[Eric Gilbey]

Anthony, Vectorworks has the ability to import DWG files in two ways, depending on how you expect to use the information. A direct import enables you you manage the geometry as if you created it, and can directly convert the lines and shapes to smart site specific objects. A referenced import is like an ex-ref (external referenced) file. Which allows for updates and enables you you do you work without marrying your work to the other files if you only need them for background purposes. If you have any other questions about the process of using Vectorworks when you are used to AutoCAD, let me know and I would be glad to answer any questions you have.

[Eric Gilbey]

Rob, Great question…if you have not already become aware of the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s online resource called Landscape Performance Series, you may get the answers for which you are looking.

http://landscapeperformance.org/browse?keys=&benefits[0]=118&benefits[1]=121

So much more than just green roofs too…check it out.

[Eric Gilbey]

Neil, I’m curious to talk with your more about the verifications your are needing, but I believe the site information modeling in Vectorworks Landmark software would meet your needs. Integrated 2D/3D site specific design/modeling with built in worksheets which report from the objects you are designing. Including grade objects which can act like a calculator for allowable slopes and can also modify the surfaces to the expected slopes. Let me know if I can help further.

[Eric Gilbey]

Goustan, Almost 25 years ago, we studied from this book, Planting Design: A Manual of Theory and Practice , which seems to still be used and latest edition shows to be around 2004. Not at all a tropical planting resource, but does provide the guidance you describe. 

[Eric Gilbey]

Richard’s right. Vectorworks Landmark has a couple of tools that would help in this. The first is the plant placment mode for triangular array, which once you create the shape, you convert it to a plant, with the triangular array on and it will arrange the plant symbols, according to the specified spacing in that area. Another tool that helps in making this happen, just as accurate with plant counts, but less obvious about where each plant is placed is the landscape area tool. It allows the shape and the plant placement to preside and it does the math for counts. If you are using plant symbols with a hybridized 3D representation, it will show the 3D plants in the correct placement in your 3D views as well. Since contractors will not be following an irregular placement to the inch in your planting plan, getting them “just so” may be a balancing act of how it should be presented for installation and realizing it is all subjectively treated by the installer. If I can help in any way, let me know.

[Eric Gilbey]

Roland, The good news is that you can use Vectorworks on a PC as well as a Mac. Yes, it started in 1985 as MiniCAD and was Mac only, but that changed in the mid 1990’s when it became cross platform. There are getting started guides available on the Vectorworks webiste http://www.vectorworks.net/training/getting-started-guides (free) and the software has a free 30 day evaluation program http://www.vectorworks.net/trial/form

My recommendation is to use the Getting Started guides in this order: Fundamentals, Landmark, then Renderworks. Please feel free to let me know if you have other questions about getting into Vectorworks.

[Eric Gilbey]

John, I would recommend Include Software’s Asset if you are within the design/build realm…or you may also want to take a look at Fasttrack by AEC Software for project management within the LA’s construction document production process.

[Eric Gilbey]

Scott, Every one of your examples would be well met with Vectorworks Landmark with Renderworks. The Site Model object would provide you the 2D grading plan, while also providing the 3D model which can be analyzed for cut and fill, water flow and slope categories. The Plant objects have 2D and 3D representations as well. With Renderworks, you have the ability to study and present your file to make sure what you are proposing is solving the needs for the client and site. So many other site specific features, including GIS file management, make the software a solution well worth checking out. Good luck with your search…keep us posted as to how it goes.

[Eric Gilbey]

Susan, I would suspect by CAD you are referring to AutoCAD, and for that I would not be able to offer a helpful suggestion. If you are looking for a CAD application that provides this currently, I would suggest you take a look at Vectorworks Landmark. With ODBC functionality, it does have the ability to tie the data from Excel to the worksheets within Vectorworks. I believe this link may further explain how this process works. http://kbase.vectorworks.net/questions/967/ODBC+Compatibility+-+Excel

[Eric Gilbey]

George, That is fantastic work that you have been involved with, especially the foundation you have established and the continued work in educating the legislators and public…the effort to become a part of the legislative effort is tremendous too. The details on ASLA’s budget is not known to me, but I do know that they have added (well over a year ago…maybe going on 2 years) a staff member to help the chapters in their public relations/awareness effort..so beyond the staff member they already had helping the membership at large in our efforts to reach the public, they added the chapter oriented staff member to provide more local support in their PR/PA efforts. You may recall ASLA’s effort called the Understory on Aug 17th…this is an effort he was directly coordinating with chapters across the US. Coming up on April 26th, he’s assisting the chapters with another effort to move chapters to do the same (hopefully differently), but for the same purpose. We in Maryland are setting up tours and presentations at a very public site, Fort McHenry to do just that…bring the knowledge of our work to the public’s awareness and at the same time, help them remember when they are in a space designed and/or preserved to support their recreational, cultural, and environmental needs, that a landscape architect is involved. Again thanks George for your efforts, but do stay connected with the work ASLA is doing, and share your wealth of knowledge skills and abilities because the profession needs your positive motivation. 

[Eric Gilbey]

George, Jason is right, and if you were watching in the last few weeks, you would have seen ASLA staff and officers pleading with its members and non members to reach out to their lawmakers (aside from the lobbying they were also doing feverishly) to include language that made projects like green infrastructure and safe routes to school and transportation enhancements, and the list goes on. All of these aspects of advocacy paid off as the federal amendments being considered were passed and actions like this help to provide projects which in turn brings work to us…and the more work brought to us causes firms to need to hire to keep up with the increase in work. Often times it comes down to the constituents, like you and I to reach out to our legislators because they know you are the ones who elect them…not the ASLA staff. So hearing you say that ASLA needs to become a political powerhouse goes both ways…they already have. Hearing your passion makes me want to know what you are doing to approach your legislators to do the same…because we need to know how you too have been working to see this happen, and by letting us know, you will inspire others to do the same. As Jason mentioned, Advocacy Day, is May 10th…if you have made plans to attend, I look forward to meeting you there…if not, please do what you can from where you are and approach your federal, state and local lawmakers and tell them why these laws that make opportunities for work for us are crucial to our profession and how we make a difference for the communities in which we work and live.

[Eric Gilbey]

Scott, I’m curious to know how your firm uses AutoCAD and AutoCAD’s Civil3D differently. According to resellers for Autodesk products, Civil3D is the answer to Landscape Architects, yet they really do not have landscape specific functionality that truly helps us do a better job at doing our work. Site specific, yes…but not landscape specific.

Seeing your request for a plant spacing routine, I think about the time when I started using Vectorworks Landmark and realized the plant objects know which plant they are, what their spacing is (defined by you) and quantifies themselves in worksheets just by bringing them into your file. Other site specific applications exist as well (low budget might be a misnomer as they are not the cheapest programs out there), but they are likely cheaper than AutoCAD and Civil 3D and do a far better job at helping us with these workflows, which again saves us time and money in our design production.

The spacing charts that nurseries provide are certainly helpful, and can be a formula incorporated into your worksheets. If your application is harvesting this spatial data from the shapes in worksheets, then have the cells do the rest of the work in quantifying based on the spacing charts you find.

[Eric Gilbey]

Keith, I would recommend to you to determine how many of your credits you can get that are not specifically approved by NJ’s board and attempt to secure those credits from other approved provider associations (ie. USGBC, AIA, AICP, Universities etc) And also check out distant learning opportunities through LA CES and other chapters of ASLA, and approved vendor providers. So many distant learning opportunities exist that if allowable for credit in NJ, could be helpful. Another example is ASLA’s LATIS series…where you can read or watch their series and take a test afterward…as a member of ASLA, you can have these available to you…sometimes reading books and documenting your time and content learned, etc. There are a few ways to be creative about getting your credit and it may take some time to find them, but they are out there. I’m also wondering if you could volunteer for the NJASLA annual meeting in Atlantic City, if that might help with the cost of the conference…or offer to help one of their sponsors/exhibitors and see if they would sponsor your registration for the conference.

[Eric Gilbey]

How many crew members did you manage as owner? Sounds like you were the sole designer…I also came into a new position about 4 years ago where I had to give up creating real designs that were pulled from the printer/off the desk to be immediately installed (still miss that so I know what you mean). The last statement probably is one that you can sink into a little more…as you admit it is complex. They might want to get your perspective on what you think you will be in for (aside from what the job description entails). For example, you may have the idea that you are narrowing your scope, while they may see it as a broadening of responsibilities merely because of the difference in the size of projects you implemented in your firm to the ones they are accustomed to handling. I think you have an advantage in that you have developed an understanding of the aspects of business that PMs do not traditionally get into, and that can help you as you coordinate your efforts with those who are managing the other sides of the business outside of your new scope.

It may also serve you well to ask them questions about processes that you know are quite different, that both you and they know you will have to grow into. Though you have owned a business and managed that business, this is still professional development for you in your career as a landscape architect, and if they see that you will recognize this and appreciate the opportunity to grow, this will be received as a mutually beneficial situation. I think you already know some of this, so maybe I’m not handing out new perspectives.

 

[Eric Gilbey]

Jonathan, Good to seek feedback on this. I would ask what you would miss most about your role as owner, while transitioning to project manager. For example, do you expect to find it more fulfilling to focus your role on projects (specific sites, crew, clients and design teams), rather than on the wider, less intimate, role of owner?

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