AIA	American Institute of Architects, the professional organization of architects in America
adhesives	construction materials usually liquid or semi liquid solutions employed for sticking, or adhering one surface to another. Commercial adhesives include pasts, glues, pyroxllin cements, rubber cements, latex cements, and special cements of chlorinated rubber, synthetic rubbers, or synthetic resins.
AGC	Associated General Contractors, trade organization of general contractors
arc	alignment of a circular curve between the PT and the PC
arbor	an overhead wood structure whose primary purpose is to carry a vine and whose secondary purpose is to provide shade
ASID	American Society of Interior Designers, the professional organization of interior designers in America
ASLA	American Society of Landscape Architects, the professional organization of landscape architects in America
asphalt	Asphalt is a natural constituent of most crude petroleum. Cementitious asphalt,(blacktop), is a dark brown to black material whose primary constituents are bituminous, course aggregates, fine aggregates, mineral fillers and mineral dusts. Asphalt mixes are designed and produced form a wide range of aggregate blends.
ASTM	American Society for Testing Materials
backfill	the act of filling an excavation , trench, or plant pit
baffel	similar to a fence (see below), but containing a higher degree or openness, primarily used to cause spatial modulation rather than complete enclosure
bank	a slope or inclination of the earth , as the side of a hill
batter	the slope or inclination form the vertical, of a wall or other structure
benches	a name given to ledges or shelves that are shaped like steps or terraces
bench mark	a fixed reference point or object, permanently established the exact location of which is recorded and form which differences of elevation are measured
berm	1. that portion of the roadway from the edge of the pavement to the inside of the ditch or gutter, 2. a small mound of earth indiscriminately placed by landscape nursery's as a means of adding interest to a landscape design, oftentimes planted
blading	planing or evening the ground surface with a box grader, 'bobcat' or scraper
bobcat	small earth grader or front end loader/scraper used in the landscape contracting business
borrow pit	a location where fill material may be or has been excavated
bond	1. a term applied to patterns in brick masonry construction, 2. a document filed by a Contractor with a Security Company to insure his faithful performance
bowl	a concave form, usually hemispherical in shape
brick	the oldest artificial building material in use today. Brick is composed of clays and shales, which are screened, ground, washed, worked, molded and hardened under heat to the proper consistency.
CEC	Consulting Engineers Council, professional organization of engineers
check dam	a structure , usually made of timbers, or stone, placed in a watercourse to retard the flow of water, thereby reducing erosion
coordinates	magnitudes which define the position of a point or line by reference to a fixed point or system of lines
concrete	concrete is a mixture of two components, paste and aggregates which through a chemical reaction "sets up" or hardens to a predetermined strength. The paste is composed of portland cement, water and air and the aggregates are inert minerals such as sand, gravel and crushed stone. As hydration occurs, the paste binds the aggregates together into a strong, stable, solid mass
contour	an imaginary line, every point of which is the same elevation above the datum or bench mark
corrosion	the deterioration of metal as a result of the slow action of chemical agents to which metal is exposed, or oxygen, water vapor, carbon dioxide and other substances in the air, water, soil.
crown	1. a measure of the elevation of the center of a road, (or walk), in relation to the outside edge of the road,( or walk), surface, 2. that which Rex wears on Mardi Gras, and Clifton Chenier, King of Zydeco wears at the Triangle Club near Scott Louisiana
CSI	Construction Specifications Institute, organization of profession construction specifiers
culvert	a transverse drain under a road, usually made of concrete pipe, or an arched drain or sewer
cut	that part of the ground surface which, when graded is lower in elevation that the original
datum	an assumed horizontal reference plane used as a basis for computing elevations
deck	a platform usually of wood construction elevated above grade or cantilevered over sloping ground , oftentimes with rails, seats, arbors, and steps
demolition	the act of removing unwanted site features prior to starting new construction
dike	1. an embankment paralleling a stream or shore line to prevent water level from inundating adjacent areas, 2. a Yankee term for levee
dimension	the length, height or width of a landscape feature, usually indicated on graphic plans and details with arrows, lines and measurements
ditch	the open side drain of a roadway, usually deep in proportion to its width
drainage	1. provision for the disposition of water, 2. the mode in which surface water is carried off.
drain inlet	an opening which allows surface water to enter directly into a drain pipe
earth	term applied to the solid materials of the lithosphere, the land as opposed to water and the soil as opposed to rock
earthwork	the movement of earth materials to alter surface levels. Earthwork includes excavation, embankment, cut and fill, levering, trenching, terracing and blading
embankments	a structure of rocks or earth arising above the normal surface of the earth for purpose of defense, protection, or support of other structures. an embankment is an earthwork
erosion	the removal and transportation of soil and rock materials by gravity, wind or running water
excavation	1. the act of taking out materials, 2. the materials taken out
face	the front, outer, or upper surface
fasteners	construction devices used to hold different materials together or in place, examples include nails, screws, bolts, rivets, hangers, drift pins, and timber connectors
fence	vertical enclosing device usually of a paneled structure of semi-permanent material such as wood, wire, or fabric used for the purpose of physical control, security, enclosure or spatial definition
fill	that part of the ground surface which , when graded , is higher in elevation than the original
flow line	the bed of a stream or culvert
flume	a surface apron or trough for conducting water down a relatively steep slope
formwork	forms are constructed of earth, wood, metal and plastics in exact dimensions to hold concrete while it cures or hardens. Formworks quite often contain reinforcing steel
geomorphology	a branch of geology, which deals with the study of landforms, and the structure and evolution of the landscape
grade	1. the profile of a slope, or its rate of ascent, 2. elevation, 3. to construct a new ground surface by means of cutting and filling, 4. to arrange according to size, 5. to evaluate one's performance in Landscape Architecture 2171
gradient	the angle of incline from the horizontal. gradients may be indicated as a ratio such as 1:2 meaning 1 foot of vertical to 2 feet of horizontal; or as a percentage, 10%, meaning 10 feet vertical to 100 feet horizontal; or as a decimal of horizontal unit, such as slope =0.025 . By formula G=D/L (gradient equals difference in elevation divided by length of run between points
grading	grading in any of its forms, involves the handling of earth and shaping of the earth's surface for the purpose of construction, drainage, or landform design
gutter	a shallow channel for the runoff of water, particularly a channel situated at the base of an artificial slope
headwall	a retaining wall at the end of a culvert or drainage conduit
impervious	a bed or stratum of material through which water will not move under ordinary hydrostatic pressure
irrigation	is an artificial introduction of water into a plant's root zone at some pre-determined rate of application
interpolation	the process of determining the location of unknown points of equal elevation from the plotted location of known elevations
invert	the lowest visible surface, or floor, of a drainage conduit, or channel
job site	where construction is taking place
joint	a break between two different materials or a connection between two similar materials. Joints are usually filled or sealed and are used to allow for differential movement in materials caused by changes in temperature or stress levels
knoll	a small, round hill or hummock
leaching basin	a drainage structure similar to a catch basin, but with no outlet other than a sand-gravel, or other pervious material bottom
levee	see dike above
loam	soil containing relatively even mixtures of different grades of sand, silt and clay
metal	substances which have a complex chemical composition, luster and hardness and which can conduct heat and electricity and are opaque, and possess certain mechanical properties
mortar	mortars are low strength mixtures of lime, cement and fine aggregates. Cement mortar is composed of one part portland cement, two parts sharp sand passing a 1/8" screen, and 10% lime putty mixed with water to the proper consistency
mound	a hill of earth ,(shell), or a raised bank. Most mounds in Louisiana are archaic features of pre-historic Indian cultures built up of earth and shell mixtures and primarily used for ceremonies or burials. These should not be excavated because they are important archeological sites
mulch	an organic or inert inorganic material used to prevent weed growth in plant beds and moisture loss of the soil and root ball zone to the air
outcrop	the cropping out of subsurface rock stratum,(bedrock), exposed at or near the surface of the ground
overburden	the soil and rock lying over a deposit of minerals or other materials, which must be removed before the deposit is accessible
pervious	a bed or stratum of material through which water will move under normal hydrostatic pressure
pit	1. a natural deposit of gravel or other type of soil which has been or may be excavated, 2. a hole dug for planting a large tree or shrub
plane	a smooth flat surface
planimeter	an instrument for the direct measurement of the areas of irregular figures drawn to scale on plans or maps
point of beginning	the intersection of the x-y axis in a layout system the uses dimensioning and coordinates to locate lines, points and areas for landscape construction
plastics	a large and varied group of synthetic man made materials consisting wholly or in part of combinations of carbon with oxygen, hydrogen and other elements. Construction plastics include , vinyls, styrenes, epoxies, melamine. polyurethanes, polyvinyl chloride, (pvc),and polyethylene.
plateau	a broad area of comparatively flat land at a high elevation
profile	a longitudinal section of a drainage course , utility line or roadway
relief	the collective elevations, slopes, and inequalities in a land surface
retaining wall	a structural wall used to separate two different elevations, (vertical differences), in a very short horizontal distance.
ridge	the intersection of two surfaces forming a prominent edge or angle
right of way	the entire area reserved for the construction and maintenance of a roadway or some public utility line
riprap	a protective covering of stones, with or without mortar, on an earth bed generally laid in a near aquatic environment for the prevention of erosion or wash. Individual stones should measure at least ten inches in one dimension and should have a volume of not less that one third cubic foot to differentiate it form stone mulch
rock	a general term applied to the consolidated mineral materials which form the principal part of the crust of the earth
runoff	the portion of the water from natural precipitation which flows from a drainage basin through the surface channels of the stream system and onto the sea
portland cement	a high grade mixture of minerals obtained by grinding together a mixture of clay materials and lime and heating until the entire mass forms a high clinker, which is then ground into a fine powder, which when added to water reacts to form a hard substance. Portland cement is the binding agent in concrete
preservatives	construction materials used to preserve wood and other materials that may be subject to weathering and decomposition
sand	loose single grained materials, resulting form the natural disintegration of rocks or the crushing of rocks
scaling	separation and flaking off; initial surface disintegration as in concrete pavements
scour	the removal of soil in the bed of a stream by a strong current
screen	1. tool used for separating and measuring the size of fine aggregates, 2. that which is used to separate, shelter, cut off or protect as in the case of a decorative yard screen
shop drawing	a drawing made by the Contractor or one of his sub-contractors to illustrate to the designer exactly how some construction procedures will be accomplished
sealers	construction materials used to seal joints to prevent moisture intrusion
section	a vertical plane through an object represented graphically
shoulders	see berm
silt	finely divided soil material which may appear cloudy when dry, but which breaks down easily and has a soft, floury feel when rubbed between the thumb and finger. Silt has little plasticity; when wet, the soil runs together readily
slope	the face of an embankment or cut section; any ground whose surface makes and angle with the plane of the horizon
spec item	any pre-manufactured product or item used in the landscape and installed as a unit
specifications	all written or printed agreements and instructions pertaining to the method and manner of performing the work or to the quantities and qualities of the materials to be furnished under contract
spoil	area of deposit of excess fill material
spillway	a surface apron or trough for conducting water down a relatively steep slope
staking	the act by a surveyor of locating important points drawn on a layout plan and marking them with a monument, stake or batter board configuration stations a standard length , usually 100 feet, measured along the centerline of a road or along a survey line
stockpile	1. reserved materials, 2. to place materials, as gravel, in piles of certain locations for use
sub-grade	the prepared ground level upon which a pavement is constructed, or upon which topsoil is placed for a lawn or garden
superelevation	the rise of the outer edge over the inner edge of the road surface at curves, expressed in feet per foot, for the expressed purpose of counteracting centrifugal force
swale	a natural or graded unpaved gentle depression or flow line acting as a gutter or ditch
talas	boulders and broken rock at the foot of a cliff or steep mountain slope
terrace	an approximately level area or bench constructed on a slope
toe	1. the bottom of a slope, 2. the front portion of an abutment or retaining wall footing
topography	term applied to the surface features or relief of the earth, or to a graphic description of these features, as in topographic map
trellis	an overhead structure generally of open wood construction whose primary purpose is sun control
unit masonry	term applied to building method which is centered around the placement of similar units of building materials such as brick, tile, concrete block, pavers, and stones. Construction may be either joined, filled or placed dry
unstable	subject to change; base material subject to frost heave, settlement or undercutting
wall	vertical enclosing device usually of a continuous structure of permanent material such as brick, concrete, or stone
weathering	the decomposition of rock, or building materials owing to the physical and chemical action of weather
weephole	a hole designed into a wall to provide for the release of moisture and pressure brought about by ground water
welding	the fastening of two similar or dissimilar metals together by the fusion of metal under a high heat source. Welding may be by gas, electric, and carbon arc or heliarc processes