Land Development Handbook (Handbook) (Hardcover)

~ The Dewberry Companies (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Updated…how-to book that aspires to be both extensive and detailed…table of contents…runs 13 pages…engineering perspective is dominant... -- Planning Magazine, Sept. 2004

Review

How to develop. "Forty years ago, for a typical suburban house, the cost of engineering, planning, and surveying, including fees paid to agencies, was about the cost of a refrigerator today. Today it is probably greater than the total cost of all of kitchen and other electronic appliances combined." So write Sidney Dewberry and Dennis Couture in the overview chapter that introduces the mammoth second edition of the Land Development Handbook: Planning, Engineering, and Surveying (2002; McGraw-Hill; 1,124 pp.; $150). A development and consulting firm, the Dewberry Companies, is listed as author, which seems appropriate since most of the 26 editors and contributing authors are employees of the firm.

The first edition of this handbook was published in 1996. For this version, several of the 41 chapters have been updated, and the order of presentation has been changed to reflect the way issues come up in a project. There are six sections: feasibility and site analysis, conceptual design, schematic design, final design, plan submission and permitting, and construction. This is a how-to book that aspires to be both extensive and detailed; its table of contents alone runs 13 pages.

As the title and cover photo suggest, the authors focus on development of greenfields. The engineering perspective is dominant, and the book's brief mentions of smart growth and new ways of designing feel largely extraneous to the business at hand. Thus, the 51-page chapter on suburban street design devotes two pages to pedestrians, and the list of suggested readings in the chapter on development patterns and principles includes no work published since 1990. (Planning Magazine )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1124 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 2 edition (March 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071375252
• ISBN-13: 978-0071375252
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #573,957 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #26 in	Books > Nonfiction > Law > Administrative Law > Land Use
  #26 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Law > Administrative Law > Land Use

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Pub, July 4, 2002

By A Customer

Ever since I purchased this publication I can't stop using it. Every civil engineer should have this as part of their reference library, regardless of your area of specialty. It provides macro to micro scale explanations of general processes, design applications, etc in a very readable format. More times than I can remember I have looked to this book for an answer or at least for some guidance and was throuroughly satisfied. No it is not a definitive reference for civil engineers but its' breadth and usability overshadows any technical shortcomings. If I had to have just one reference book for my area of practice (general civil), this would be it. Yeah, yeah, the "Standard Handbook for Civil Engineers" is a more definitive reference, but I usually find out what I need in this pub.

ps - Almost everyone of my fellow employees that has used the book has purchased their own, find someone you know who has a copy and check it out for yourself.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent reference for engineers at all levels., August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Land Development Handbook (Hardcover)

The book is thorough in its presentation of every aspect of land development. It examines the intricacies involved in a project from planning to engineering to construction stakeout. The authors apply all this knowledge in a Case Study of an actual development which they planned and designed. Numerous graphics, tables and charts were employed to reinforces the information in the text.

Obviously some of the design information will not be applicable to the entire country. However the authors do suggest where locally relevent design information can be found.

Overall, I found the book very informative, easily read and well organized.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Book for the Project Engineer Engaged in Land Development, October 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Land Development Handbook (Hardcover)

This book is the first book that really reflects and addresses most of the "everyday" issues encountered in site design and land development. It has a practical application and includes most of the charts, tables and nomographs that are necessary to complete a given design procedure. It also provides very appropriate and helpful examples.