John Pacyga

Laurent,
I whole-heartedly back Vectorworks Landmark.  It’s amazingly well-fitted to our profession.  I also believe watching the videos will help you get over any learning curve.  (The company also has Service Select which gives you more videos on landscape tasks, training, and software upgrades.  It’s well worth it.)  SketchUp just released a ne…[Read more]

1. Vectorworks and SketchUp
2. LA tools: creates a plant palette, creates plant schedule, and plants can be placed O.C. or in a mass; great for conceptual through final design
3. I’ve used Autocad since R12 and Microstation.  Both didn’t have landscape tools.  Vectorworks does think differently so there is a learning curve setting it up the way y…[Read more]

Here is a list of trees I think are the best from the 3D warehouse. If you have already downloaded these, please forgive me.
http://sketchupland.posterous.com/best-3d-trees-from-3d-warehouse
Depending on what you are doing, 2D trees/shrubs are good alternatives. Some 2D picture “face me” plants can look just as good or better than a 3D low-poly…[Read more]

I agree with the others, start with quality components (with good detail) and textures. My blog may have some ideas for where to find these at http://sketchupland.posterous.com/ If there is something specific I can answer, let me know. I will have some upcoming articles about depth of field and other tricks that can increase the quality of a model…[Read more]

Daniel Tal’s SketchUp work with ASLA might be a really good place to start:
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/videos.html
He illustrates what landscape architects bring to a project.

http://sketchupland.posterous.com/best-3d-trees-from-3d-warehouse

This is my best list of 3D and some 2D/ 2.5D trees from 3D warehouse.
Wyatt’s wisdom is right on: use 2D trees everywhere, 3D when you need the quality up close when it matters.

One can view and download Android apps via a new Google website:
http://market.android.com/

There is a Droid app for this.

Google’s Free Apps for Android:
http://www.google.com/mobile/android/#utm_source=hc_header&utm_medium=Android&utm_campaign=topic=19501
(The menu across the top can take you to other phones…)

Oh, you have to try Google Voice.  Check out the website, because it can do a lot!
I haven’t found any tree or plant ID apps… 

I will try it!
I’ve found Business Time, HowSteep, Photoshop express, and SBMX (AutoDesk SketchBook Mobile Express).  There are others I’m trying but not the amount of professional apps I thought I would find.  Wish it had the Dirr app…

It does simple 2D cad work pretty well.  There are issues with the current beta and printing though…  It does use the same shortcut keys as AutoCAD so it’s an easy learning curve.

It’s interesting to look at the salary survey compared to the 2nd and the 3rd quarter business survey.

Here’s another take on an LA’s salary:
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Landscape_Architect/Salary

This is a blog of design students and professors at the University of Kentucky:
http://themetacogblog.blogspot.com/

This is my work blog and items in the Louisville, KY area:
http://verdantky.posterous.com/

I highly recommend http://posterous.com/ if you are looking to set up a blog. You send new blog entries via email and the enclosures come up…[Read more]