Landscape design is a creative process involving people’s interaction with their environment. It is an art form that can create functional, beautiful, sustainable landscapes. The landscape designer uses technology to create a result that meets the client’s expectations. Here are 5 interesting ways technology is used in landscape design.
1- 3D Rendering
A 3D rendering is a computer-generated image that shows how a structure or scene will look when it’s finished. These images can show clients what their property will look like after completing their landscaping project. They also help designers visualize their designs’ appearance before they begin construction.
2- Visualization Software
Visualization software allows landscape designers to create interactive models of their designs to see how they will look in real life before any work has been done on-site. This can help them make adjustments before construction starts, saving time and money by avoiding unnecessary changes later in the project.
3- GPS Technology
While GPS technology can be used to find your way around town, it is also helpful in many other ways. For example, landscape designers are using it to find the quickest and most efficient way to plant trees or adequately lay out a sprinkler system. GPS technology ensures you get the most out of your yard and garden space by considering soil quality and sunlight. The design process is made more accessible by using GPS mapping systems, which visualize all this information in a digital format for easy analysis. Landscape designers are now able to use high-tech solutions such as 3D animation software, sites like Google Earth, Macromedia Flash, and Sketch Up Pro (which uses 3D models of buildings) to create designs before they ever touch the ground or buy any plants or materials.
4- Drone Technology
Drones are unmanned flying machines that have become popular tools among landscape designers because they allow them to inspect the property without getting too close to it with a personal vehicle or helicopter (which would cost thousands of dollars). Drones enable people who don’t have access to a private helicopter (such as homeowners) to get an aerial view of their property without spending money renting one from someone else. They also allow people with access to a personal drone (such as professional landscapers) to get a better view than what they would get from inside the car or plane itself.
5- Augmented Reality Apps
Technology has changed how we interact with our surroundings, and landscape design is no exception. Augmented reality apps have been designed to visualize your outdoor space’s layout with a few simple steps. These apps can be handy when designing a new garden or pond and help you imagine how your plants will grow over time. You can even use the sun’s location on different days of the year to help determine which plants need light and which get more shade.
The landscape design industry is quickly going digital, and it is transforming the way that landscapes are being built and managed. More importantly, this will also allow designers to work in the field. If a client wants to see how their landscape will look before a shovel goes into the ground, designers can show this using a laptop.