Glossary of Planning and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Terms

Glossary is usually defined as an alphabetical list of technical terms in some specialized field of knowledge. This knowledge base glossary provides a collection of knowledge base documents that define many technical terms. These terms are arranged alphabetically, but you can quickly jump to a specific term by selecting its first letter from the index of the knowledge base glossary below.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Keyword

Term
Basic Plan
Phase 1 of the Comprehensive Design Zone process. It sets forth general land use relationships, including the approximate number of dwelling units and building intensity. Proposed land uses are also described. (See also COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN ZONE.) (See also COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN PLAN AND SPECIFIC DESIGN PLAN.) See also:  Comprehensive Design Zone, Comprehensive Design Plan, Specific Design Plan
Berm
An earthen mound designed to provide visual interest on a site, screening of undesirable views, noise reduction, etc.
Best Management Practices (Bmps)
Conservation practices or systems of practices and management measures that control soil loss and reduce water quality degradation caused by nutrients, animal waste, toxins and sediment.
Bikeway
A lane, path or other surface reserved exclusively for bikers.
Buffer
A zone of a specified distance around coverage features. Both constant- and variable-width buffers can be generated for a set of coverage features based on each feature's attribute values. The resulting buffer zones form polygons-areas that are either inside or outside the specified buffer distance from each feature. Buffers are useful for proximity analysis (e.g., find all stream segments within 300 feet of a proposed logging area).
Buffer
An area of land designed or managed for the purpose of separating and insulating two or more land areas whose uses conflict or are incompatible (trees separating homes from an expressway).
Bufferyard
One of several specific combinations of minimum building setbacks, landscaped yard widths, and plant material requirements set forth in the Landscape Manual for use in buffering incompatible land uses.
Build-Out
A theoretical measure of "full development" for which public facilities are planned. (See also HOLDING CAPACITY.) See also:  Holding Capacity
Bus Rapid Transit (Brt)
A fixed guideway transit (FGT) system in which transit buses operate on rights-of-way that are physically or otherwise off-limits to regular vehicular traffic. These systems are often constructed so that they can be upgraded to light-rail vehicle operations when ridership grows beyond the operational capacity of transit buses. The state Department of Transportation is considering bus rapid transit for several major arterial roads in Prince George's County.