https://land8.com/members/mattsprouse/activity/ Activity feed for Matt Sprouse. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:43:16 +0000 https://buddypress.org/?v=6.0.0 en-US 30 hourly 2 27bd0620e04f9257212db5f4791b349e http://land8.com/forums/topic/thesis/#post-159617 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:13:58 +0000 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.

]]> 0 6ad80d5145858f5c18c64c96edd2f2bc https://land8.com/forums/topic/thesis/#post-159619 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:10:11 +0000 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.

]]> 0 cb99b155b261bc45b9dceef371422543 https://land8.com/forums/topic/cad-programs/page/2/#post-159684 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:00:42 +0000 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.

]]> 0 7fdfaaff950e9ed79fd02e37b130bbbf https://land8.com/forums/topic/why-designers-are-afraid-of-showing-hand-sketches-to-their-clients/#post-159872 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:25:43 +0000 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]

]]> 0 a9a1aa9521c21a76d40bca195be50dbf https://land8.com/forums/topic/is-graduate-school-worth-it/#post-160427 Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:09:19 +0000 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]

]]> 0 e7658d471f757ebdbdfc3b011647c4d6 https://land8.com/forums/topic/is-graduate-school-worth-it/#post-160432 Sat, 24 Sep 2011 12:20:05 +0000 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]

]]> 0 c1dda0067a3d4ec6121cf0128bc59e37 https://land8.com/forums/topic/rise-fall-of-la-firms-did-company-greed-kill-our-jobs/page/2/#post-160944 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:27:06 +0000 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]

]]> 0 e2f8f8a46889b8684a39d289f3c2107a http://land8.com/forums/topic/bad-font-decisions-yes-im-talking-to-you-papyrus-users/page/3/#post-162112 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:31:09 +0000 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]

]]> 0 498431983154519496d3ac85ba36f022 https://land8.com/forums/topic/asla-relevant-or-exists-only-to-sustain-itself/#post-162628 Thu, 26 May 2011 12:38:20 +0000 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]

]]> 0 78b1a60b25df775b9ab7df5ed4e1dbeb https://land8.com/forums/topic/asla-relevant-or-exists-only-to-sustain-itself/page/2/#post-162637 Wed, 25 May 2011 12:22:18 +0000 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]

]]> 0 f80eefd75a2f9080f83fcb1a1d16ab7e https://land8.com/forums/topic/hand-graphics-to-pay-or-not-to-pay/page/2/#post-163937 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:30:14 +0000 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]

]]> 0 e4bc9dbefca42430715ce26357f43212 https://land8.com/forums/topic/current-software-used-in-la-offices/#post-163974 Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:01:33 +0000 oh – forget Revit.  BIM software for landscape architecture is not there yet.

]]> 0 5daad8d16478739d4a04ff588b768516 https://land8.com/forums/topic/current-software-used-in-la-offices/#post-163975 Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:00:16 +0000 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

]]> 0 90881a3e873ce51dbbdc02cbf35a7ba2 https://land8.com/forums/topic/time-to-panic-lam-march-2011-leaping-into-what/page/2/#post-164441 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 01:38:21 +0000 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.

]]> 0 aea676a2b3aad8877c9933f394961eca http://land8.com/forums/topic/time-to-panic-lam-march-2011-leaping-into-what/page/3/#post-164455 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 01:59:09 +0000 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]

]]> 0 d93a64510acd04d018c5d3f1e132a2c0 https://land8.com/forums/topic/social-media/#post-165675 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:44:16 +0000 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]

]]> 0 cb0361e33e526e69c40779df52c1a5ce https://land8.com/forums/topic/working-over-40-hours/page/5/#post-166118 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:35:02 +0000 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]

]]> 0 8b5b538994032d1a7565e33b842a78f1 https://land8.com/forums/topic/questions-to-ask-when-interviewing-for-an-entry-level-position/#post-166200 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 04:55:16 +0000 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]

]]> 0 262fd937717ff6145b20ef5026cda29c https://land8.com/forums/topic/landscape-architecture-jokes/#post-175325 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:36:29 +0000 OK.  the whole office just laughed out loud!  That is the best one hands down.

]]> 0 bd9375ae35e092471d7a8e4ce7be1796 https://land8.com/forums/topic/open-source-software/#post-166271 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 03:28:12 +0000 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]

]]> 0 b5a26c01ab9e97c650790e4be33ba20b https://land8.com/forums/topic/autocad-for-mac/#post-166326 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 03:41:05 +0000 Steve,
 
I do agree with you that Apple will continue to be the more expensive option.  I have also seen glitches in MacOS, but fewer than those in a Windows environment.  The one exception that I have experienced in the ‘fewer glitches vs cost’ evaluation you mentioned is with a Linux system. Linux = free+rock solid stability.   Unf…[Read more]

]]> 0 970bbd52b7f176dfcf853b3d9415cdca https://land8.com/forums/topic/autocad-for-mac/page/2/#post-166336 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:38:51 +0000 I agree that the ongoing ‘battle’ between Mac and PC is ridiculous and, in my opinion, childish.  I disagree that Macs are an expensive headache.  In the last 4 years, I have not had a single hardware or software problem with the Macs.  They have been the most stable of the machines we own.  The OS is stable far beyond anything I have exp…[Read more]

]]> 0 dee333e874646d5bd454264dd9a2c6fd https://land8.com/forums/topic/what-is-your-first-impression-of-this-bench/page/2/#post-166387 Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:02:21 +0000 It’s gone too far in my opinion.  Sad that the idea skateboarding or a homeless person sleeping on it has created such a monstrosity.  Inelegant.  Engineered.  Clumsy.  

]]> 0 ef59bd2603a3d38b1902e811985a42d5 https://land8.com/forums/topic/vectorworks-easy-or-not/#post-172839 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:58:50 +0000 I appreciate all the discussion on this topic. I have a 5 person landscape architecture firm, and I have run AutoCad exclusively for 15 years. I’m almost embarrassed to say that my first version of Autocad was MS DOS based! I move in and out of frustration with AutoCAD. It is a program originally designed to draw engineered mechanical parts that,…[Read more]

]]> 0 506f52d6a417aa92343a843a3b66baa1 https://land8.com/forums/topic/economic-crisis-and-what-it-means-for-us/page/3/#post-176040 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:59:13 +0000 i completely agree with Eric’s comments about unadvertised jobs. It is, in every instance, who you know and the contacts you’ve made. That goes for obtaining work. In this economic environment, it is more important than ever.

]]> 0 87718516f2cab9b623b03cca45e0d82b https://land8.com/forums/topic/economic-crisis-and-what-it-means-for-us/page/3/#post-176042 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:54:54 +0000 Claudia,
First, let me say that I think your discussion here is a timely one that is one every designer’s mind – architects, landscape architect, engineers, and the like. I’ve been thinking about your comments regarding your situation and licensure as well as the non-profit firm idea – here is my opinion:
As for licensure, it is definitely a goal…[Read more]

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