Environmental Analysis Kennesaw State University (Marietta Campus)
Table of Contents
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flora and soil conditions
3-4
exsisting materiality
5-6
water collection and rainfall
7-8
wind paths and direction
9-10
solar conditions and temperature
11-12
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FLORA AND SOIL CONDITIONS DESIGN INTERVENTIONS A large portion of the site contains coniferous and deciduous trees. These trees maintain their leaves in the spring and summer seasons and lose their leaves in the fall and winter. This makes it ideal for letting in sun during the cold season, and with the warmer seasons when they have leaves, allows for more passive shading. Trees also allow for more c In exchange for giving oxygen, trees absorb carbon dioxide produced from the combustion of various fuels. Trees remove or trap lung-damaging dust, ash, pollen and smoke from the air, in addition to providing shade for people and conserving energy. Studies have identified a direct correlation between the amount of trees and grass in community common spaces and the use of those common spaces by residents, which leads to more opportunities for informal social interaction. CONIFEROUS Coniferous trees are often referred to as evergreens, and the name is associated with trees that have needles instead of broad, flat leaves. Although this is true in many cases, it isn't always true. A coniferous tree is any tree that reproduces via cones.
O-horizon ORGANIC MATTER The "O" stands for organic matter. It is a surface layer, dominated by the presence of large amounts of organic material in varying stages of decomposition. The O horizon should be considered distinct from the layer of leaf litter covering many heavily vegetated areas, which contains no weathered mineral particles and is not part of the soil itself.
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A-horizon TOPSOIL The A horizon is the top layer of the soil horizons, often referred to as 'topsoil'. This layer has a layer IS of dark decomposed organic materials, which is called "humus". The A is a surface horizon, and as such is also known as the zone in which most biological activity occurs.
DECIDUOUS Deciduous refers to any tree that drops its leaves in the fall and goes dormant during cold weather. When the weather warms, deciduous trees produce new leaves. Although most deciduous trees are broad leaf trees, this in not always the case. Some trees with needles are also deciduous trees.
EVERGREEN BROAD LEAF Some evergreen trees are neither coniferous or deciduous. Rhododendron have broad, flat leaves that remain green all year. These trees, or shrubs, thrive in USDA planting zones 4a through 8a, depending on the cultivator.
B-horizon SUBSOIL The B horizon is commonly referred to as "subsoil", and consists of mineral layers which may contain concentrations of clay or minerals such as iron or aluminum oxides or organic material moved there by leaching.
C-horizon SEDIMENT This layer is little affected by soil forming processes (weathering), and the lack of pedagogical development is one of the defining attributes. It may contain lumps or large shelves of unweathered rock.
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EXISTING MATERIALITY DESIGN INTERVENTIONS Primarily the site consists of a field, however the surrounding buildings on the site consist of a several materials. Concrete being the primary material. Steel and brick framing the buildings as well as a brick facade on the design buildings. Aluminum constructions are also present, but consist mostly of the small constructions. With no building consisting of wood, a pavilion made of wood in design would offer a unique material to the site, while also the opportunity of blending into the landscaping of the site.
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3
2
1
5
6
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ISOVIST DIAGRAM SCALE 1/220” = 1’0”
1
5
2
3
4
MATERIAL PALETTE
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3
2
1
5
1) Concrete 2) Steel 3) Brick 4) Aluminum 5) Glass 6) Organic
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5
6
WATER FLOW AND COLLECTION
WATER FLOW VEGETATED SURFACE RUNOFF
7
SUBSURFACE CONNECTIONS
STORMWATER CHANNEL
HARD SURFACE RUNOFF
SCALE 1/125” = 1’0” AND DIRECTION
AVERAGE MONTHLY PRECIPITATION Marietta Georgia
DESIGN INTERVENTIONS
6.0
The overall flow of the site leads toward the south side of the site, due to the north side of the site being at a higher elevation.
5.0
Rainwater water is collected through three main systems on site; regular absorption through landscaping, sewer collection, and collection in a retention pond about 50 feet from the site.
3.0 2.0
NORMAL WATER RUNOFF
HARD ENGINEERING COLLECTION
Water runoff through the site is generally collected through the soil and absorbed. However, there are currently no porous concrete surfaces on campus, which can cause flooding.
Hard engineering is a conventional management that collects runoff, directs it through pipes, and dispatch it. This method collects a lot of water runoff, but unfortunately just transfers pollution to another site.
No infiltration
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sept
Aug
Jul
SOFT ENGINEERING COLLECTION Soft engineering metabolizes pollutants on site and helps with excessive water runoff. Water is filtered though the surrounding plants, collected in the pond, and then infiltrates the ground.
Filtration
Water flow
Infiltration
Jun
May
Apr
WATER COLLECTION
Feb
0.0
Mar
1.0
Jan
Currently the methods of water collection are purely for collecting and dispersing off site. Solutions can expand to water collection for irrigating, treatment of water for human use, or plumbing use, and aesthetic use in design.
4.0 Inches
Design interventions include a mixture of soft-engineering and hard-engineering methods, while taking advantage of the existing landscape. Water collection via the engineering methods should also be considered for irrigating existing landscape. Infiltration and treatment facilities can be used next to a building to capture roof runoff.
Treated water Sewer drain
Non-porous surface
Absorbtion
Pipe
Catch basins
Infiltration
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WIND PATHS AND DIRECTION DESIGN INTERVENTIONS Airflow and air quality is an important aspect of human comfort. Moving air helps people feel cooler, and natural ventilation is a key strategy for passive cooling. Also, circulating fresh air within a space prevents air from getting stale. In building design, you’ll want to consider both external and internal airflows. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
E
W 30 20 15 10 5
maximum wind speed (mph)
WIND ROSE DIAGRAM Marietta, Georgia 9
average wind speed (mph) relative humidity (%) wind direction distribution
WIND DIRECTION ANALYSIS westward
N
southward
N
N northward
N eastward
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SOLAR CONDITIONS DESIGN INTERVENTIONS The ever changing path of the Sun is a result of our seasons. The earth as a whole receives the same amount of sunlight everyday and every year. The apparent movement of the sun around the earth is relative and due to the earth’s rotation and orbit.
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES (Marietta, Georgia) 100 90 80
The site overall is very open to the sun. The trees on site are primarily around the perimeter of the site, and only really over sun shading at the east and west elevations.
low low average
temperature (Fahrenheit)
With this excess exposure of the sun, it is recommended in harnessing the solar energy with photovoltaics. The south facade can suffer from overheating if not shaded properly, so intervention with solar shading is recommended.
70 60 50 40 30 20
high average high
10
11
annual
December
November
October
September
August
July
S
June
April
E
May
March
W
February
January
average grade temperatures
N
winter solstice
vernal equinox
summer solstice
SUNPATH AZIMUTH
W N
S E
9am 12pm
79°
85°
49° 100°
3pm
71°
70° 64°
6pm
83°
40° 83°
36° 66°
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