If you are planning a renovation or building project, you can count on your architect working with a team of professionals. If you choose, your architect will be the coordinator of this team and you will deal primarily with him. However, it is important to understand the roles of others on the team, including the hydrologist. According to architect Dean Camlin, owner of Dean Robert Camlin and Associates, Inc., an architectural firm in Maryland, the job of the hydrologist is to “… find out where the water is — or is not — on and under the site, and where it is to go after it has been used. This is especially important as water resources become more scarce. For sites without access to public water, the hydrologist can determine the best location to site a well, and can arrange for the necessary permits and drilling contractors. The same is true for safe on-site disposal of water, which is for sites without sewer service.”
Training
Hydrologists are highly-trained and educated professionals. They often have advanced degrees, but at a minimum, they must have a bachelor’s degree in hydrology. Many have them have also studied geology, geophysics, forestry, soil science, and civil and agricultural engineering. Their training may have also included physics, chemistry, calculus, hydraulics, and water quality. If you have concerns about your project that involve any of these other factors, you may want to work with a hydrologist who has experience in more than one discipline. For instance, if you need the soil analzyed prior to breaking ground, a hydrologist with knowledge in this area will be able to help.
The Work
The hydrologist analyzes factors involving water that affect your home and its surrounding property. He may examine water distribution and circulation, the physical characteristics of the water located below the soil surface, and/or bodies of water near your home. He will examine the rainfall and various other types of precipitation in the area, and he will analyze how precipitation travels in the surrounding area. These studies are advantageous not only to designers and builders, but to businesses and government. The information about how water moves in an area through soil and sediment is helpful in making decisions about building and engineering.
As design becomes more focused on environmental factors, the job of the hydrologist becomes more important. Many hydrologists offer expert knowledge in water conservation. Their work can prevent water shortages, analyze the ability to use water sources, and monitor the work of area reservoirs. If an area is at risk for flooding, a hydrologist can assist the architect and the builder in creating communities that are capable of dealing with flood situations. Hydrologists can also assist in the design of communities in areas that experience heavy snow, droughts, and cresting rivers and waterways.
The hydrologist conducts his work on the building site and in a lab. He will examine any wells on the building site, record water depths in the area, and measure any run-off from nearby streams and rivers. Water samples will also be collected and tested, and research will be conducted on the history of flooding, storming, and precipitation in the area. The results of the tests and research of the hydrologist are used by the engineers, developers, architect, and builders working on the project.
Environmental Site Delineation
The work of the hydrologist will be a part of the overall site planning that allows the area to be thoroughly analyzed before development begins. According to Camlin, environmental site delineation includes “… a boundary survey with zoning, setbacks, and topography, and a soil study to determine its percolation rate (the rate at which water moves through material) for septic and storm water design and bearing capacity. The survey should note significant trees and forested areas, wetlands, and rocky areas. If there are existing buildings and (areas that cannot be penetrated), their extent must be shown. It also helps to know the (wind trends) during the various seasons, and (the best views from the site). Before starting a design, we need to know what we have to work with.”
It may surprise some people to learn how many professionals are a part of the planning and building project. The best architects have experience working with qualified professionals and they are able to communicate not only with the professionals, but with their clients concerning all of the facets of planning and building. If you would like to work with an experienced architectural firm, contact Dean Robert Camlin and Associates, Inc.
