Category: Landscape Design

  • Hilly Site? Replacing Your Landscape? Feel Confident Your Dream Align.

    Hilly Site? Replacing Your Landscape? Feel Confident Your Dream Align.

    Do you have a Hilly or Treed Site and are considering updating your landscape design?

    Our 3D scanners and 3D landscape design programs ensure your designs align.

    Recently, I was out on a very sloped site, completing a 3D scan of a client’s project site. The site was so steep that I slipped a few times as I worked my way up the hill, repositioning the scanner multiple times to ensure I captured all the fine details of the existing wood stairs and the old, ruined stone ones hidden beneath. As I reviewed my iPad, guaranteeing the quality of the scan, I thought, how would one be able to accurately capture these existing conditions using the older methods, a tape measure, laser level, line altimeter, or a transit surveying, that many landscape architects and designers still use?

    As a landscape architect specializing in challenging terrains featuring hills and dense tree coverage, I sincerely appreciate 3D scanning technology and its transformative effect on my work. This cutting-edge tool enhances the accuracy of my designs and significantly improves the efficiency of site assessments and planning.

    Here’s how 3D scanning has become indispensable in navigating the complexities of hilly and treed environments.

    Accurate Location of Site Elements and Great Details

    One of the most compelling advantages of 3D scanners is their remarkable ability to capture extensive spatial data with exceptional detail and precision swiftly. In landscape architecture, every element, whether natural or manufactured, must be considered during the design phase. 3D scanning enables us to create precise digital models and a digital twin, facilitating meticulous analysis comfortably in our office. Additionally, the point cloud produced by the scanner provides a realistic visualization of the site, even if we envision specific components partially or entirely removed.

    * The 3D scanner creates a point cloud or digital twin, which is made from millions of coloured dots. We use Leica’s BLK360G1 photographic Lidar 3D scanner; it has an accuracy of 6mm at 10m (1/4″ at 30′) and captures up to 360,000 points per sec. (Leica spec sheet)

    Minimizing the Unknowns while our Enhanced Decision-Making

    Working in 3D significantly reduces the number of unknowns in the design process, especially for our clients. Traditional surveying techniques leave information gaps, such as smugged or hard-to-read field notes or missing angles within the site photos. Many times, these information gaps can lead to complications, delays, and potential price increases as these issues and unknowns are corrected and the design modified.

    On the other hand, 3D scanning allows us to proof our work on-site as we scan in real-time. On the iPad tablet, we see the site being digitally twined as the scan is completed. If any areas are missing, we reposition the scanner to ensure all areas are captured completely and accurately.

    By clearly understanding the position of each element within the landscape and its surrounding context, we can plan to prevent potential design or construction conflicts with trees and buildings. We can also plan interventions that respect the existing flora and enhance the overall ecological balance.

    Quick study of a patio and pergola in deferent locations in the yard, plus preliminary study of the stairs. Being able to spin the view around and look at the element within the existing context from every align allows us to provide better usable designs.

    Facilitating Communication and Collaboration

    Back in the office, we can use the point cloud to visualize the entire site from any angle and overlay our proposed landscape design. Our clients can easily visualize and relate to the project and its existing topography, which fosters better understanding and collaborative decision-making. This allows us to discuss comprehensively how the proposed designs will interact with the existing landscape, including the surrounding context, such as views from neighbours’ windows and shade from existing buildings and trees.

    Similarly, construction teams can utilize the 3D scan and detailed 3D models during pricing and implementation, ensuring the vision is executed accurately. This proactive approach minimizes surprises and helps ensure designs align smoothly with your vision while blending perfectly with the slopes and contours of the land.

    Closing Thoughts

    Integrating 3D scanning into my landscape architecture practice has revolutionized how I approach projects, especially those on hilly and wooded sites. This technology provides rich, accurate data about the landscape and empowers me to design responsibly while minimizing the environmental impact. With 3D scanning, I can confidently navigate the complexities of each site, ensuring sustainable and aesthetically pleasing outcomes that honour the beauty of nature. As landscape architecture continues to evolve, embracing these technological advancements will be key to achieving innovative and environmentally conscious designs.

    **TL;DR:**

    • 3D scanning technology is transforming landscape design, especially for hilly and treed sites, by providing accurate and detailed spatial data.
    • It minimizes uncertainties in the design process, improves client communication, and allows for real-time adjustments on-site.
    • Utilizing tools like the Lecia’s BLK360G1 scanner enhances the accuracy of designs, facilitates collaboration, and promotes sustainable practices in landscape architecture.

    Staff News:

    Owner and Landscape Architect Kevin Post recently received his Orienteering Canadian O100 certification and is halfway through his O200 certification. These certifications prove that the event organizers have the fundamental knowledge and experience to create safe and challenging orienteering races for all levels. He also designed the well-received Toronto Orienteering Club’s Cup racecourse under the mentorship of the club’s president, Andrew.

    3D scanning technology is transforming landscape design, especially for hilly and treed sites, by providing accurate and detailed spatial data. It minimizes uncertainties in the design process, improves client communication.

  • Virtual Blooms: A New Era for Landscape Architecture

    Virtual Blooms: A New Era for Landscape Architecture

    The Importance of Understanding Landscape Designs

    Have you ever struggled to visualize how a landscape design will look and function in your outdoor space? It can be challenging to fully understand the scope and impact of a design plan based solely on 2D drawings or computer renderings, and some people may never fully grasp it. This lack of clarity can lead to disappointment and costly changes during the construction phase.

    At Beyond The POST, we understand how crucial it is to ensure that the final landscape design concept outcome meets your expectations and aligns with your vision. That’s why we offer a solution that enables you, as our client, to have a physical experience of your landscape designs before the construction process begins. By integrating virtual reality technology into our design process, we provide assurance and confidence that traditional methods cannot match.

    Walking Through Your Design in Virtual Reality

    Imagine stepping into your future outdoor space and exploring it from every angle. With our virtual reality experience, you can do just that. When you wear a VR headset, you enter into a realistic, immersive 3D representation of your landscape design. You can walk through pathways, admire the plantings, and even “sit” in the proposed seating areas.

    This immersive experience allows you to truly understand the scale and proportions of the design. You can understand how different elements relate to one another and how they fit within the context of your property. It’s like a virtual test drive for your outdoor space.

    The Benefits of Virtual Reality in Landscape Design

    Investing in a virtual reality walkthrough for landscape design may seem like an additional expense, but it is a worthwhile investment that can save you time, money, and frustration in the long run. Here are some of the key benefits:

    1. Accurate Visualization
      Virtual reality allows you to see your design in a 1 to 1 scale, providing a much more precise representation than traditional drawings or computer renderings. This level of detail enables you to make informed decisions on everything from layout to material selection and ensure that the design meets your expectations.
    2. Early Problem Identification
      By experiencing your design in virtual reality, you can identify potential issues or challenges before construction begins. This early problem identification can prevent costly changes or delays down the line. It avoids the “I wish I had known that would be that size or look like that.”
    3. Improved Communication
      Virtual reality also enhances communication between you, the client, and our design team. It eliminates the ambiguity that often arises when describing a design concept or envisioning the final result. With virtual reality, you can examine the space, while we see what you see, leading to a smoother and more collaborative design process. 
    4. Design Optimization
      With active links between your virtual reality tour and our modelling program, we can even make minor changes during our meeting, allowing you to see the results and impacts of your comments while immersed. You can experiment with different materials, colours, and layouts to find the perfect combination that suits your taste and preferences. This iterative process ensures you have a perfectly tailored final design to your needs.

    Conclusion

    Virtual reality is revolutionizing the way we approach landscape design. It provides an understanding and confidence that traditional methods simply cannot match. By investing in virtual reality, you are investing in the future of your outdoor space. You can ensure that what is built is exactly what you want, saving you time, money, and potential disappointment.

    This video clip is our first trial of a virtual reality site visit – the quality is not the best, but it gives you a clear idea of what our technology is capable of – imagine that you are fully immersed and what you see in the video surrounds you. We use this digital twin as the base model, then overlay all the parts of your wishes and needs to create the best concept for you and your family.

    Beyond The POST is committed to staying at the forefront of landscape architecture and design. We believe that embracing new technologies, such as virtual reality and 3D scanning technology, is essential to providing our clients with the best possible service and results. Contact us today to learn more about how virtual reality can transform your landscape design experience.

    Four Benefits of Virtual Reality in Landscape Design and Review Process. Investing in a virtual reality tour of landscape design may seem like an additional expense, but it is a worthwhile investment that can save you time, money, and frustration in the long run. Here are some of the key benefits

  • 5 Powerful Jaw-dropping Advantages of 3D Landscape Design

    5 Powerful Jaw-dropping Advantages of 3D Landscape Design

    Introduction

    When it comes to landscape architecture and garden design, clarity and visualization are key. Traditional 2D drawings and blueprints sometimes fall short of conveying the true essence of a design. That’s where 3D landscape design comes in. By harnessing the power of technology, we can offer a range of advantages that can significantly enhance the planning and execution of landscape projects. This article will explore 5 powerful jaw-dropping advantages of 3D Landscape Design from our 20 years of experience using 3D landscape design programs.

    1) Enhanced Visualization

    One of the most significant advantages for you, our client, is that 3D landscape design can visualize the final result with stunning accuracy. With 3D modelling software, we can create realistic representations of the proposed design, allowing our clients to envision their outdoor spaces’ appearance once completed. This visualization level helps eliminate ambiguity or miscommunication, ensuring everyone is on the same page and allowing our clients to make informed decisions about the materials they want to incorporate into their outdoor spaces. The 3D landscape design ensures that the final result aligns with our client’s vision. (continues after image)

    2) Improved Clarity

    Clarity is crucial in landscape design, as it helps to avoid costly mistakes and misunderstandings. 3D landscape design provides a level of clarity that traditional 2D drawings cannot match. By creating three-dimensional representations at 1 to 1 scale of the design on top of a digital twin of your property (3D scan), we can accurately convey the spatial relationships, proportions, and scale of various elements and how all the pieces of the design fit together and affect each other. We can also accurately depict the textures, colours, and finishes of different stone, wood, or concrete materials. This clarity helps clients understand the design better but also aids contractors in executing the project accurately. (continues after image)

    digital twin point cloud from a 3D scan of an existing site
    Digital twin point cloud from a 3D scan of an existing site

    For more about our digitals twins and 3D scanning process, see our blog post: The Benefits of Using a Leica BLK360 3D Scanner for Landscape Architecture Projects

    3) Efficient Design Process

    The use of 3D landscape design can significantly streamline the design process. With the ability to make real-time changes and adjustments, we can quickly iterate on our designs, exploring different options and experimenting with various elements. This efficiency saves time and allows for a more collaborative and interactive design process, as clients can immediately provide feedback and see the impact of most of their suggestions during our design review meetings. 

    4) Effective Communication

    Clear communication is vital in any design project, and 3D landscape design facilitates effective communication between all stakeholders. The visual nature of 3D designs makes it easier for us to convey our ideas and concepts to clients, who can provide feedback and input more effectively. The nature of the 3D designs allows for easy remote communication methods like Zoom Meetings. We can walk together through the design. Additionally, contractors and builders can better understand the design intent, reducing the chances of misinterpretation and ensuring a smoother construction process.

    Layout Plan

    5) Sustainability and Waste Reduction

    3D design can revolutionize the construction industry by promoting sustainability and reducing waste. By creating 3D models, we can visualize and optimize construction processes, resulting in a more efficient use of resources and less fill or removals required. Additionally, realistic material representation can help us make informed decisions about material usage and placement, reducing time, waste and costs.

    Conclusion

    3D landscape design offers numerous advantages that greatly enhance the planning and execution of landscape projects. From enhanced visualization and improved clarity to realistic material representation and efficient design processes, the benefits of 3D design are undeniable. By harnessing the power of technology, we, as landscape architects and designers, can create stunning outdoor spaces that align perfectly with our clients’ visions. So, if you’re looking to embark on a landscape project, consider opting for a 3D landscape design service like ours to bring your ideas to life with unparalleled clarity and precision.

    Introduction When it comes to landscape architecture and garden design, clarity and visualization are key. Traditional 2D drawings and blueprints sometimes fall short of conveying the true essence of a design. That’s where 3D landscape design comes in. By harnessing the power of technology, we can offer a range of advantages that can significantly enhance…

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