Doug Prouty

I am currently using a Mac book pro and have a mix bag of programs since I transitioned from a dell tower. I am using f/x cad with land f/x with parallels on windows 7. Land f/x is great for rendered plans for client presentation as well as full construction plans. I haven’t used Vectorworks so I’m no help there. Do note that regardless of the…[Read more]

Laith ifyour stillinterested in opinions I’ve used On Screen Takeoff for very accurate quantities takeoffs only. It has a worksheet tab but it is not exportable. This program is also favored by contractors here in Phoenix (I learned the program while working at ValleyCrest). I’m going to give Land FX a try.

For watering trees in the southwest region we are using drip irrigation with deep root watering tubes (see Rain Bird RWS tubes).  For shrubs in planting areas and in parking islands, it is typically point source drip irrigation as well (1 gallon per hour emission rate). For turf the norm is spray and rotor irrigation though a new item to the…[Read more]

Now there’s a way to turn a negative into a positive! In order to survive you have to be creative and I thing the Dora mats are a seller to kids from 3 to 5 years old. My daughter would love one but you have to include Boots or it’s a deal breaker! If they are already in production, market it as Ivan the Operative with a small characature of Putin…[Read more]

Definitely do it in sketch up.  Easy program to learn and mixing it with photoshop creates a nice composition.

I like Jason’s advice.  I’ve had people come into our office and meet me in person and hand me their resume along with a hard copy small portfolio/ sampler.  Depending on time, we’ll chat for 10-15 minutes and then I’ll head back to my office and go through their work.  If they have a web site address, I’ll surf that too. 
 
It’s best to have a…[Read more]

Andrew,
 
10 to 12 hour days can be the norm if the firm is busy.  I oversaw a seven person LA department and my team worked 40 to 45 hours a week.  I myself worked 45-50 hours depending on how much admin stuff piled up (reviewing billings, time cards, meetings with staff and the boss, etc.)  Every now and then a couple of us would work till 10-…[Read more]

Juan I have seen a lot of job postings on the ASLA job links and other sites as well.  Is the market getting stronger in that area in regards to landscape architecure?  I’m working with a civil firm that does a lot of power and energy and that team dabbles a bit in Califirnia but nothing has materialized for landscape architecture services ye…[Read more]

Seems like this is getting to a be a lively thread! 
 
To anyone who cares, the job market here in Arizona is very slow, but not yet dead.  Here’s my take on the following markets, from my point of view!
 
Home Builders – We’ve been able to hold onto our existing home builder clients and continue to provide planning and landscape work, albiet ver…[Read more]

Grammar is good as long as spell check can find it!
Humor is subjective as it’s sure to tick someone off!
Ideas are easy to come by in this day and age of debate and sarcasm
Action depends on if the piece sturs someone up enough to do something… or justs sends them back to the couch to watch Dr. Phil.
I’ll follow your directions and will send…[Read more]

Mark, in all I don’t see that there will be a tremindous change or shift in the types of services we provide or to whom they are offered to, here in the valley. In my opinion, I think the change will be in which firms perform certain types of work. What I mean by that is we will see an increase in the amount of small design firms due to the i…[Read more]

Alec I’d be interested. Do you have any examples of articles so that I can get an idea of what you are looking for? If so, email me at dprouty@hotmail.com

jamie,

Good question! I haven’t even heard from the board if my application has been processed so i can sit for the state section.

The only study material I gathered was from their recommended list. It was a list of books and web site articles that has filled a 3″ 3 ring binder and has put me to sleep many a night! I purchased around 4 books on…[Read more]

To my knowledge things here in Phoenix haven’t picked up enough to bring on more staff. Most places are barely squeaking by and are choosing to bring on any new employees on a contract basis only. I know of many offices that are down to the principals/ directors and even they wonder how things will turn out. Projects are coming in but not as fast…[Read more]

Zach our student chapter at UNLV was and still is very involved with the local Southern Nevada ASLA Chapter. Many of us established great relationships with our future coleagues and bosses and I believe that it helped in finding a job with the right firm. The chapter meetings continue to be a great place to meet and discuss projects and what’s g…[Read more]

Marc,

I see that you’re in PA while I’m in AZ. Humidity isn’t an issue here as much so I don’t have any experinece with humidity after the water is applied. Most art. turf material will have drain holes so that there isn’t any standing water and the turf is installed over a compacted subgrade of 1/4″ minus decomposed granite which should wick the…[Read more]

Jay you have some nice data and this is an on-giong dicussion at our firm. As a land planning and lanscape architecture firm in Arizona, we are faced with urban sprawl and intense peripheral development on a daily basis, though it is a bit slow now with the economy being as it is…. With the majority of the national home building companies being…[Read more]

I use regular auto cad. I manually add up the gpm used for drip systems and spray heads. I’ve created a standard legend and symbol blocks that i can drop into the drawings. it was a bit of upfront leg work, but it’s easy to train employees on and the learning curce is pretty much aero if they understand how to use cad.

I’d like to go to Land F/X…[Read more]