Christa

Thanks, J.Nielsen, for the reply!

I spoke to one leadership coach. They clarified that a career coach helps with resumes and mock interviews, while a leadership/executive coach helps with goal setting, improving the way you show up for your team, and reaching the next level in your career, whatever that may be. The service is pricey, more than…[Read more]

I have worked in brownfields, which involves the remediation of oil contaminated sites. In my experience, the liability aspects of site redevelopment lead the discussion. If this is a site that will not be redeveloped, you will have greater flexibility with experimenting or using experimental green technologies/methods to meet your management…[Read more]

I have LEED ND, and thought that process was much more difficult. When I took it I had to purchase a course that gave me experience in a LEED project. SITES just required the exam, which was not difficult if you have a history of working with or studying sustainability principles. I would say LEED ND is more allied to planning and community,…[Read more]

Alissa,
I graduated in 2010, and am still what I would consider early days as far as my LA career. However, as far as I can tell, there is a demand for the scientific knowledge. My undergrad is in forestry, and I seem to be doing alright. I have had some interest based on my background, and some don’t seem to count it one way or another.
An MLA…[Read more]

Native grasses usually have deeper root systems for slope stabilization. Not much advice, but I hope it helps.

Great! It sounds like you’ll be at a booth. If so, which one? I’ll stop by and say hello!

I recently had a similar discussion with two LAs, one a professor and one in practice. They both talked about the need for good writing skills The professor said writing comprises roughly 70% of our daily activities, from email to proposals. So, if no writing sample is included in the portfolio, you could ask for a short descriptive paragraph, or…[Read more]

1. I like myPantone, although it may be more helpful for computer work/graphics. It lifts the color palette from an image and gives you the recipe to match (RGB, etc) in photoshop, etc.
2. Sun Surveyor is good for plotting sun/shade in smaller scale work. You can look through the camera on your phone to see where the sun will be at different times…[Read more]

Crossvine might do, although the texture is a bit coarser than Jessamine and it wants full sun. Bignonia capreolata. It’s native, climbs by twining and with adhesive cups that don’t damage mortar. Flowers are red-orange, and attract hummingbirds. I have it in my yard, and the species performs better than the cultivar I purchased at the local…[Read more]

Landscape architecture becomes fundamentally important as soon as you recognize the value of good design. There is no other profession trained to see as we see, so their ideas will fall short of what is possible, what is optimal for any site. We alone are trained to take a wider view that bridges form and function. The professionals trained in…[Read more]

I agree that university programs should not spend any time learning how to handle such specialized situations as wind turbine placement, since these matters are indeed the purview of other professions. It doesn’t mean that a landscape architect can’t be involved in these projects, just that it’s not common enough to occupy time in school. I think…[Read more]

I agree that landscape architects are separate profession altogether from wind turbine engineer. To me it is the technology that impacts design that could be better explored in our universities. Soils, phytoremediation, low impact design methods are all examples I see as being directly related to our profession and to properly functioning design.…[Read more]

I am writing from the East coast, so the short answer to your question is No, I don’t have any specific plant recommendations to offer. 
 
I did work on a green roof project growing plants in a greenhouse and then placing them on a local roof, and can second the sedum/delosperma suggestion for tolerant succulents. These genus are huge, so t…[Read more]

I agree. If we want to effectively compete with technical professions in the technical realm, we need better coverage of this material in school. Everything seems to have some aspect that requires some technical proficiency for the design to be a success, from materials to soils. I know that school is generally supposed to be an introduction to…[Read more]

As a student I was able to attend the Green Roof Professional training offered by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (http://www.greenroofs.org/index.php/eduprogram/grnroofpro-grp). It was offered over about 2 weeks, and covered some really technical details about roof construction, as well as some of the issues to be dealt with in a green roof…[Read more]

Are you talking about building a dam? Altering the natural hydrology can really have unforseen outcomes. Sediment loading alone can create major changes (Erosion) downstream. The professions most skilled at figuring out these complex interactions may be in the engineering fields: hydrogeologists, for example. Large scale water manipulations…[Read more]

Yes!!! Thank you! I have read about this site, and am exceedingly interested in seeing it. I need to check the map, but I am really glad I asked. Thank you very much for the suggestion.

Thanks, Boilerplater! This makes sense for a trail layout if the location has satellite coverage. I opted for the laser level for the backyard project I am working on. It was quick and easy, and now I don’t need to do anything extra to be able to use the data. I’m just excited to use this GPS unit, I guess!