERPRETATION
The ability to interpret and visualize land form from contours is very essential. Combined
with site visit the information gathered will be indispensible to the designer.

Before beginning to study a contour map steps to be followed:


Check the contour interval which will be recorded in the legend or near the scale
notation on the map.
Check the scale of the map. This will be recorded graphically by a notation of one inch
equals so many feet or by a unit equivalent notation. For eg 1: 24000 means that each inch
on the map equals 24000 inches in the field
Check the data source. This will be shown by a note or in the legend. Field surveys will
usually be more accurate than maps interpreted from aerial photographs. Also the date
should be noted so that information is recent and up to date.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


CONTOUR INTERPRETATION

Orient the map with north to the top of the sheet.

Then identify focal points such as buildings towers power lines or other man made
objects that will help to stay oriented.
oriented

Observe the road and railroad patterns.


patterns They establish boundaries that are easily
recognized and major highways and railroads usually follow the ridgelines.

The contour pattern that describes a particular land form is referred to as the
contour signature.
g

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA
AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA
EXAMINING THE CHARACTER OF LAND
FORM

Steep slopes should generally be avoided for development since extensive grading will
probably be required.

In addition any modification of the surface vegetation will accelerate erosion and
increase runoff.

Too little slope


p cause drainage
g to be sluggish
gg and flooding
g becomes a ppossibility.
y

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


CLASSIFYING THE LAND FORM

Terms associated with land areas bounded by


Ridge lines – valleys
Glen or dale: A small narrow valley usually
bounded by gently sloped concave sides.

Ravine: A deep valley bounded by


steep slopes with little flat land at the
base, usually only a stream bed.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


CLASSIFYING THE LAND FORM

Flood Plain: A broad flat gently rolling land area


bounded by distinct ridge lines

Hogs back: A long distinct ridge line


characterized
h i d by
b concave slopes
l at the
h
sides.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


CLASSIFYING THE LAND FORM

Knoll: A hill usually round to oval


shaped with convex slopes.

Knob: An abrupt hill with concave


slopes and a rounded top.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


CLASSIFYING THE LAND FORM

Camel Back ridge: Paired knolls of near equal


size that occur along a ridgeline.

Butte: A steep sided formation with a nearly


flat top. These are usually igneous rock
intrusions that have been exposed by the forces
of erosion.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


CLASSIFYING THE LAND FORM
General terms
Bay and promontory: A bay is
shaped by a ridgeline , and the
promontory is the dominant upland
feature that shapes the bay.

Meadow: A flat to gently rolling


plain that occurs on a hill side or
along ridge line.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


CLASSIFYING THE LAND FORM

Swale: A shallow lineal depression with a


parabolic cross section and gently sloped
sides.

Fan (Alluvial Fan): A nearly flat


deposition of water transported soil at the
base of water shed. It will dissected by
several water courses rather than a single
stream.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


CLASSIFYING THE LAND FORM

Toe( of the slope): The toe is the point


where the slope of a hill changes from its
steep downward face to more gently sloped
terrain. Where a structure is involved it
may refer to the base of the cut or fill.

Saddle: The low point between two


domes or knolls along the ridge line.
Thi is
This i referred
f d as a pass.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


CLASSIFYING THE LAND FORM

Crest: The point of highest elevation on a hill.


This is marked in a topogarphic map by a spot
elevation.

Military Crest: The point on the slope of a


hill that will not allow any person or object to
be ssilhouetted
ouetted aga
against
st the
t e horizon
o o anda d also
a so
allow full view of the slope below.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


SIX CARDINAL LAWS OF CONTOUR GRADING
The following sixcontour characteristics are called laws because any deviation from
them is not possible.

1.Contours always occur in pairs

Co ou s that indicate
Contours d c e a ridge
dge oor a dep
depression
ess o will
w always
w ys cclose.
ose. If you ccross
oss a 50ft
contour uphill then you must cross another 50ft contour downhill

2. Contours never cross


Contour lines never cross each other unless an overhanging ledge is indicated.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


3. Contours have equal vertical separation

Contour lines always indicate equal change in vertical


measure.

4. All contour line close on themselves


All contour lines will close some place on the
face of the earth even though they may not
appear
pp to on an individual map. p

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


5. Contours do not merge.
Since contour always occur in pairs they cannot merge.
merge
They must always be continuous and must close on
themselves.

6. The steepest slope is a line perpendicular to


the contour.
This point is important because water will always
flow along the line of steepest slope.

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA


Thank you

AR1460 L A N D S C A P E CONSTRUCTION UNIT I BY PROF. C.INDRA

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