Activity

“I also viewport the titleblock information so that it only needs to be updated in one place and shows up on all of them.”

I love this idea. So, you put the info in your model and set up the viewports to catch it in all your layouts?
I describe my use of layouts below (in reply to Daniel Miller’s comment) and I get tired of putting the info in…[Read more]

I work on small (residential) jobs and never found the need to use x-refs. Actually, at first I didn’t understand them, but now that I do I find layer management and paper space layouts far more helpful.

I create one dwg for a project and use the project name (yes I do keep them in files with the same name, but it’s handy when creating pdfs to…[Read more]

Todd-

I’m glad that you joined and responded. It’s great to get a civils perspective.

On drawing the building–We’ve done it a number of ways. It gets complicated when we have site issues to work with. Like I said, most times we go with the civils plan in the end, but we work back and forth.

On separating files–I find it most efficient when…[Read more]

Replying before reading is also lazy. Synthetic turf utilization addresses certain use and need issues for some users. It is not an end all be all. Read and learn and lead the way .

Heat is a concern on Sythetic Turf fields. It has been suggested by some manufacturers to install irrigation systems for cooling. Our agency is not doing that at this time.

I find it crazy that people don’t use Xrefs. Even for small jobs that you do on your own — it just makes sense to have a site plan referencing into all of your drawings. Plus it’s just good practice, right?

To break away from the herd in regards to portfolios I would also like to reemphasize the identity aspect to your work. You have your own A) Process B) Style C) Perspective from everyone else. Tell the reader to lean into the imagery, the prose, and the detail of specific projects. Share a story that each is its own distinct project. Project one…[Read more]

First, I will warn you all that I am a Civil/Site Engineer that stumbled upon this site while looking for discussions on CAD layers. I have found this site to be very informative on the thought processes of LA’s and just wanted to return the favor but letting you know some of the thoughts behind CE’s madness.

We do name our files in the “cryptic”…[Read more]

Water plastic? you get what you give

Lets use plastic everything (trees,shrubs,etc) no maintenance lasts forever! Does nothing to contribute to the environment.Lazy.Lazy. Lazy, And we wonder why we have the problems we have.

There was a piece on a homeowner getting in trouble with her HOA after having $11,000 worth installed at her home on the TV this morning.

Thanks for the recommendations! It turns out that they had a survey all along… by Professional Consultants Incorporated in Missoula.

Reese Surveying in Helena.

Nick,

Hard to tell as of yet if it will give me a leg up on professionals without a MUD degree. I’m about a month out from completing my thesis and really getting into the job search. (I’ve sent out a number of resumes/portfolios so far, but as I’m sure you’ve heard — the market’s pretty slim.)

As for the notion that Urban Design might be…[Read more]

Daniel,

Would you say that having the degree in Urban Design has given you a leg up on professionals at your level with only an LA degree? Or might you say that urban design/planning is a branch of design that can be self taught?

The reason I ask is that I am very interested in urban design and planning for the same reasons you mentioned, but…[Read more]

I think thats a good question. I’m curious to hear what others think as well.

What you call ‘marketing samples’ I call ‘cut sheets,’ but maybe that’s another example altogether. I have thought of cut sheets as being ‘loose’ one sheet project samples, usually with your name and contact info on each sheet intended to be passed around.

Last spring…[Read more]

A downside of synthetic turf is how it retains heat on hot days and standing on the turf can be more than 20 degrees hotter than the surrounding areas. Such a public square would not be tolerable during much of the summer.

I would question whether or not the design concept in a “public square” situation could be successful by substituting…[Read more]

Hi Terry,

I like your comments. One thing I’ve always had a question on that I’m sure would help others on this forum is related to the difference between a “portfolio” and what I might call “Initial Marketing Samples”.

Tim’s example above seems to be the latter because of its brevity. Would you expect all of what you mentioned in the initial…[Read more]

We were in NYC in the spring and the plaza at 55 Water Street (Ken Smith) had a turf panel that was synthetic. The newer surfaces can fool you from a distance and can only tell its fake when you’re up close. I’m betting they chose it for maintenance and also growing conditions due to lack of solar exposure.

55 Water Street @…[Read more]