8 Apps for Landscape Architects and designers to make your life easier. Smartphone apps have changed our lives, making it easy to find inspiration, share information, and make calculations on the fly. Here’s a collection of apps that are especially useful to landscape architects and designers. Download them and leave behind that pile of calculators, notebooks, colored pencils, and sketchpads.
Apps for Landscape Architects and designers:
iScape and iScape Light
iScape is an app that lets you share your vision with others. Take a photo of a property and add new landscaping elements right over the photo. It’s a perfect tool for communicating with clients and workers. This one app alone could help your new iPhone earn its keep. The full app sells for $9.99, and for professional use you’ll need to purchase photos of specific plants and landscape elements as well. But you can download iScape Light for free to test drive the app on your phone. This app is available for both Android and iOS. WATCH: iScape App Howto
Landscaper’s Companion
This app, which is available for iOS at a cost of just $4.99, is perfect for landscapers, designers, architects, and gardeners. Landscaper’s Companion holds a database with detailed information on more than 26,000 plants, accompanied by more than 21,000 photos. Whether you need to identify an existing plant or find the perfect one to fill a space, the Landscaper’s Companion will become the first tool you reach for. WATCH: Landscaper’s Companion Demo
App. Related Articles:
- 10 Most Interesting Free Android Drawing Apps
- 10 Great Apps for Landscape Architects – Part 1
- 10 Great Apps for Landscape Architects – Part 2
Evernote
Thousands of apps hit the market every year, but only a rare few become essential business tools. Evernote is the kind of app that leaves you wondering how on earth we all functioned before. Evernote will sync all your notes, lists, data, contacts, and information across all your devices, with versions for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. Grab and hold information on the go, and keep everything organized in one place. The app is free to download, so you can try it on your devices. You’ll pay for upgrades as you use more data. WATCH: Evernote App Review
Dropbox
Dropbox is another tool that has become almost universal in the business world. Since it’s so common, most of your clients will already have an account, making it easy to share large files like designs and spreadsheets. You can also use it to back up your data and to make sure your files are always accessible, no matter which device you’re using. The trial version is free, but you will need to pay per user for the pro version. WATCH: Dropbox – Full Tutorial
Behance and Behance Creative Portfolio
This online portfolio offers creatives — including architects — a place to showcase their work. Behance offers several apps. Creative Portfolio is probably the most useful for landscapers, as it lets you showcase your work to anyone, anywhere, even when you don’t have an Internet connection. This free app turns your phone into a portable portfolio and can be used as both a selling tool and a means of communicating your vision to clients.
Dirr’s Tree and Shrub Finder
If you’re a fan of Dirr’s “Manual of Woody Landscape Plants,” or “the big brown book” as it’s more popularly known in the industry, you’ll love this app. For $14.00, this app will turn your iPhone into a complete resource guide for finding information on thousands of trees, shrubs, vines, and ground covers. It’s not yet available for Android, but with a powerful 4g network on the latest iPhone, you can have access to a wealth of tree and shrub knowledge, right at your fingertips.
Photosynth
This remarkable little tool lets you merge several images into one file, to create a panorama or a “synth.” (See the website for a discussion of the differences.) It’s perfect for creating a 360 degree view of a space so you can sit “in the space” and ponder your ideas. Use the web-based app or download the iOS or Windows version for your phone. WATCH: How to use Photosynth app
Vert Conversion App
Vert converts pretty much anything. Whether you need to convert feet to meters, Celcius to Fahrenheit, or euros to dollars, this is the tool. Vert also converts angles, energy consumption, illuminance, and so much more. Vert is free for iOS or upgrade to the pro version for $1.99. WATCH: VERT – Unit and Currency Converter
Work smarter, not harder, by keeping up with the latest technology. This collection of apps can turn your smartphone or tablet into your design assistant overnight.
Recommended Reading:
- Landscape Architecture Now! by Philip Jodidio
- Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns by John Massengale
Article by Jane Miller Jane Miller is an avid writer, traveler, foodie and a certified coffee addict. She really wanted to have a cat but her nomadic lifestyle won’t allow it. You can follow her at @AuthJane or email her at authorjanesc@gmail.com.
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