[J. Waldron, RLA]

A good starting point to help is the center for international disasters.

http://www.cidi.org/reg_off.htm

[J. Waldron, RLA]

I too took the UGA review session. While it helped with the multiple choice section, I felt the thing that helped me the most on the graphic sections was locking myself in the spare bedroom office for 3-5 hours a day for a couple months, if not more.

That prep didn’t prepare me for one of the more difficult E problems. My experience in the home building industry and engineering field helped me realize that I was looking at a basement foundation on the site, from there it was gravy.

With that said, to pass C and E, you MUST find any and all vignettes, new and old, and do them two and three times. You will catch the problems and common mistakes you are making. More importantly, you will get your timing down and understand the mental checks you must go through when attacking each problem. For example, when I first started on some sample C problems, I was drawing drive isles and radii just off scale. When your site it tight as a tick, you can’t afford to give up space,or even worse, start over.

Practice, practice, and more practice….and when you think you’ve practiced enough, take a break for a few days and do it all over again. In the words of my favorite professor at Clemson, Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

[J. Waldron, RLA]

“are we currently capable of achieving a clear and accurate cocktail party summation of our job description?”

When I am asked what a landscape architect does, I always answer “we are designers of functional exterior environments”

I remember an interesting story from college. We had a wolpert rep come in and speak to our professional practice class. He mentioned that he once sat next to a woman on a plane who asked what he did for a living. Figuring she wouldn’t understand what an LA is and not willing to go into it, he simply answered that he was an “architect”. The woman responded “my daughter is a landscape architect” then proceeded to tell him all about her work for the entire flight.

There are two types of clients in my experience. Those who hire LA’s because they understand the need for such services and can afford it. And those who nip at the landscape budget and just hire a guy with a truck to go “do it”. The latter doesn’t care if you are a land architect or landscape architect.

[J. Waldron, RLA]

I saw that a while back. He does come off as pompous. If you’ve ever seen his work, you’ll agree that he should probably reel his attitude in a bit. Perhaps his concepts and the functionality of his structures shed a bit more light, but he has mastered the art of designing peculiar objects.

[J. Waldron, RLA]

It’s a great idea. We need to be bold with efforts to recapture pedestrian space from the vehicular environment. More so, we need to eliminate impervious surfaces from those spaces and reintroduce vegetation into the landscape. A little water would be good too. People attract people, food attracts more people to spaces and comfortable micro climates attract even more. But san francisco is a micro climate unto itself

[J. Waldron, RLA]

They are much better than gravel bags when used as inlet protections. they also come in customizable lengths that can be cut to fit in the field. I prefer the grass straw or coconut fiber varieties.

[J. Waldron, RLA]

I submit http://poweritcareers.com as exhibit A. and Avalon ENG as exhibit B. They don’t respond to emails and their contact phone # is a cell phone that simply disconnects when called.

Job search engines are garbage. Even the “legit” ones. But there is good news from some of them…..like careerbuilder.com. After I submitted my experience and qualifications as a Registered Landscape Architect, I received several exciting new career matches!!11!!1. Apparently, I am qualified as a licensed nurse, a sales support technician and my favorite…..A MENU IMPLEMENTATION SPECIALIST for a buffet restaurant chain! Now if I can just get that money wired into my account from my new Nigerian friend, i’ll be set.

I would never give a ss#, but I guess they don’t really need that to get what they want.

[J. Waldron, RLA]

I am a big fan of Patrick Dougherty’s work. I had the good fortune of working with him on a few projects when he came to Clemson. The guy will work you to death harvesting the material.

http://www.stickwork.net/

[J. Waldron, RLA]

Do a search on this site for the google group. Probably find it in the professional practice forums. That group and a trip to my old arch. library got me through the exams. If that fails, I can dig up some pdf’s for you. That section overlaps the other two multiple choice sections, so if you’ve passed those, the D stuff is all you’ll need.

[J. Waldron, RLA]

For graphics, I really like the work of Mike Lin. I highly recommend getting his book “Drawing and Designing with Confidence”

He also holds seminars and training sessions of varying lengths. They are costly, but worth it for the results. Check out his website at http://www.beloose.com

When I render, I like to use AD Chartpak markers on vellum. For non-LA related graphics, check out the work of Chip Foose. He works with Chartpak’s and his illustrations are unreal.

[J. Waldron, RLA]

I generally practice good use of xeriscaping techniques coupled with the use of bio swales, and natives. I also recommend rain barrels to homeowners and larger capturing systems to my larger, commercial clients.

one of the bigger “recycling” things I like to do on larger developments is use recycled concrete and asphalt from on site demo, on site excavated stone for rip-rap and earth retainage, and have the timber contractor double grind cleared timber for mulching and stabilization.

[J. Waldron, RLA]

Sherman,

It may be a good idea to look through the US Forest Service Landscape Management Series, Volumes I and II (these were publications from a while ago so I’m sure there are updated texts.), Chaper 5 is on Timber and Chapter 6 is on Fire.

They also have a publication called forest landscape analysis and design.

[J. Waldron, RLA]

Daniel,

The design work of those spaces are equally as impressive as the models. well done. I will definitely pre-order.

I’m a novice to SketchUp, and my biggest challenge is creating good landforms. I’ll be interested to read your techniques.

Some of my more modest models:

[J. Waldron, RLA]

Perhaps I need to clarify. I have every intention of taking the LEED exam, even if I have to pay for it. I do not discount the merits of the AICP certification, but I am not qualified to take it.

I am looking for a graduate degree that will give me the business background to accomplish my entrepreneurial goals, but also make me more marketable to a wider array of opportunities. All the specific credentials in the world won’t accomplish that. Perhaps an MBA will.

[J. Waldron, RLA]

The second purpose is what I’m really after. A good bit of my background is in land development management and aquisitions. I have a different sort of vision for a company that practices LA, develops on a smaller scale, and has a development consulting component with a bit of design-build mixed in.

[Author]

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