Documentation and Administration
Exam and All Correct Answers 2026
Updated.
Fixed Construction - Answer Should be laid out with the highest order of accuracy. For
example, property lines, right of ways, easements, baselines, and structures located on property
and setback lines should be calculated to within 1/1000th of a foot or less
Semi-Fixed Construction - Answer Covers most hardscape and structural elements on a site
and is generally computed to 1/8" or 1/100th of a foot
Adjustable Elements - Answer May be located after all or the more critical elements on the
site have been located. These do not require a high degree of accuracy, or may be subjected to
adjustments based on field observations. Some examples include plant materials, trails in
wooded areas, lawn edges, etc.
Running dimensions - Answer Strings of dimensions linked end to end and probably in two
sets at 90 degree angles to each other which located various elements on the site. This system is
heavily used by architects for dimensioning their buildings
Baseline system (dimensioning) - Answer Involves setting up one, two (usually at right angles
to each other) or more baselines and dimensioning everything off of them. This baseline is an
imaginary line that is easy to measure from - extension of a building corner is common, or as in
this case, centerline of a linear element like a road or parking lot
Advantages: simple, clear, conducive to interdisciplinary coordination
Disadvantages: not well suited to complete and curvilinear geometries, relationship between
site elements are poorly defined (not hierarchical)
Stationing system (dimensioning) - Answer Generally used for linear objects such as roads.
This sets up a single baseline which may be straight, curved, or both. The numbers (station
points) along the baseline describe the location from the point of beginning. For example,
station 1+12.65 describes a point on the baseline that is 112.65 feet from the point of origin.
Disadvantage: one point is tied to the next so cumulative errors are possible
,Closed Dimensions - Answer Dimensions that require the contractor no leeway in installation,
generally to be avoided.
Bearing and distances - Answer The bearing of a line is its orientation with respect to true
north. As such it must also have a direction associated with it. Bearings are usually given in the
hour-minute-second format. Bearings never exceed 90 degrees. Angles are given a decimal
degrees or in the hour-minute-second format.
Azimuths - Answer Are angular directions measured clockwise from true north and run from
0 to 360 degrees. They are usually given in decimal format.
Offset dimensioning system - Answer Used to locate curvilinear elements that do not require
a high degree of accuracy (ie informal paths, edges of planting beds)
Architectural grid system - Answer utilizes the proposed building grid (established by the
architect) to organize and lay out elements of the proposed site construction. It can be used to
locate specific site elements on a Site Layout Plan.
Disadvantage: requires building to be under construction to be employed
Cartesian Coordinate System - Answer Uses a distance along a horizontal axis (x) and a
vertical axis (y) to define e specific geographical position of a point.
Distances are indicated as north or south and east or west from a known reference point tied to
either a national, regional, or state grid system or to a site based grid system.
Should be used when:
1. There are highly irregular geometries
2. Landscape design is not related to an adjacent building
3. Complex topography or other site conditions interfere with dimension based layout system
4. Small scale site work
Grid coordinate dimensioning systems - Answer Instead of giving baselines, distances,
bearings or angles, each element on the site is laid out by giving the coordinates of two or more
points on the element. This generates a high degrees of accuracy and reduces the likelihood or
math error by the contractor trying to add up long strings of dimensions
Calculation of coordinates - Answer To calculate the distance between two coordinates use
the Pythagorean formula:
,A2 + B2 = C2
A= the difference between the two vertical measurements (north or south)
B= the difference between the two horizontal measurements (east or west)
C= the distance between the two coordinates
3-4-5 Right Triangle - Answer Right triangles
with sides equal to 3 and 4 will have a hypotenuse of 5. This ratio holds for any
dimensions of a right triangle with these proportions.
Bidding Documents - Answer the package of materials prepared by the architect and sent to
contractors, including the invitation to bid, the bid form, and special bidding instructions
Bidding Documents vs Contract Documents - Answer Bid docs: Done before signing the
Agreement or Contract
Contract docs: done after signing the Agreement or contract
The primary difference in documents between Bidding Documents and Contract Documents is
the inclusion in the Bidding Documents of Bidding Requirements. These generally consist of the
Advertisement or Invitation to Bid, the Instructions to Bidders, the Bid Form, and other
documents to be submitted to the Owner for the Owner's selection of the Contractor and
modifications to the documents issued during bidding (addenda).
Contract Documents - Answer the term used for documents identified in the Agreement
(construction Contract)
Agreement - Answer A written agreement between the Owner and the Contractor
summarizing the work to be performed, the Time in which the Work shall be completed, and
the Contract Sum to be paid.
Also identified in the Agreement are the Contract Drawings, the Contract Specifications, and
other referenced documents such as bond forms, insurance certificates, other certifications,
Contractor's qualifications statement, documentation of the Contractor's financial status,
subcontractors and suppliers lists, special warranty documents, and just about any other type of
written document that the Owner requires
, Conditions of the Contract - Answer Typically, these consist of the General Conditions and the
Supplementary Conditions
General Conditions - Answer are typically preprinted standard documents prepared by
professional societies such as (for architectural projects) the American Institute of Architects
(AIA)
Drawings - Answer Graphic descriptions of the Work to be performed by the Contractor
Drawings present the size, form, location, and arrangement of various elements of the project.
This information should not be described in the Specifications because it is best described
graphically on the Drawings
A contract is executory when: - Answer some portion of the agreement remains to be done
A construction contract is fully executed when: - Answer The contractor has satisfactorily
completed the construction work in accordance with the contract documents, and the owner
has paid the contractor for this work.
Bilateral Contract - Answer Consists of an agreement created by mutual promises made by
contracting parties.
Specifications - Answer Written descriptions of the Work to be performed by the Contractor
Modifications - Answer are changes to the documents after execution (signing) of the
Agreement. Prior to execution of the Agreement, changes are generally made using Addenda
Unilateral Contract - Answer Is a one sided contract in that only one of the contracting parties
makes a promise, while the other party exchanges something other than a promise (most
commonly some started performance)
Express Contract - Answer One in which the terms of the agreement, whether written or
verbal, are clear concise explicit and definite
Implied contract - Answer One in which the terms of the agreement are not clearly stated,
but are established through inference and deduction
Joint arrangement - Answer Is one in which the individuals are "joined" in a legal and liability
sense, as one party in the action