[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

Its all good. … my opinion.

I’m not a fan of exclusion.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

Don’t think of it as a landscape design tool. First think of it as a drafting tool and keep in mind the same drafting principles that you would use while using your hand. Figuring out how to use lineweight is one of the most significant things you can learn with your hands or with your mouse. Initially the difference is just in the input. Later on it becomes about managing drawings which is where CAD excels.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

All landscape architects are landscape designers. Some landscape designers are landscape architects. Landscape architecture is an extremely diverse field and since landscape architecture is a portion of landscape design, landscape design is an even more diverse field.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

Yes, it is the exact same test. … on the exact same days, if I’m not mistaken. Some have other state sections as well. LARE is Lare, however and where ever.

I did take it in another state because my state offered it only once a year while another offered it twice. … and I was taking the exam for a third state which I had just moved from. Living in Mass, taking the exam in Maine, getting licensed in Idaho. What a tangled web we weave.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

Look for the various “Intellicad” programs that are out there. They are Autocad clones which are licensed by a consortium and customized by the individual companies such as Progecad, Briscnet, and several others. You should be able to get a fairly complete clone for about $400.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

I went back to school in ’94 because of CAD (dropped out in ’83 because I could not draw well enough), so I know where you are coming from. I had not even used a computer when I went back.

Fortunately they had a great Autocad class where they taught from a “process oriented” perspective rather than a “product oriented”. The book that we used was called “Mastering Autocad”. Some books and classes show you a direct route to draw a particular item (product” while others teach you the commands that you need to know so that you can figure out how to do whatever you want to do (process).” Mastering Autocad” followed that latter method which worked well for me.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

Jay,

Yes, no change in hours, no change in pay, no change in benefits. I’m in a civil engineering office, though. Eight people including two office staff and two survey solo field crew people in the company. We did lay off an office staff person and a septic design/soil evaluator person a year ago. We had a ups and downs on the work load – looks like a bit of a valley at the moments, but some good proposals just went out. …. not out of the woods yet.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

Much lower real estate values than a few years ago. Very few real estate transactions. Many commercial jobs that have been permitted are not getting built. Many unbuilt subdivisions being offered for sale to the towns for open space (we have a “land bank” system that funds these purchases from realestate transactions), many empty store fronts, and very little indication of stimulus work. Real estate transactions are taking place, but only for bargain hunters who don’t seem to be contacting anyone to design improvements.

Most civil engineering offices in the area are all but dead. We’ve been OK, but I’m concerned that it is thinning out for us (civil office) as well. Our work has not been on many projects that are producing a lot of additional design or a lot of construction.

Oddly, builders and others seem optimistic and talk about hearing that it is picking up, but it seems always to be second hand. I’ve got to believe that the civil offices are the early predictors and if that is true, it does not look good.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

I felt bad fot Tim Zhang that he was personally ridiculed and thought Landplanner would get it and be more tolerant. It is an open forum and Tim’s comment is every bit as legitimate as anyone elses.

My grammar and spelling put me in a glass house.

I deleted the post out of respect for the forum and Landplanner. I think it would be nice if LP took down his response to Tim for the same reason.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

So on the one hand our profession believes that we should follow the guidance of developed theories and standards, but on the other hand we are creating a homogenous landscape that we say we don’t like. I think that is a good point.

That is why I am a big believer in diverse development from rural living, to urban cores, and the most maligned and most popular suburb.

Like anything, it all starts with a thorough site analysis (including people) and clear understanding of your client. There is cookie cutter philosophy just as much as there is cookie cutter design.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

Things have definitely moved in this direction. I’m not in an urban environment, but I see several things that have changed over the years. One example is that all schools and playgrounds in my area have uplimbed existing trees and not planted shrubs in certain places in order to keep visibilty of the children and remove places for stalkers to hide or assault anyone.

Recently, the town planner presented a request from the Chief of Police that dumpster enclosures be made of chainlink or picket fence so that they could not be used as hidind places. This was rather commical since it was at a historic commission meeting where they require the enclosures for aesthetic reasons, but the point is that the chief had learned about this at a seminar and now wanted to make it policy.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

Is there a higher rate of violent crime in newer subdivision communities?

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

Dumb luck or right place at the right time? You have a better chance to be in the right place at the right time if you spend more time in more places. Artie’s advice will certainly do that whether or not you agree with his reasoning.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

I did some design examples for a private community a few years back. There is a lot out there on municipal websites. They explain the difference between humps and tables very clearly. Tables need to be long enough so that the shock absorbers can’t take out the reaction of the car at higher speeds as bumps do. Google it, you’ll get quite I bit to work with. I know I did in 2003.

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

I’m not saying that we should not have ideals and aspire to do more. I am saying that it all starts from ourselves understanding what specific opportunities are out there and finding a way to make it work until we can move to the next better situation. Ideals are great unless they are keeping you from participating or keeping others from wanting you to participate.

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