Site analysis is a vital step in the design process. It involves the evaluation of an existing or potential site in relation to the development program, environmental impact, impacts on the community and adjacent properties, project budget, and schedule.
The site analysis identifies environmental, program, and development constraints and opportunities. A well-executed site analysis forms the essential foundation for a cost-effective, environmentally sensitive, and rational approach to project development.
Comprehensive environmental assessment of a site has become more important as clients become more environmentally aware and regulatory oversight increases. Clients want to avoid the expense and health
risks that accompany environmental contamination on a site, as well as the cost of preventing any adverse impact on community environmental resources that could be caused by their activities.
local governments, in turn, are becoming more uniform and effective in enforcing environmental controls on development.
Analysis of a building program and the capability of a site to accommodate it, combined with an assessment of political, environmental, and regulatory issues, reveals the devel-
opment value of a parcel of land.
