Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
sure that project milestones and objectives are being met. If you use professional contractors to
implement any part of your project, these documents are the generally accepted industry tools
through which you instruct the contractor and measure contract performance. And finally, project
documents serve as key instruments to help you and the project team clearly communicate your
planned actions during the project implementation phase.
Project documents typically are combined with specifications and together form the basis of
contract documents. As such, these can be legally binding documents and are subject to much
scrutiny. We urge you to seek the advice and assistance of licensed and bonded professional land-
scape architects and civil engineers to help you develop and prepare project documents, particu-
larly if you envision using contractors to implement your project. Contracting with subcontractors
or for other services may create potential liability, and the quality of the documents will certainly
help you achieve the product you desire. The costs of dealing with errors and omissions on the
documents, and the legal exposure that you face when entering into contracts for project construc-
tion, are daunting. Again, the scale and complexity of a project should guide your decisions on
whether to use professionals when preparing your restoration project documents.
In this chapter, we discuss the three components of project documents: the project plans, the
bill of materials, and specifications. Each is a unique element in the document package and has a
specific function and purpose for a successful project.
Project Plans
Project plans consist of various drawings that, when combined with the bill of materials and the
specifications, provide detailed spatial instructions to the persons responsible for installation. Proj-
ect plans for ecological restoration projects can have as many as seven types of plans:
• Plot plan
• Removal plan
• Grading plan
• Planting plan
• Irrigation plan
• Utility plan
• Construction details
Not all projects are this complex and, in many cases, some of these plan types may not be required.
Plot Plan
Long before any field data are collected or drawings are prepared, the project's legal boundaries
must be firmly and accurately established. Projects occurring completely within the boundaries
of a facility, such as a park, government land, or an existing preserve, may have limited concern
about the title of the property. However, for a project situated near the boundaries of one or more
property owners or where there are known or suspected utilities or access easements, it is abso-
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