CAD & Visualisation

Introduction

Course code : ENVT1075
Course co-ordinator : David Watson
Course weighting : 10 Credits

This course is in two halves. The first half (weeks 1 to 6) is about landscape design. The second half (weeks 7 to 12) is about landscape planning. The first half of the course consists of a single digital design project and will be undertaken partly as an individual and partly in groups. This project is intended to be experimental and involve the innovative use of software. The second half consists of two projects, which are undertaken on an individual basis and focuses on the professional techniques involved in visual impact assessment.

Aims and Outcomes

• To develop CAD teamwork techniques
• To demonstrate how 3D CAD models can be used as iterative design tools
• To demonstrate simple animated walkthroughs and narrative presentations
• To introduce students to paperless presentation methods
• To introduce Digital Terrain Modelling (DTM) & Zones of Visual Influence (ZVI)
• To demonstrate how to combine 3D CAD models and photographic images
• To introduce skills in photomontage and to produce "before and after" images

Format

The course runs during Term 1 and consists of three main elements - workshops, group projects and individual projects.

Workshops

The Course Schedule gives a general overview of the workshops and a suggested topic for each week. However, this is indicative and may change depending upon the requirements of students and project specifics. Tuition will be given on various aspects of digital design but as this is an advanced course, students will be expected to engage in some independent learning. The workshops are a weekly point of contact for students (many of whom are part-time) during the group project. They are also used for crit and feedback on project work. This is an advanced course and most work will need to be undertaken outside of the workshops.

Course Schedule

The course schedule gives an overview of the timetable, weekly topics and submission dates for this course. There may be occasional changes, so check back frequently.

* Individuals and teams to hand-in Wood Wharf project on CD/DVD
† Hand-in ZVI project by file upload

All sessions are 3 and a half hours long and take place on Friday mornings; beginning at 9.30am and ending at 1pm. Sessions will be split into 2 halves (9.30am to 11am and 11.30am to 1pm) and are taught in Tower Lab A unless otherwise indicated.
Attendance is not required for "Online" events.

Assessed Elements

This course includes 3 assessed elements; one group project and two individual projects. Details of these elements are given below. Each of the elements has a slightly different weighting and this is indicative of the degree of difficulty and/or the amount of work required. The weighting is as follows:

• Wood Wharf Project: 50%
• ZVI Analysis Project: 25%
• Verified Photomontage Project: 25%

Details of each project are given below.

Wood Wharf Project

Project Aim

This project is designed to develop 3D CAD skills, to develop team-working techniques, to introduce the iterative design process, to introduce animated walkthroughs and to introduce paperless methods of narrative presentation. The software used will be varied but may include AutoCAD, SketchUp, Bryce, Photoshop, PowerPoint, and/or others.

Project Overview

There are 2 elements to this project. [1] Each individual student must create a 3D design for the site, based on the specifications for the competition but giving a glimpse of what could have been achieved with a better competition brief - and which could still be done if there is a 2-3 year delay before the eventual scheme is begun. [2] Additionally, each group of students should look ahead to the eventual Wood Wharf Development scheme and produce a design (eg with green roofs, glazed walks, lush waterfronts, dramatic views etc. etc.)

Notes: (1) the student groups will be the same as for the Urban Development Project (2) part-time students who are not doing the Urban Development Project until after Christmas will form one or more additional groups (3) it would be sensible to have a connection between '[1]' and '[2]' but this is not a requirement.(4) you are welcome to add music to the presentations but it must be opensource/Creative Commons/Free Music. (5) the finished presentations must be uploaded as a video to the Greenwich Landscape Architecture Flickr group.

Project Links

• Canary Wharf competition details and data
• Landscape Institute competition details
• Digimap data files
• Wikipedia

Maps

1st Edition Ordnance Survey (1893 – 1915)

A full-size version (3000px wide) of this map is available here.

Bing Bird's Eye

This photograph is a Bird's Eye view from Bing Maps.

Google Map

Take a look at a map of the project area to get your bearings.

Assessment Details

Although this is a "design" project, you should consider the design only as a vehicle for the investigation and development of method and process. The quality of design will be considered but it has a lower weight than other criteria. There are 3 main criteria for assessment and they are:

• Innovative use of software for design development and presentation
• Quality of the presentation and design
• The clarity with which the design narratives (method/process and pavillion) are told

Submission Details

This project should be submitted as a .PDF file (maximum file size 2.0MB) and uploaded to the coursestuff website on or before the day of submission. The file must be named using the following format: Student ID_design.pdf. For example, if your ID is ab123, your file will be ab123_design.pdf. Use the Coursework Submission page to upload your work for review and assessment. A maximum file size of 2.0MB is set for this submission. Do make sure that all images used are correctly compressed for screen resolution - this will help keep file sizes down. Please ensure that your name is clearly shown on all submitted work. If you would like to include high resolution images and/or videos with your submission, you should host the media at one of the free online resources such as Vimeo, YouTube or Flickr and include links to the media from your PDF file.

Zone of Visual Impact Project

Project Aim

To introduce students to the concepts and techniques of computer aided visual impact assessment and to demonstrate the design, implementation and presentation of a ZVI analysis using industry-standard software (AutoCAD, Key Terra-Firma and Photoshop).

Project Overview

This project is part theory and part practice. We will discuss the various computer techniques involved in visual impact assessment. You will be introduced to digital terrain modelling (DTM) and zone of visual influence (ZVI) techniques using Key TERRA-FIRMA. Students will complete a simple exercise based on a landscape scenario.

Project Brief: Mobile Phone Mast near the A3, north-east of Guildford

The mobile phone company "Phones-for-all", whose latest marketing gimmick, 25,000 different ring tones free with each phone, wish to erect an new 36m high mast near the A3(T) to the north-east of Guildford at grid reference 505080,155160.

Since the new mast is taller than 15m, Phones-for-all require planning permission before the mast can be erected. Since planning consent can only reasonably be refused on amenity grounds, they have been asked by the local planning authority to provide evidence of the visual impact of the mast. There is a lot of public opposition to the mast from residents of the villages nearby. The residents have formed a campaign against the mast and are also producing evidence of the visual impact of the proposed mast.

Landscape consultants have been appointed by each of the two opposing sides. Both ZVI studies are to be carried out with a radius of 4km but aside from this stipulation, the consultants may interpret the data and the ZVI results in any way they wish providing they are balanced and fair.

Instructions

For the purposes of this exercise, you will be asked to represent either Phones-for-all or the local residents campaign group. You may decide for yourself which of the two sides you will represent.

Complete a ZVI study using the data provided and the details above. The maps, statistics etc. can be presented using Microsoft Word or Powerpoint or any other suitable tool but the resulting document should be delivered as an Adobe PDF file. The presentation should also include a short written description of the visual influence of the proposed mobile phone mast.

Submission & Assessment

Assessment for this project will be in the form of an exercise which must be completed and the results submitted on or brfore the date given in the Course Schedule. Exercise results should be compiled as an Adobe PDF file and submitted by file upload. Work will be marked by the course tutor with marks being awarded for accuracy of the analysis, quality of presentation and the professionalism of the description of the results.

More information on ZVIs can be found here.
A ZVI help page is provided for this project.

Submission Details

This project should be submitted as a .PDF file (maximum file size 2.0MB) and uploaded to the coursestuff website on or before the day of submission. The file must be named using the following format: Student ID_zvi.pdf. For example, if your ID is ab123, your file will be ab123_zvi.pdf. Use the Coursework Submission page to upload your work for review and assessment. A maximum file size of 2.0MB is set for this submission but in most cases your file should only be a few hundred KB. Do make sure that all images used are correctly compressed for screen resolution - this will help keep file sizes down. Please ensure that your name is clearly shown on all submitted work.

Verified Photomontage Project

Project Aim

To introduce students to the concepts and techniques involved in producing realistic, verified photomontages of proposed developments and to demonstrate the use of field techniques and software tools (AutoCAD and Photoshop) for photomontage.

Project Overview

Students will be given the details of a fictitious development and asked to produce a number of photomontages, taken from known locations. This will allow students to put into practice the techniques demonstrated in the workshops. Specific project details will be provided when the project is introduced.

Project Brief

Create a verified photomontage massing study (not a detailed render) from 2 viewpoints using the given materials in the Photomontage Data.zip file.

Submission & Assessment

Assessment for this project will be based on the final photomontage images. Work submitted must include both before and after views from each photographic location. The presentation can be compiled using Microsoft PowerPoint or any suitable software but the work must be submitted as an Adobe PDF file. Work must be submitted on or before the date given in the Course Diary by file upload (details below) and will be marked by the course tutor with marks being awarded for quality of presentation and accuracy of results.

More information on verified photomontages can be found here.

Submission Details

This project should be submitted as a .PDF file (maximum file size 2.0MB) and uploaded to the coursestuff website on or before the day of submission. The file must be named using the following format: Student ID_photomontage.pdf. For example, if your ID is ab123, your file will be ab123_photomontage.pdf. Use the Coursework Submission page to upload your work for review and assessment. A maximum file size of 2.0MB is set for this submission but in most cases your file should only be a few hundred KB. Do make sure that all images used are correctly compressed for screen resolution - this will help keep file sizes down. Please ensure that your name is clearly shown on all submitted work.

Course Documents

These documents contain all the information about the course, projects, briefs and tutorials. All documents are provided in PDF format. Some documents may also be provided in appropriate alternative formats. In order to view the PDF files, you will need the Adobe Reader.

There are currently 0 files in this section

Reference Documents

These documents are useful references.

There are currently 6 files in this section

File Listing

	Filename	Size (KB)	Date Modified
	AutoCAD Drawing Exercise.pdf	40.1	29th Sep 2011
	AutoCAD Raster Materials Tutorial.pdf	408.3	29th Sep 2011
	Bryce 4 Interface.pdf	123.6	29th Sep 2011
	Bryce 4 User Guide.pdf	7,156.2	29th Sep 2011
	The ZVI Process.ppsx	38.4	29th Sep 2011
	Visual Representation of windfarms - excerpt.pdf	2,719.3	29th Sep 2011

Course Materials

The files in this section contain the source materials for the various projects.

To download AutoCAD drawing files, right-click on the file link and select "Save Target As…"

There are currently 28 files in this section

File Listing

	Filename	Size (KB)	Date Modified
	Concrete Block.psd	228.6	2nd Mar 2011
	GIS.dwg	924.8	2nd Mar 2011
	Greenwich Park.jpg	287.0	2nd Mar 2011
	landline-raster.jpg	471.1	2nd Mar 2011
	landline-tq3877ne.dwg	226.6	2nd Mar 2011
	landline-tq3877nw.dwg	363.3	2nd Mar 2011
	landline-tq3878se.dwg	197.1	2nd Mar 2011
	landline-tq3878sw.dwg	217.5	2nd Mar 2011
	Naval College Model 2004.dwg	2,130.9	2nd Mar 2011
	Photomontage Data.zip	2,022.0	2nd Mar 2011
	Photomontage Demo.zip	1,659.0	2nd Mar 2011
	sample_contours.dwg	123.5	2nd Mar 2011
	Site Air Photo.jpg	135.4	2nd Mar 2011
	Site Plan.jpg	127.9	2nd Mar 2011
	Site View 1.jpg	124.9	2nd Mar 2011
	Site View 2.jpg	118.5	2nd Mar 2011
	Small Town.dwg	195.3	2nd Mar 2011
	Splice_01.jpg	152.0	2nd Mar 2011
	Splice_02.jpg	161.6	2nd Mar 2011
	Splice_03.jpg	173.3	2nd Mar 2011
	Splice_04.jpg	177.7	2nd Mar 2011
	Wood Wharf Digimap.dwg	2,535.3	7th Oct 2011
	Wood Wharf Survey.dwg	5,597.6	7th Oct 2011
	ZVI_TQ05.tif	1,965.0	2nd Mar 2011
	ZVI_TQ05NE.dwg	435.7	2nd Mar 2011
	ZVI_TQ05NW.dwg	443.7	2nd Mar 2011
	ZVI_TQ05SE.dwg	921.8	2nd Mar 2011
	ZVI_TQ05SW.dwg	558.9	2nd Mar 2011

Key Texts

• Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture by Bradley Cantrel and Wes Michaels ¦ details
• Google SketchUp for Site Design by Daniel Tal ¦ details
• AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD LT 2012 Essentials by Scott Onstott ¦ details
• AutoCAD 2012 & AutoCAD LT 2012 Bible by Ellen Finkelstein ¦ details
• Adobe Photoshop CS5 for Photographers by Martin Evening ¦ details
• Photoshop CS5 Essential Skills by Mark Galer and Philip Andrews ¦ details
• Universal Principles of Design by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden and Jill Butler ¦ details
• Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (2nd Edition) by The Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment ¦ details
• Visual Representation of Windfarms: Good Practice Guidance by Scottish Natural Heritage ¦ details

Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture by Bradley Cantrel and Wes Michaels

From the back cover: “For a hundred years, pencil, pen, markers, and watercolour have been the principal tools of representation for landscape architects and urban planners, Today, those hand-powered aids have been replaced by an array of digital tools. Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture bridges the gap between the traditional analogue and the new digital tools and shows you how to apply timeless concepts of representation to enhance your design work in digital media.”

This book is unique in demonstrating the use of digital tools in combination to achieve high-quality results in the production of landscape drawings. Fortunately, it is also well-written by people with plenty of hands-on experience and it is beautifully illustrated in full-colour.

The book focuses primarily on Adobe Photoshop but also includes coverage of AutoCAD, Illustrator and 3DS as part of the workflow. It demonstrates a wide range of techniques (most of which are explained step-by-step) for various drawing types; design diagrams, plan/section renderings and perspectives. The book is great for beginners too, with an introductory section explaining the basic concepts such as the difference between vector and raster drawings.

Every student of landscape architecture should own a copy of this book.

Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture is available at Amazon.co.uk

Preview Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture at Google Books

Avery Hill Library copies: 8 ~ view catalogue entry

Google SketchUp for Site Design by Daniel Tal

This is a really excellent book, specifically designed for landscape architects. It demonstrates how SketchUp can be used to create 3D models of site designs by starting with the basics and slowly building towards more complex techniques. It’s also good on workflow too with a whole chapter dedicated to moving AutoCAD drawing data into SketchUp. Best of all, Google SketchUp is free, so students can build 3D models of their designs with just this book and a quick download.

The book is based upon a technique called “SketchUp Process Modeling”, which: “provides a step-by-step road map that will show you how to use the tools and functions to construct expressive models of exterior spaces and architecture. The process addresses three main areas of instruction: drafting, modeling order and organization. Mastering these skills will allow you to create models that are highly detailed and articulate, easy to work with, optimized for computer performance and organized.”

The book is really well produced with clear, full-colour illustrations. The tutorials are very good and quickly build a firm understanding of how SketchUp works. This book is highly recommended for all students of landscape architecture.

Google SketchUp for Site Design is available at Amazon.co.uk

Preview Google SketchUp for Site Design at Google Books

Avery Hill Library copies: 9 ~ view catalogue entry

AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD LT 2012 Essentials by Scott Onstott

This is one of the best books for complete beginners to AutoCAD. It covers all you need to know to begin working with AutoCAD quickly and efficiently but it does so in a clear and straightforward manner. The book itself is less physically intimidating than most AutoCAD tomes at just under 400 pages but it doesn’t skimp on the essential details.

From the back cover: “You’ll learn how to draw in 2D, shape complex curves, manage objects with layers, organize with blocks and groups, add dimensions and annotation, work with layouts, plot and print, model in 3D, create realistic renderings, and much more.”

The tutorials in the book are well-paced, clear and illustrated in full-colour, giving it a friendly feel, which is great because AutoCAD can sometimes be a bit scary. Although not specifically written for landscape architects, students will find this book an excellent companion right through their course of study.

AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD LT 2012 Essentials is available at Amazon.co.uk

Preview AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD LT 2012 Essentials at Google Books

Avery Hill Library copies: 9 ~ view catalogue entry

AutoCAD 2012 & AutoCAD LT 2012 Bible by Ellen Finkelstein

AutoCAD is a very popular professional software application and it is well supported by a large number or 3rd party manuals. In an ideal world, you should look at a variety of books and decide which is best for you. However, there is one book which is sufficiently generic and that most people seem to get on with that is worth a recommendation.

The AutoCAD 2012 & AutoCAD LT 2012 Bible by Ellen Finkelstein does two jobs. First, it teaches you how to use AutoCAD in the short term and second, it provides a reliable reference for you to keep over the longer term. The book begins with the basics of opening and saving drawings and moves on to an introduction of the basic 2D drawing commands and an explanation of the various interface components. At the other end of the spectrum, it covers customising menus and programming with AutoLISP and other advanced topics. In between these two poles there is coverage of 3D modelling and rendering, plotting, data extraction etc. At over 1200 pages, it's not a pocket book but it is a book that can be relied upon to answer most questions across a range of levels.

AutoCAD 2012 & AutoCAD LT 2012 Bible is available at Amazon.co.uk

Preview AutoCAD 2012 & AutoCAD LT 2012 Bible at Google Books

Avery Hill Library copies: 4 ~ view catalogue entry

Adobe Photoshop CS5 for Photographers by Martin Evening

The title of this book is now rather misleading because it seems to imply that this is a book for photographers only. Admittedly, the original concept for the book was to introduce photographers to the digital world of Photoshop and there is still a great deal for the digital photographer. However, over the years, the book has expanded and matured into what is now probably the best single-volume text book on Adobe Photoshop for both photographers and non-photographers. This book is not just about tweaking images to make them look better (although that is included), it covers a wide range of Photoshop skills. In fact, one of the best chapters in the book, “Layers, Selections and Masking”, takes the reader beyond the confines of traditional photography and into Photomontage. The accompanying DVD includes project images from the book and video tutorials. As a comprehensive introduction to Photoshop, Martin Evening's book is hard to fault but if you prefer a more technique-based book, take a look at the “Essential Skills” book by Mark Galer and Philip Andrews.

Adobe Photoshop CS5 for Photographers is available at Amazon.co.uk

Avery Hill Library copies: 6 ~ view catalogue entry

Photoshop CS5 Essential Skills by Mark Galer and Philip Andrews

This is a relatively new book, first published in 2007 and has been written specifically for Photoshop CS3. This third edition for CS5 builds on the previous editions. It is a very good book with a great introduction to the application and to digital imaging in general, particularly useful if you're completely new to digital design. For example, it covers the effects of image compression and a discussion on image resolution – both topics that students need to understand. It is also copiously illustrated in full colour with excellent examples. It is clear, concise and easy to follow - exactly what a good textbook should be. There is very good coverage of selections and layers (two key skill areas) as well as all the other “essential skills”. The book follows up with a series of projects that you can work through in order to practice the skills learned and it comes with a DVD containing all the example images and some really useful video tutorials.

Photoshop CS5 Essential Skills is available at Amazon.co.uk

Preview Photoshop CS5 Essential Skills at Google Books

Avery Hill Library copies: 6 ~ view catalogue entry

Universal Principles of Design by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden and Jill Butler

Universal Principles of Design, subtitled “100 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach through Design” is essentially a directory of all those design terms and “buzz phrases” that you know you ought to know the meaning of. The authors have chosen 100 design ideas and concepts and devote a double-page spread to each. Concepts such as Ockhams Razor, Fibonacci Sequence, Iteration and Legibility (the basics that all designers must understand) are beautifully described and illustrated with excellent examples to illustrate each point.

This is a general design reference although website examples are used where appropriate. All students of design should read this book and all designers should at least consider it a check list for their own knowledge and understanding.

Universal Principles of Design is available at Amazon.co.uk

Preview Universal Principles of Design at Google Books

Avery Hill Library copies: 5 ~ view catalogue entry

Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (2nd Edition) by The Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment

The second edition of this book was published in 2002 and incorporates changes needed after changes in the statutory framework for Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Statements within the European Union. EU Council Directive 97/1/EC was implemented in England and Wales by the Town and Country Planning (England and Wales)(Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations in 1999 and in Scotland by the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations, also in 1999.

The book is divided into nine parts. The first three focus on general principles of good practice, a background to the EIA process, the methodology of analysis and planning policy context. Parts four to nine fall into a logical sequence that clearly illustrates the practical application of the various processes and recommended methods. A number of these sections are illustrated with relevant case studies. The book is rounded off with an invaluable glossary and 10 appendices of which, Appendix 6 is worth special note. This appendix contains five examples of threshold criteria for visual impact as used by practitioners. This is an excellent source of information for those who have never before been involved with a visual impact survey and it gives an important insight into the methodology adopted by well respected practitioners.

The GLVIA is a well thought out, logically presented and superbly illustrated. This is essential reading for all consultants involved with landscape and visual impact assessment and should be required reading for all developers. The book is published by Spon and is available as an eBook through MyiLibrary, accessible via the Student Portal.

Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (2nd Edition) is available at Amazon.co.uk

Preview Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (2nd Edition) at Google Books

Avery Hill Library copies: 4 ~ view catalogue entry

Visual Representation of Windfarms: Good Practice Guidance by Scottish Natural Heritage

This publication should be a standard text in any landscape office engaged in visual impact assessment. Although it is specifically written as advice for practitioners engaged in VIA projects involving windfarms, much of the content is also relevant to more general VIA projects. In some respects, this book plugs some of the gaps in the GLVIA. That book is rather short on technical detail. This book provides that in spades. An excerpt of the book is available as a PDF for download.

Visual Representation of Windfarms: Good Practice Guidance is available from Scottish Natural Heritage.

Avery Hill Library copies: 1 ~ view catalogue entry

Helpers

Animation with Scenes in SketchUp

Animation with AutoCAD

This tutorial demonstrates how to create a short "walk-through" animation with AutoCAD 2011.

You can download the Small Town.dwg file if you'd like to follow this tutorial.

Tutorials

• Creating a 3D grid from designed contours using Key TERRA-FIRMA and AutoCAD
• Moving your ZVI map from AutoCAD to Photoshop
• Photo-matching with AutoCAD & Photoshop (part 1 - 9min 2sec) - Adding view points, control points and cameras in AutoCAD and creating a perspective from the viewpoint.
• Photo-matching with AutoCAD & Photoshop (part 2 - 8min 6sec) - Moving the wireframe model to Photoshop and photo-matching with the control points.
• Photo-matching with AutoCAD & Photoshop (part 3 - 12min 3sec) - Rendering the model in AutoCAD and finishing in Photoshop with a layer mask.

Software Toolkit

• AutoCAD - Autodesk Student Community for free software more…
• Paint.NET - Paint.NET is a great free alternative to Adobe Photoshop.
• Google SketchUp - Google SketchUp is a free version of this excellent 3D design tool.
• InterpOSe - Free download of the translator for OS MasterMap to DWG from Dotted Eyes.

Online Resources

• AutoCAD - The official website for the UK
• CADTutor - Tutorials, articles and resources for AutoCAD
• My CAD Site - Tutorials for AutoCAD
• Zone of Visual Impact Analysis - Detailed description
• Verified Photomontage - Detailed description of the process

Further Information

• Student Software - What to get and where to get it for free
• Autodesk Student Community - Signing up and downloading your software
• Digimap - Downloading and using Digimap data
• A guide to buying laptops & desktops - What you need and how to buy it