Matt Sprouse

so sorry.  I just looked up that thesis and it is not what I thought it was.  Someone at UGA had a very similar thesis in 1997 or 1998.

search the online UGA library for Philip Wislar’s thesis on this subject in 1998.  He now has a consultant business in this field near DC.

1. Autocad 2009
2. tilemode.
3. the cost of the program
4. I’ve only used Autocad through my career by I have become increasingly interested in Bricscad and Vectorworks.  
Good luck on your project.

I think one of our biggest assets as a profession is the (supposed) ability to communicate with our drawings – especially hand drawings.  I understand that not everyone’s hand sketching skills are at the top of their game, but it is critical that we deliver to our clients images that show our creativity and inspiration.  Hand drawings are, in a s…[Read more]

5th year BLA’s often do a large exit project which is called a thesis in some schools.  I would be careful to compare it to a graduate school thesis that is rigorously reviewed by a committee and then becomes a published document by the university.  Most major universities catalog their theses in their library.  BLA project typically are no…[Read more]

The only real reason to get an MLA after a BLA is to teach.  Even then, most universities are requiring PhD’s for tenure track positions.  MLA used to be our terminal degree.  I have a BSLA and and MLA.  If you decide to get an MLA, make sure you go to a different school for a new perspective.  If it is teaching you want to do, look for teac…[Read more]

It’s a rookie mistake to assume that because a firm bills someone out at 2x (preferably more) their salaried or paid rate is being greedy.  It is that additional $ that pays for rent, supplies, computers, plotters, copiers, phone and internet service, the power bill, health insurance, liability insurance (general and errors & omissions), and – oh…[Read more]

Alex,
It’s been entertaining to read through this posting.  I too am a font nut, and I feel it is extremely important in how it expresses one’s work.  It is hard to believe that any design professional could be lackadaisical in their use of fonts on their own documents.  If we as a profession are going to be fastidious about details in the la…[Read more]

I have to agree about the lack of a real public awareness campaign about landscape architecture.   Granted we are a much smaller group than, lets say, AIA, but how often do architects and engineers have to explain what they do professionally? Several years ago, I was watching a PBS show and AIA was a sponsor.  Their add was extraordinary.  A fe…[Read more]

I have to say I have been very disappointed over the years with ASLA and what I get as a member in return.  I am a big advocate for the profession and have carried that torch, but the value of being able to use ‘ASLA’ after my name has diminished greatly.  I still use ‘RLA’ or ‘Landscape Architect’ because of my licensure, because I feel it d…[Read more]

I’m in agreement with several people’s response – hand graphics are VERY important.  Hand graphics show how you think and express process and individuality.  In interviews, I go immediately to the hand graphics in someone’s portfolio (and I always ask if it is their work).  You will learn so much in an office about rendering style, color se…[Read more]

oh – forget Revit.  BIM software for landscape architecture is not there yet.

draw draw draw!  I won’t hire anyone who can’t draw with a pencil and pen.  Know any CAD software – the concepts are interchangeable.  Sketchup is a bonus

Thanks.  I’m very proud of my engineering experience, and now as a principal and owner of a practice, it has helped me with more pragmatic minded clients.  I can also communicate with civil engineers  – not to mention lead teams with them on it.

I think having a year or two left in school is a good position to be in, rather than graduating this spring.  The prospects of new work increases almost weekly, and the phone is beginning to ring more than it has in over 12 months.  I graduated in ’95, and I thought that was a hard time to find an entry-level position.  I started in a civil en…[Read more]

I feel like social media contributes more towards the continued branding of our company with its existing clients.  We use it the way websites used to have an ‘in the news’ section.  It is much more immediate and people who use FB and other forms read it and move on.  We also try not to overwhelm our ‘fans’ with posts.  once every 2-3 weeks is eno…[Read more]

I find it interesting that no employers seem to be chiming in on this discussion.  I read these posts and wonder who are these big firms who still exploit their employees in the ways being described.  I know no names can be mentioned, but it sounds criminal.  I understand the need to stay at a job even if you don’t like it in these economic ti…[Read more]

You definitely need to know the structure of the company and how the ‘ladder’ works.  Don’t be afraid to talk money, benefits, or how often you are up for a performance review.  Ask if they had to let anyone go in the last downturn (if they saw one), and what types of positions were eliminated.  Ask why they like living there.  Ask why they got…[Read more]

OK.  the whole office just laughed out loud!  That is the best one hands down.

Mark,
 
You have hit the main ones for our industry.  There is a good open source GIS (I will have to check on the office systems where we use it).  Steve in an earlier post mentions Linux, but it is an operating system and not an application or program.  Still, it is a really strong and stable alternative to windows.  It is probably the most nota…[Read more]