Landscape Design Software Query

Comments

Linsey Evans July 16, 2011 at 2:38pm

Hi John

I'm a Vectorworks user. I've had it for 18 months now and it's excellent. I would say that without training I would have struggled to get started as quickly as I did. Even though you're familiar with AutoCAD I'd suggest you get some training if you want to hit the ground running. I know I don't use half it's functionality yet, and I had three days training with Tamsin Slatter (I also bought he software from her).

It does 3D modelling, walkthroughs, lighting effects and, so far, everything I need. Clients don't seem to mind the non-hand drawn plans, in fact they see the advantages of being able to see the garden in 3D from almost any angle without having to pay for hand drawn perspectives.

At first I missed my hand rendering, but this was quickly compensated for in the time saving and flexibility to change things quickly. It's also brilliant for construction and setting out plans.

I haven't ever used any other drawing package, so can't compare Vectorworks to other offerings, but I love it.

Hope this helps.

Linsey

www.linseysgardens.com
Rose Lennard July 18, 2011 at 5:16pm

Sketchup wins hands down for me. See my page for a few examples of 3D models which I use at sketch stage to sell the design to the clients and help them understand it. Also useful for setting out (very quick) drawings, and I use it for (standalone, rather than embedded in the model) construction drawings. For scale drawings you need to pay for the pro version and get your head round the Layout package which comes with it. No good for planting plans, though you can take off area or length measurements so that helps with calculating numbers, so I just use it to give me the base for my planting plans and finish by hand.

Rose

www.chameleongardens.co.uk
Unreal Gardens - John Stobart July 19, 2011 at 10:22am

Thanks folks, I decided to have a play around with SketchUp over the weekend and I have to say for my first attempt at playing around with 3D software I was suitably impressed with it, it enabled me to visualise what the end result will hopefully look like as I'm trying to develop a wasteland within a local school grounds which can be used as an outdoor classroom. We are trying to keep a part of the "wild" area and there is a small man made pond also within the grounds that has been somewhat neglected over the years, I am incorporating a range of products to keep it low maintenance many of which will be environmentally sensitive or made of recycled materials, and the whole area will be useable for years to come, year round and of huge educational benefit too. We plan to build in raised planters to grow vegetables, make a feature of the wildlife mound, and have an aquatic area too where we hope to encourage newts, frogs, and water specific insects. The whole project is being completely carried out by volunteers and all the most of the materials will be supplied by my company at cost. Kingston Communications are sponsoring the site and the school will be recruiting volunteers and asking other local companies for further support. A very exciting project for me and I'm looking forward to getting cracking.
Shane murphy March 13, 2016 at 3:28pm

Hi John,

I Started the Trail systems landmark at a cost of €2500, i was promised it would work on my apple it caused me 2 years of trouble and €500 a year maintenance fee,It ended with the Irish supplier telling to go fuck my self and the english home company telling me to buy a computer for €200 to run in on and it would work than, I changed to auto cad LT this has only a yearly.

charge of less then €500 I've had 3 hour long lessons and its like i was born to use it ,Autocad is used all over the world for a very good reason its got a modern display and help section and loads of you tube videos if your stuck. I think it s great you can have it on your PC and laptop with no extra cost or silly dongles it even saves its self to the cloud. it has never crashed and when a survery comes in its already in auto cad, i can share Drawing with Architects no problem as they work in the same programe

Now in retirement mode and as previously.posted been looking for a cordless long reach and was going to buy something at the budget end,but as they all have the motor at the blade end making them very unbalanced along with slow blade speeds and very…

"On choosing the height of my henchman Tim it was easy it was determined by the height of my valued regular bread and butter customers hedge height requirements so I could work on them without them having to resort to getting contractors in .
Another…"

"Spot on! I had a heavy fall from a tripod ladder, and part of my safety check now is a taught chain and front leg vertical and midway between both back legs. Absolutely never lean, always cut immediately in front of you! "