Doug Olsen

Rob,

There are a lot of good softwares out there, selection really depends on your situation and needs. I would “demo’ as many softwares as possible to see which one fits your office best.

For Autocad, Raincad for Autocad works well. It runs in Autocad as a toolbar, similar to Express Tools. You still have the full function of autocad while…[Read more]

I was able to find some irrigation training and I am more confident now. However, I am looking to purchase irrigation design software. What are the best choices out there? Land F/X? IrriCalc? RainCAD? Others?

I want to sharpen my irrigation skills and train one of my coworkers. Are there any free online tutorials with practice problems that we could download? Any help would be much appreciated.

Hi Doug,

Check out the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, at http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/. It is in the process of final revision and is set to go into effect January 2010. It outlines the services and responsibilities of CIDs.

The CID process is pretty involved with classes and tests and can take awhile to get certified. If…[Read more]

Doug,
Yes there is merit. I run a design build firm that does some bid build as well. Some of the irrigation ‘designs’ that come out of some other offices that we bid on don’t follow simple irrigation principles and spec antiquated equipment.
The IA certification (CID) is a good one. I became certified a few years ago. I am always up to date with…[Read more]

Hey everyone. I’d like to get your opinion. Does anyone see any merit in becoming certified in irrigation design? The IA offers courses and testing in irrigation design that we as landscape architects would be eligible to take. While there is a great irrigation knowledge base at my office, I feel like so much has changed over the years that I need…[Read more]

Steve,
I just so happen to be installing a RainMaster Oasis, with 15 controllers and a Weather Center II, and will be completing installation of the controls this week. All seems to be going well with installation and configuration.

Let me know if you need any additional information. I can update you when system is up and running.

Regards,
Paul

Hello,
Has anyone spec’d or installed the Rainmaster Weather Center II on-site weather station? It looks like this is a weather station with some commercial qualities. I’m looking to spec. it in a urban community center project.

thanks,

steve

I am looking for some of your best exemples of rain garden project, rain managment etc. I am in a preparation of a seminar and will enjoy to see what is really happening outside my own practice. Please feel free to share informations and projects….

I’ve been aware of SSI but hadn’t seen their latest report. Go to: http://www.sustainablesites.org
You’ll find a link to the report on the first page. I must say, the “documentation” requirements suggested in this report read like an undergraduate studio assignment for a year-long class. My recent work on a small LEED project looks like a total of…[Read more]

Does anyone know of a good source for construction details for ‘green’ design? I’d like to review these…

Mark,
There is a website with an irrigation tutorial created by a landscape architect. It is a good overall primer for understanding the fundamentals of irrigation design. I’ve read through parts of it and find it easy to follow. Jess Stryker, the LA who wrote it, is also very humorous throughout making the subject a bit more engaging. Go to…[Read more]

Mark,
Are you looking to get into designing irrigation systems? If so, I would recommend taking a class that is taught by the Irrigation Association, or a local community college.

Hello, I’m looking for some education advice. How important is it to take an irrigation course? The LA program I’m in doesn’t offer anything regarding irrigation.

iT IS MOSTLY CULLET DISPOSAL AND HEAVY METALS (LEAD), MOST OTHER CONTAMINENTS WHERE FULLY REMOVED. I WAS ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN BIO – PHYRO REMEDIATIONS BUT HAD NOT FOUND A GREAT DEAL OF INFO ON THEM.

Ya i defentenly plan on trying to use Bioretention techniques, but this is not a exectly a mitigation techniques it is a stormwater solution, i need some way to extract or mitigate the heavy metals that are with in the soil and water on site, bioretention will help in preventing them to go to the stream but then they are still on site in the soil.

Bioretention is a technique that can be used in nearly any environment, including brownfields, as a water quality control. This may be getting too technical for your project, but depending on the amount of on-site contamination, I would recommend that you wrap all of your stormwater BMPs with an impermeable membrane to help control the spread of…[Read more]

i am a landscape architecture student working on my senior project, which is a brownfield site ( old glass manufacture), and curious to see if any one had unique design, mitigation techniques and or a case study i should look in to.

Larry these look to be very helpful examples of how other municipalities are implementing these strategies. Good case studies. Thanks for sharing.

you might want to check out this useful doc put out by the epa. its a lot of portland stuff but much more.. Larry Shaeffer
and add to greenstreets links list

link to Municipal Handbook Green Infrastructure
http://cfpub2.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure/munichandbook.cfm

Green Infrastructure Municipal Handbook

The Municipal Handbook is a series…[Read more]