Architectural Programming

Research and decision making process that identifies the scope of work for a design project.

Architectural Program

Written statement setting forth design objectives, constraints, and criteria for a project, including special requirements and systems, and site requirements. The program is usually prepared by the architect with input from the owner regarding the goals, needs, and function of the project, design expectations, available budget, and pertinent building code and zoning regulations.

Baseline

A parallel of latitude running through an arbitrary point chosen as the starting point for all sectionalized land within a given area.

Bearing

A horizontal direction indicated by an angle from either due north or due south toward either the east or west.

Benchmark (BM)

A relatively permanent object, natural or artificial, bearing a marked point whose elevation above or below the adopted datum is known or assumed.

Gantt Chart

A horizontal bar chart used in project management to graphically represent the schedule of a set of specific activities or tasks.

Land Patent

The legal documents that transferred land ownership from the U.S. Government to individuals.

Metes and Bounds

A method of land description in which property lines are successively described using lengths and bearings from a point of beginning.

Plat

A plan or map showing property boundaries and geographical features.

Principal Meridian

A meridian (north-south line) through an arbitrary point chosen as the starting point for all sectionalized land within a given area.

Project Management

The discipline of planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of a project.

Public Land Survey System

A system used to divide public domain lands in the United States in which land is divided into 6-mile square townships and subdivided into sections, portions of sections, or irregular lots. Also referred to as Rectangular Survey System.

Range

A vertical column of townships in the Public Land Survey System.

Rectangular Survey System

A system used to divide public domain lands in the United States in which land is divided into 6-mile square townships and subdivided into sections, portions of sections, or irregular lots. Also referred to as Public Land Survey System.

Section

A one-square-mile block of land, containing 640 acres, or approximately 1/36 of a township.

Setback

Minimum distance that the zoning ordinance requires must be maintained between a structure and property lines or between two structures.

Township

An approximately 6-mile square area of land, containing 36 sections. Also a horizontal row of townships in the Public Land Survey System.

Viability Analysis

An evaluation process that takes into account the factors that will influence and determine the successful implementation of a proposed project.