[Matthew Stubbs]

You should look into the new cintiq tablets from Wacom. The hybrid one just came out that runs an android OS and they gave another one coming out that will have windows 8 on it. Hearing lots of good things about them. The come with a Wacom stylus specifically designed for them I think.

[Matthew Stubbs]

I had the idea of strapping a camera on to my mountain bike and riding the planned corridor of a hike and bike trail. My thought is it would help in the planning of the trail. I never had the opportunity to put it into practice though. I may go back and do the same thing on the finished trail for marketing purposes, but still waiting on projects to be finished.

[Matthew Stubbs]

Hi MG, if you are looking for example CD sets the best way to get a hold of those is from a contractor. Contractors bid on many jobs a month an probably don’t get half of them, but to bid on them they get access to the entire CD set usually in PDF format. The site most general contractors use to post drawings for sub contractors to bid is called http://www.isqft.com you can create a account for free but have to receive an invite from the GC to access project documents in most cases. Also I know the Texas department of transportation (tx dot) posts all projects that they are currently bidding on their website in a Tiff format and you can access those for free no matter who you are, as long as you know where to find them on their confusing website. You also might just troll some construction sites, go to a job trailer, tell them your story that you are student and what not and you never know they may give you an old outdated set of plans that they don’t need anymore.

[Matthew Stubbs]

It should say “I’m a Landscape Architect and I won’t mow your yard” can’t tell you how many people I met over the years that think I mow yards for a living.

[Matthew Stubbs]

That may have been the case but the proctor said it was in her instructions that were given to her by CLARB.  She said she had given this exam before and that this was new to her as well.  I fortunately use a digital kitchen timer when I take the test and was allowed to use that.  Others just had go off of the 2 extremely small clocks that they put in the front and the back of the room.  I have taken both graphic sections numerous times and this was the first instance of this.  Had I not passed Section E this last time in December I would have raised a big fuss about it.  However I did pass it so I am all done with that stupid exam, hopefully others that were more affected by it than I was will do something to bring it to the attention of CLARB.  The proctor did say that she noted that there were several complaints about it and that she would make that known to CLARB for whatever that is worth.  Does CLARB admister the Exam in your State or is it done by your licensing board?  That also could be the reason for the difference.

[Matthew Stubbs]

There are 2 programs I have seen used a great deal by Contractors both Landscape an just contractors in general.  The first one is On Screen Takeoff or OST made by Oncenter Software.  It is the most pricey option but it is a really good program and comes with training software and once you purchase you can set up an online training session with one of their instructors so you can ask any questions you might have.  The only problem is you are looking at about $3,000 dollars for the software and that is only one license.  You can break it up into 3 payments if that works better for you.  The other takeoff software is through IsqFT, which is a site where a lot of general contractors will post plans and project information for subs to download and make bids off of them.  They have a take off program on their website that is pretty useful and is comparable to OST, if I remeber correctly it is just called IsqFT takeoff.  It is a little cheaper but as I understand it you just pay them fee every year for the software.  Both are good programs and have either 15 day or 30 day trial available.  But beware if you sign up for a trial you will get annoying calls from a salesperson wanting to know how the trial is going and if you are happy with the software and looking to purchase it.  Another good thing about both is that you don’t need a CAD file to do the takeoff.  All you need are PDF’s or any image file really of the construction documents and the programs use the size of the sheet along with the scale of the drawing to scale it so that all of your area and volume calculations come out correctly.  I would definetly suggest getting the trial version first of each and see if the software does exactly what you are looking for it to do.  You can also find reviews online of the 2 as well.  I hope this helps you in your search.

[Matthew Stubbs]

My biggest arguement against the lare is not the test itself but the way clarb administers it. First off the time given to take the graphic sections is too little, it gives u only enough time to figure out one solution and if u get to far down the road with that idea and it doesn’t work u are hosed. That is because u don’t have time to rework it and if u do u won’t have time to finish the other problems. A new rule they put in on the one administered in December is that u can no longer wear a watch while taking the exam. How ridiculous is that? Apparently they think we are James bond and we have spy cameras in our watches. Now that is a great example of clarb worrying more about the security of their exam and not the ones taking the exam. Clarb needs to take a long look at their exam procedures and come up with something better.

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