SITE INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS FOR LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Through the process of site inventory and analysis, one can determine elements and
conditions that will impact the ultimate use and design of a landscape. Design, when
based on thoughtful inventory and analysis, can improve the environment, by
creating new features based on the users' needs and keeping those features which
are deemed useful and desirable.

Site inventory
It is a detailed documentation of the site for the purpose of effective and sustainable
design output.
Depending on the nature of landscape, site inventory is broken into sub sections as
follows:
Topographical inventory
Vegetation inventory
Built form inventory
Site services inventory

A good site inventory usually involves measured drawing of the landscaped area, notes
describing elements where necessary, a photographic documentation, etc.

Topographical inventory

It usually involves
Contour mapping
Slope analysis
Study of ridges and valleys
Marking of natural storm water drainages
Understanding of cut and fill required for the project.

Vegetation inventory

This involves
Identification of various plants
Plotting its location

Built form inventory

This involves
Studying about the style of architecture
Any historical relevance to the built form
Material usage, etc.
Site services inventory

This involves
Locating and gathering information about various services provided in site, like
electrical, water supply, plumbing, telephone cables, etc.

Steps or Requirements for a Successful design scheme

Step1: TO BEGIN

Ø Identify and locate all site elements on your property by size, material and
condition.
Ø Find out the history of the site, how it once was used and if such use is still
relevant today.
Ø Who will use the area and what ideals and activities are to be incorporated into
the ultimate landscape design?

Step 2: LOCATE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS

Ø Walk on the site with a scale-drawn site survey and roughly locate important built
elements such as walks, driveways, utilities and fences, as well as natural features
like existing trees and shrubs, rock outcroppings, and on and off-site views.

Step 3: UNDERSTAND ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

Ø As it is best to treat natural systems with regard, discern how natural areas can be
maintained and where they are most vulnerable.

Step 4: INVENTORY FACTORS THAT AFFECT CLIMATE

Ø It is essential to inventory the prevailing wind directions, patterns of sun and

shade, existing topography and soil type on a site in order to identify the different
"microclimates" that exist.

Step 5: FOLLOW THE SUN'S PATH

Ø One of the best ways to improve certain site conditions is to understand the sun's
path across the entire area.
Ø For example, a house with southern exposure will benefit from the strategic
placement of deciduous shade trees along the southwest corner; to lower the
amount of heat and glare received on summer afternoons.
Step 6: CLIMATE/MICROCLIMATE

Ø It’s important to gather information about the climatic zone in which the site
comes under.
Ø It is necessary to identify the various seasons and the vegetation which thrives in
these seasons.
Ø The data regarding amount of rainfall and temperature in various seasons.
Ø Humidity levels in the site, prevailing wind directions, etc must be tabulated.

Step 7: SOIL COMPOSITION AND CLASSIFICATION

Ø Soil is the result of decomposition of parent rock material.

Ø Soils are classified by physical and chemical properties, which include grain size
and distribution as well as organic content.
Ø Soils are also categorized by their ability to support construction. Solid rock and
boulders are the most suitable base for construction with fine sand, silt, clay and
peat being the least suitable.
Ø For most horticultural purposes, one should try to achieve a good balance of
particles so that water will enter the soil and be held until the particles release it to
the plant roots.
Ø Generally, coarse, sandy soils are more permeable than fine-grained clay soils, but
tend to lose water and nutrients too rapidly for plant roots to take up.
Ø Organic matter in soil improves nutrient content and prevents leaching, even after
heavy rains.

Step 8: SOIL pH

Ø In addition to available moisture and adequate drainage, the most important

property of a soil for horticultural applications is its pH level or soil reaction.
Ø The range of a soil's acidity or alkalinity is expressed in pH values.
Ø A reading of 7 is considered neutral. Since all plants have specific tolerances for
pH, a soil test is advisable to indicate the pH level.
Ø With this knowledge one can determine if a soil must be modified in order to
grow desired species.
Ø Please note that most important nutrients become available for plant growth in a
slightly acid soil with a pH of about 6.5. If a soil is quite acidic (below 5.5) then
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium become virtually unavailable to plant roots
while other nutrients such as iron, manganese, and boron become readily
available.
Ø Only acid-loving plants such as Rhododendron and Azalea can tolerate and thrive
in this type of soil.
Ø Many plants are also intolerant of alkaline soils and this can be more of limiting
factor to growth than soil acidity.
Step 9: VEGETATION

Ø Trees and shrubs in the landscape are classified as coniferous, deciduous and
broadleaf evergreen.
Ø For inventory purposes, it is important to note all trees over 4" DBH (diameter at
breast height) and observe the size of their branching canopy.
Ø Next, locate all shrubs and inventory visual characteristics such as form,
branching habit, twig character, bark coloration, foliage shape, texture and color,
flower color and fragrance, fruit and distinguishing uses such as wildlife and
human value.
Ø Lastly, identify plants in the under story layer including herbaceous perennials,
biennials and annuals, ferns, fern allies, vines and/or seedlings of trees and shrubs.
Ø Noting the overall condition of the vegetation along with a thorough inventory
will help to decide what one want to keep and what needs to be weeded out.

Step 10: ANALYZE THE DATA

Ø After you have carefully inventoried the natural and built features, you can begin
to analyze what you wish to keep, what you will remove, what needs to be
modified, and what will be added.

Step 11: INTERPRET A SITE'S LIMITATIONS/POTENTIALS

Ø Further emphasizing a beautiful, existing view is a great way to begin interpreting

a site's design potential.
Ø Similarly, noting an area that holds rainwater would limit it's potential for
development, unless you want to plant a wetland garden.

Step 12: BLUEPRINT FOR IDEAL DESIGN SCHEME

Ø The process of site inventory and analysis identifies and evaluates existing site
conditions to determine what can be worked with and what must be overcome in
order to accomplish the design proposal.
Ø The key is careful review of existing space and material so that a beautiful,
functional and manageable landscape can evolve.
SKETCH SHOWING THE SITE ANALYSIS OR INFERENCE PLAN
 Report on

SITE INVENTORY AND SITE ANALYSIS

By,

Vijetha.V

1 sem, M.L.Arch

U.V.C.E