David Cristiani

This has been a very interesting thread to me even though I got zero feedback on the original information that I sought.
 
First, I am stunned that so many spend so little time on the site. I can understand that on new construction, but not on revitalization work. I’m not being judgemental on that, just very, very, surprised by it. One of the…[Read more]

It is only wasted time if you are not charging for it. If I did not budget it in and relied on what I got from a survey crew on a residential, I’d see it as wasted time. I know that I’m going to be filling in some details no matter what on an existing residential. If it is a complex site and there is little detail with what I’m starting with, it…[Read more]

The only project where I’ve spent more than a couple of hours “surveying” is a condo re-do, but it is absolutely necessary to measure such a project personally on-site in order to develop the familiarity of the site. Retro-fit landscapes are tough.
 
Typically, I spend an hour or two on a re-do residential. I have a good system and a good laser…[Read more]

I’m definitely not surveying lot lines! I’m doing the same thing that you described above. This is mostly for adding to or altering existing landscapes. Usually, that is a response to the house changing hands, an addition, or some alteration and the survey was done beforehand and with minimal detail for the initial project – usually just a CPP…[Read more]

I’m not knocking you. You are the only person posting examples and that is great for discussion. Everyone should know by now that we can’t just do what is best in these circumstances. I’ve done a lot of parking lot trees and I sure don’t want to post a picture of any of them because they suck for the same reason – we are forced to do something…[Read more]

Thanks, Henry. I hope to get more info from the manufacturer and hopefully find out where I might be able to see a demo. I’ll keep you posted if it goes anywhere.

Henry, I’m glad someone else has interest in having the capability of collecting site data directly.
 
The rangefinder that looks like it does x,y,z points runs about $1700, but it looks like it might need a $700 software package that would run on a pocket pc, although I’m not sure of that. If I knew that I could get 3d points out of it and in…[Read more]

I looked at what looks like a pretty promising laser rangefinder, TruPulse 360B Rangefinder on their website. Does anyone know anyone who uses this or has demoed it? If it does what it says and I can download points into cad, I’ll be all over it.

Instead of hiring a local firm that routinely deals with this environment, they hired a firm that is not familiar with the environment that they are working in – no knock on Geoffrey, just those that did not hire locally. Hiring a bigger firm from farther away is not in itself a bad thing. But if that firm gets into a portion of the project o…[Read more]

The “value of an idea” is so little that those generating them need to pay $150 in addition to their efforts to have them considered?
 
I guess I do not have a problem with using the egotistical segment of the design community as a fund raising vehicle as well as a cost saving way to get design done if it so prevalent. I am a big believer in h…[Read more]

Looks like I might need to break out the dune planting list as well!

What is the necessity of the additional hardscape made by the granite? It does not look like something nice to walk on in the event that it is necessary because of vast amounts of pedestrians. It looks like it was done just to avoid maintaining plantings or mulch.
 
Can we all agree that all parking area tree plantings suck and it is only left to…[Read more]

It definitely makes sense to get in tune with what is naturally occuring in the environments that the project is in. I still think you need to, as an LA, formulate a pallet to use in order to design a landscape that is designed to its intended use. The purpose is not to restore a natural environment, but to make the built environment more closely…[Read more]

I respect you for posting a picture as these always bring critiques out of the woodwork. I totally agree that the bulb is what is necessary for the survival of the tree and the groundcover is functional, green, safe, and looks good.
 
But why have the double curb hell strip down the middle? It does not look functional, does not allow for a…[Read more]

I like that it is all green, has adequate space for the tree roots, and safe  with unobstructed views, but …. one tree?

I’m going to continue to see what instruments are available and at what price. I do a very good job with a Bosch laser and trust my work. I’d just like to speed it up a bit. It is quite a step above the old Fat Max that I used to use. I have not yet had to put it away and tape anything that I could hold that beam on inside 100′. I would be lucky…[Read more]

…. and you all have every shrub and minor detail acurately located in every survey? I often have to infill detail, even while working for a civil/survey office. I’m not looking to replace a survey. I’m looking for more efficient ways of supplementing.
 
I do a lot of re-landscape design where detail and spatial detail are very important because…[Read more]

Last I checked, bark is a by-product of the timber industry. It is not what the dye is used for. The dye is to color the wood that is being chipped fom old pallets and old fences that you pay to dump which then gets ground and added to the material coming from the lumber mills. The whole problem stems from a good idea that has some negative side…[Read more]

Real pine/spruce/hemlock BARK mulch is not bad at all and looks fine as it breaks down. The problem is that it can no longer be found because it is always mixed with recycled wood. It used to be the norm, but this is one of the negative sides of the “green revolution” – recycled crap is added to everything to make more money and hide behind the…[Read more]

In my contracts I refer to a layout plan as a “Schematic Landscape Plan” and describe what that is in the contract. I simply title the same plan as “Landscape Plan” in the title block.
 
Good point about being detailed for subs!