SketchUp and Landscape Architecture

Rating: 5 after 3 votes

I will always remember the first time I saw SketchUp. A colleague brought a promotional video to the office by a company called @Last Software. The short video demonstrated how to create a simple square, extrude it into 3D and add a roof to make a house. Then, just like that, the video added windows and doors and some funky looking trees around the little 3D home.

It took me all of 10 minutes to download SketchUp version 3 (we are now on version 7) and run through the accompanying video tutorials.

Here was the first 3D program that was easy to use, looked cool and even better it had TREES! Then I discovered that you can ‘turn on’ shadows and I was hooked!

It was love at first site. Actually it was more of an obsession, one that I still live with and has lead me to writing this blog.

I spent the next week learning the mysteries of this new tool. I explored SketchUp with a current project - a rest area and open space in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Rest Area

I modeled every square inch of the site plan: buildings, parking lot, landform, surrounding context, dog park with fence and even the containers filled with bags to pick up after your dog. I added trucks and boulders, bridges and swales. Last, I added vending machines inside the rest area building.

My project manager at the time pointed out that about 3/4’s of the detail I had included would never be viewed, seen or even acknowledged. I smiled and kept going. Here was a tool that allows us to model the LAND.

Plaza

Ok, so I know not everyone shares this obsession. But who isn’t fascinated the first time they see someone modeling in SketchUp?

So, what can SketchUp do for landscape architects?

While I am biased, I believe SketchUp can represent almost any type of design work that falls under the umbrella of landscape architecture.

detailed shrub bed

For landscape architecture SketchUp does two things well:

First, it fits into our practice and process. SketchUp is economical; it’s quick and easy to learn and works within the traditional landscape architecture scope and budget. I plan on exploring this in a separate blog.

Second, SketchUp provides landscape architects the capacity to model a variety of different site plans. Be it garden designs, master plans, shaping terrain, plazas, streetscapes, promenades, open spaces, architecture, parks or whole cities.

landform

SketchUp is versatile. Be it for making bases for hand renderings, analyzing spatial relationships or producing detailed images and animations. It can meet many project needs.

The bottom line is learning what capabilities SketchUp provides and applying them to projects.
Many people can use it. But like AutoCAD, Photoshop or hand illustration skills, learning SketchUp well provides an edge to the design process. This blog will explore what SketchUp offers to the profession and its place in the pantheon of design programs landscape architects use in their practice.

complex canopy

Have SketchUp models and images you’d like to share? I would love to see them. Feel free to send me images of some of your favorite SketchUp models. Please include 2 or 3 sentences about the model and project. I will share some of readers’ SketchUp models in a future blog. Send images and descriptions to gidion311@gmail.com

For more info about Daniel and his book, Google SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture on SketchUp visit www.daniel-tal.com

For SketchUp YouTube animations created by Daniel visit:
http://www.youtube.com/dtalspace

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Comment by David Farmer on November 9, 2009 at 2:47pm: You should check out the various videos on the Land F/X website, landfx.com, on their Sketchup Connection. I believe the connection they have made with Acad and Sketchup is unmatched anywhere else. If you go to landfx.com, then "Videos" and there is a Sketchup section...there is also a "Webinar" section with a few webinars on Sketchup. It's fun to see you design become 3-D in Sketchup right before your eyes.

Comment by Pauly on November 9, 2009 at 2:12pm: Hey Jim,

Look, really - no skin off my nose, I'm just telling you like it is for me and for quite a few other people. Maybe VW2010 is better as Eric is saying, but then Eric works for VW, so you'd probably expect to hear that from him on a forum board. My experience with VW has been unpleasant, as you can probably tell, and I want to ditch it ASAP, unless Eric can convince me otherwise. I have found fellow sympathisers in forum threads like this one - http://techboard.nemetschek.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=130613 particularly mclaugh's (although he could have been rather more eloquent in his posting)

I talked to our national trainer/product support guy about some of the problems I continually have, and one of his responses was - "Well, have you reported the bugs on the website", to which I replied 'Yes, I have, but you haven't provided any updates or service packs to fix the problems, also I don't work for VW, so why should I constantly help you fix the product which you have sold to us as 'fit for purpose'? I don't mind doing that with Open Source software, but proprietory????!!!! I don't do that with Adobe products, so why should I with VW?

You see, my theory is, that Google will be far more responsive in fixing any problems (like Adobe), and because they have the financial might and apparent focus on customer satisfaction, they will do things like support recent software on new operating systems. Also, SU dovetails nicely with other Google products, and it will surely only get better...

I like to think of myself as a fairly unbiased, objective reviewer. If you are happy with VW, then good on you & long may you continue to be happy.

Eric, I will happily email you back over the next couple of days - I look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Comment by Eric Gilbey on November 9, 2009 at 9:10am: Jim and Pauly, It good to hear the exchange about pros and cons and unfortunately it sounds like Pauly has many cons. I have started looking into the problems Pauly has mentioned and with that, I (and the developers) would really like to hear more about your experiences. I will send you a message about how to reach me, please do. Jim, I'm glad to hear your response about the comparisons with Sketchup. I have used SU and have found it to be a great modeling tool, and as you say, there is yet a need for interactive 2D/3D work in the same environment and a definite need to use the intelligence you get out of Vectorworks' hyrbid objects and site model. So many things have improved in the very last release, particularly with the 3D design and modeling that really makes using its 3D functionality for analysis and presentations even easier.

Comment by Jim Del Carpio, A.S.L.A. on November 9, 2009 at 6:29am: Pauly,

I've have done searches and read other blogs and forum. Most if not every article, Forum and blog I've read has been with the 2009 & New 2010 Version. So, I cannot comment on your experience with 2008 ver. I'm currently using the 2010 Designer version and have not come up with any problems, so far. So far your comments have been unique to VW. Don't just take my word for it, do a search on this site and see how others experience of VW differ from yours. Hey, don't get me wrong, I do appreciate your comments. Best of Luck.

Comment by Pauly on November 8, 2009 at 12:58pm: Jim,

But who says you can't do 2D drafting with SU? If you can create 'camera-top viewports' from your models which you then import to Layout, then why not? I can add text boxes, dimensions & other meta data, along with title blocks to my Layout pages, so again, I don't see the problem...

With regards to 3D stuff in VW, (of which admittedly I don't do all that much, but I do do) I think it is clunky and unintuitive. As for the rendering - Renderworks in VW2008 renders very unsophisticated looking models, and most people say you should use other programs like 3D Max/Maya etc. for this purpose.

As for the workarounds & bugs I experience... Where to start....... Imported symbols from previous versions of VW crashing the program.... Not being able to use Arial font when having Quartz imaging switched on.... Not being able to unbold text from the toolbar sometimes... To name but a few Jim.... Really, do some forum searches and read what people have to say..... As for service - well, we have VW2008, and they have decided not to support 2008 on Snow Leopard. Some people might think this is OK - I think it is outrageous neglect/profiteering, after all we are talking about a piece of software that is less than two years old when they made that decision. Also, we bought VW2008 in the middle of 2008 - since then they have issued no updates, fixed NO bugs and produced no new service packs... And the clarion call every time you raise these issues with VW is, 'Have you notified us of the problem?' to which my response is two-fold - 1) Yes I did notify you, and you have done nothing about it. 2) Can you not publish stable software that does not require me to constantly report problems, which then aren't fixed?

Up to you Jim... Just my experiences (and quite a few other Landscape Architects I know - email me at redpauly[at}gmail.com and I'll put you in touch with someone at another local company).

all the best,

Paul

Comment by Jim Del Carpio, A.S.L.A. on November 6, 2009 at 7:15am: Does anyone else share any hassels, bugs or displeasure with VectorWorks. Pauly, will you explain what bugs or work-arounds you encounter? Also, I don't know how you can compare the two, In VW you can draw in2d /3d and do Site Modeling. Sketch up is 3d modeling and if you want to render you have to use another program, Unlike in VW where you have Renderworks as plug-in. So, Its not a fair comparison between the two. Its like comparing Apples and a nut. You follow. Can anyone else chimed in, I'm about to make a big investment in money and I would appreciate to hear from others who have experienced.
Thanks

Comment by Pauly on November 5, 2009 at 8:27pm: Jim,

My advice - steer clear of Vectorworks. Its my belief that people get sucked into buying it as a cheaper (albeit still very expensive) alternative to AutoCAD. Thats when your problems start and you've joined the proprietory software Merry-go-round where you hope that the next (expensive) upgrade is going to fix all the bugs you experience every day, and for which you are constantly having to develop work-arounds... I use VW2008 every day and I am desperate to change software. I am looking at Sketchup as a serious alternative to VW, and if it can replace VW, which I think it can, I will dump VW as quick as I can. Buy it at your peril... Trust me, all you have to do is look at some VW forums to understand how frustratred its regular users get...

Comment by Jim Del Carpio, A.S.L.A. on October 13, 2009 at 6:31pm: Does anyone here have any experience with VectorWorks and Sketchup? I'm seeking which is the best overall program for Design and Drafting