LANDSCAPE DESIGN

UNIT 1 - INTRODUCTION
Introduction to landscape architecture, Basic concepts of ecology
and the impact of Human activities on them – Bio, Geo, chemical
cycles including water cycle, carrying capacity of an ecosystem.
Environmental impact assessment. Reclamation and
restoration of derelict lands.
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DERELICT LAND
Derelict site are previously developed land, which has a physical
constraint caused by its previous use, which hampers its
redevelopment or naturalization. It must not be ready for new
development without remediation.

Contaminated Land - defined as any land that appears to be in such a condition because of the
substances that it pollutes or have existing significant harm or is likely to be caused.

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DERELICT LAND
▪ Derelict land is of intentional or conscious neglect.
▪ Land that is derelict due to natural causes, damaged by development, vacant sites
awaiting development, small areas of neglected or unsightly land.
▪ The land is incapable of beneficial use without treatment.
▪ Land dereliction is usually accompanied by serious environmental, economic or social
problems including soil and water pollution, erosion and underutilization of resources.
▪ Direct dereliction
▪ Indirect dereliction

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DERELICT MINES
A mineral extraction is bound to produce pits and mines and piles of waste
materials, but nowadays it is usual to enforce at least the minimum in rehabilitation.

Dereliction arises because mining operators are unwilling to spend money on

rehabilitation which will give them no direct financial return.

Mine sites are mainly affected by overburden dumps, waste dumps, abandoned pits, subsidence pits, pit-wall
slumps, and mine fire. Soil degradation and erosion, groundwater lowering, spring desiccation, and farmland
damage affect areas adjoining the mines.

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How can Dereliction and its

Dangers be Combated?

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Types Impacts Considerations for

Reclamation
Surface ▪ Destroys landscapes, forests and wildlife ▪ Existing
mining habitats at the site of the mine when trees, topography
plants, and topsoil are cleared from the mining
area. ▪ Safe disposal of
slurry and spoil
▪ Leads to soil erosion and destruction of (Toxic)
agricultural land.
▪ Future land use
▪ There is chemical contamination of ground
water and waterways.

▪ Mining causes dust and noise pollution.

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Types Impacts Considerations for

Reclamation

Deep Mining • Underground mining causes huge amounts of • Existing

waste earth and rock to be brought to the topography
surface – waste that often becomes toxic when
it comes into contact with air and water. • Safe disposal of
slurry and spoil
• It causes subsidence as mines collapse and the (Toxic)
land above it starts to sink. This causes serious
damage to buildings. • Future land use

• It lowers the water table, changing the flow of

groundwater and streams.

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LAND CONSERVATION

LAND PRESERVATION

LAND RESTORATION

LAND REMEDIATION

LAND RECLAMATION

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PLANT SUCCESSION
Sequential change in plant community or whole ecosystem in one place over time – stable community
1. Primary succession - development of vegetation on substrate previously lacking plants
2. Secondary succession - development of vegetation following a disturbance to the original plant community.

The vegetation community developed at the end of succession is called climax vegetation, climax community.

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LONGWALL CAVING
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LONGWALL CAVING
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DECONTAMINATION RECLAMATION RESTORATION

REVEGETATION END USE AFTER CARE

The regeneration models could be one or a combination of the following:

▪ ‘Walk-Away’ Approach – requiring no monitoring and feedback after regeneration;
▪ ‘Passive-Care’ Approach – requiring minimal monitoring of the biophysical and socio-economic
rehabilitation; and
▪ Active Management Approach requiring monitoring, feedback and fine tuning of the regeneration
approaches.
▪ Physical, chemical and biological approach.

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▪ Bioremediation is the use of biological

interventions for mitigation (and wherever
possible, complete elimination) of the harmful
effects caused by environmental pollutants in a
given site.
▪ In - situ bioremediation
▪ Ex- situ bioremediation

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Phytostabilization refers to the holding of contaminated soils and sediments in

place by vegetation, and to immobilizing toxic contaminants in soils. Establishment
of rooted vegetation prevents windblown dust, an important pathway for human
exposure at hazardous waste sites.
Grasses accelerate the phytostabilization of soils contaminated with trace materials.

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Types Impacts Considerations for

Reclamation

Industry Depends on industry type. Can be Toxic Existing buildings at

waste, lagoons containing effluent esp. Slurry site, Future use.
lagoons

Transportation Linearity of the land Future use

systems- abandoned
roads, railway lines,
canals

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