[Gordon W. Perkins]

Sorry missed the previous post with Lynda.

[Gordon W. Perkins]

I think it really pays to have a robust understanding of the program and its tools before trying to specifically learn its application in the profession.  You need the full toolbox so that you are not limited to just set tasks or processes.  I hear that Lynda.com is a great place to start.  I have not tried their tutorials, but colleagues have given it high marks.  As for its uses… endless.  Simple photo manipulation, 2D rendering, 3D rendering, editing hand renderings to incorporate changes, overlay of hand renderings on photos, scene composition, and page layout to name a few.  There was actually a great webinar on LAND8: Photoshop Perspectives with Bradley Cantrell.  You should see if you can buy that in archives.  It also demonstrates the 2D-3D bridge which is a nice skill to have.  – Good Luck.

[Gordon W. Perkins]

Good to know. I don’t need any more spam.   Thanks!

[Gordon W. Perkins]

I have done 2D and 3D design on the side for years now.  I really fell into it while helping a co-worker with some photoshop questions.  It then turned into brochure design for her friend, then some odd photography, and 3-D modeling jobs.  It is slow business, but I have never actively pursued any jobs before.  While I don’t pretend to be a graphic designer, most of the stuff I am doing is straight forward and just requires some sense of balanced colours and effective layout.  One place I have always been temped to try is http://www.elance.com.  They often have odd jobs that look doable by a non GD, and some really fun stuff too.  They are really competitive and often lowball jobs, but they look so easy!!  Good Luck!

[Gordon W. Perkins]

Yes, and yes you can do it with regular CAD.  The main thing Civil 3D offers (used to be available in AutoCAD map until they dissolved that!!!) is the ability to define projections in the project and it automatically places georeferenced images  with the Mapiimport command (which I believe is exclusive to Civil now).  This way, for multidisciplinary projects we can not only keep tabs on any changes to the referencing, but we also know if someone has shifted or rotated the drawing b/c it will loose its referencing.  And it happens so often with users that do not understand the concept of georeferencing.

[Gordon W. Perkins]

Not really sure GIS Tools was an appropriate term.   More than anything we use it for larger digitizing jobs because as a drafting app., it is much faster that ArcGIS.  We will generally take that digitizing product seemlessly back to ArcGIS once complete.  We also use it to overlay data, and create some very particular types of maps, and for doing 3D camera alignments for simulation work.   Oh, I also reference unreference point, line and polygon data in CAD.  It is way faster for me. I know Civil 3D now recognizes most geographic projection systems and there is a much more robust set of tools available in the app. that I simply don’t need or don’t know how to use.

[Gordon W. Perkins]

But you get my point. The employee seat is becoming incredibly expensive and we should always question, “Is is all of this hardware and software worth it?” Sometimes the answer is yes, but we need to always be sure it is in capable hands with a strict policy governing the use of digital processes. I completely agree with your reasoning on software selection. If only we could convince the masses of the same thing! I ran a side business on less than 5K in software.

[Gordon W. Perkins]

Computers are another set of tools in the Landscape Architects tool kit. The importance of drawing will never fade. Computers, however, have helped the profession adapt slightly to include those grey areas that we never really considered the core of the profession, but have become mainstream for many professionals. For example, I am often involved in large scale industrial projects (which have become just as necessary in the landscape as recreation facilities). Without the help of computers our job would become incredibly cumbersome. We can look at several mitigation options and facility designs, in a photo real context with minimal effort. However, in the other sectors of our work, we recognize the importance of hand graphics and carefully decide at the onset of each project which illustration method is most appropriate. Having said that, when we decide hand illustrations are the best approach, we still use a 3D application to choose the view and set up the perspective. It takes minutes in 3D and speeds up the process for the illustrator. I was fortunate enough (or unfortunate) to stumble on this profession when computers we really just becoming mainstream. So I have also seen all of the hidden issues with using digital graphics. It takes a special breed of landscape architect to stand back and look at a project and critically decide the best communication method. The biggest issue with computers is that you are not introducing “one new tool”, you have to look at it as hundreds (if not thousands) of new tools, each with a specialized purpose. This often leads to professionals fumbling around in applications and creating workarounds to a very straight forward task. This is when the machine becomes a detriment to the firm. And, based on my experience it happens on a daily basis in many firms. Another big issue with computers is the cost. One seat of AutoCAD Civil 3D is $7,490. 3D Studio Max $3990. Two applications will cost a firm over $10,000 for one new employee. Now including all the other software, training, and hardware one new employee can reach $20,000-$25,000 just to put that set of tools on one desk. At that cost, the new employee better be a production master. And digital graphics better be a hugely beneficial tool to that firm or we are all headed in the wrong direction. Point being, each individual firm needs to carefully consider the role of computers in that firm otherwise, it can be a very expensive mistake to just assume you need to go in that direction.

[Gordon W. Perkins]

A human can not (i repeat “can not”) efficiently analyze 45 million cells of topographic data to determine how best to situate a 200 acre resort so as to minimize light pollution, visual impact, noise impact, as well as ecological disturbance in a 10 mile study area in a matter of hours. I don’t care how skilled your hand is. You will be drawing lines of sight for three months! I think we work different ends of the spectrum. In your realm, GIS may not be an asset. In mine, it rules. By the way, the data is always field verified from random test points generated by the GIS database (another human impossibility) and there has not been a single instance in 100+ projects in which the data has given us bad results. Lets face it, this is an invaluable tool for certain professionals in the field of landscape architecture.

[Gordon W. Perkins]

In Syracuse, we have a few nesting falcons twelve stories above my desk and their main diet consists of the winged rat. It is brilliant to watch. They dive and full speed (the fastest animal in the air, by the way) and slam into pigeons sending a carcass followed by a wash of feathers falling peacefully by my window. The carnage that follows is not for the faint of heart, but it is great to see a bird that was on the brink of extinction due to habitat destruction and DDT adapt to an urban environment like this.

[Gordon W. Perkins]

Great example and creative use of the application. I also do extensive visual impact work and GIS is one of the best desktop study applications we use. ArcGIS, being the primary platform.

[Gordon W. Perkins]

Respectfully, I don’t see how people do not see that GIS has a great potential in LA work. It is an invaluable analysis tool. Maybe not so much for the Jone’s pool and patio, but I assumed we were thinking beyond that. However, it’s uses there are not overlooked. I am not a blind advocate of GIS. I can assure you, we use it on a daily basis for simple to very complex applications. LA’s should absolutely consider having GIS skills.

[Gordon W. Perkins]

In my work GIS is an invaluable tool and I wish I had taken it in university. Unfortunately, there was a lack of emphasis on the application of GIS when I was in school. GIS can give you is a very useful tool kit in understanding complex environmental, social, and even economic relationships on any scale site. With the availability of more and more fine scaled data, we can run several layers of analysis on even the smallest sites. The 3-D analyst extension is a great tool for working with topography (slope analysis, viewshed analysis, sun/shade analysis). The planners, landscape architects, architects, and engineers all utilize our firms GIS resources on a daily bases. It is and should be a integral part of deign and planning process as it can give us information in such an efficient and usable way that really no other platform can. Choice of software is somewhat limited, but for most tasks I can get by with a free app. called QGIS. I use Global Mapper for data compilation, and ArcGIS for more complicated analysis. AutoCAD Civil 3D also has some useful GIS tools that we use frequently. Regardless, to use GIS you absolutely must have a solid understanding of the tool to use it correctly and efficiently. Otherwise it can lead to expensive mistakes. I believe GIS is certainly in the future of this profession and our client base consistently backs that up. Not to mention it will make you a much more well rounded professional that has a valuable role in a multidisciplinary firm. This is even more important in a competitive job market. The web is also going to add an interesting dynamic to the future of GIS data sharing/communication. Good Luck!

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