Feature Story
Now’s the Time to do Site Analysis Right with 3D
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here are many variables in the outdoor environment, especially when it comes to landscape design. Soil type, solar aspect, water requirements, slope, plant hardiness and more. But, thinking about 3D in particular and aspects like slope, solar aspects, solar analysis and viewshed analysis is critical from an aesthetic standpoint. At some point, if you just model the existing conditions, then you can plop yourself into any one particular location on the site and have a very realistic view of what’s actually there. In this article, I’ll share the top reasons why you need to incorporate 3D into your workflow. I’ll also share strategies for beginners through advanced designers for taking your 3D skills to the next level.
3 Reasons Why You Need 3D
If you’re hesitant about incorporating 3D into your workflows, first consider the financial implications of not analyzing the site properly. Analyzing a site just a little bit better can save a company a significant amount of money. The cost of the investment in 3D software and training can be recouped through increased sales and reduced callbacks because of more accurate documentation. With 3D analysis, you can determine if a proposed placement of plants, which require more shade, might fail because they’d be exposed to too much sun. Thankfully, you can forecast this by using a geopositioned light source which emulates the sun throughout the day. Additionally, it can predict the lack of shade in that area
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where shade-loving plants were being specified informing the designer to either add more shading elements such as trees, canopy, pergola, or revise the planting to be more sun-loving plants. Additionally, 3D for site analysis shifts your perception of time. Laying out a 2D plan is faster, but you still have to make multiple models of your design to get the viewpoints—which is time-consuming. It takes about the same amount of time to enter 3D data as it does 2D data but modeling custom objects will take longer on the front end. Instead of thinking how long a model takes to build, realize that you’ll produce your documentation in a fraction of the time. For the final project, designers can use the same 3D model used for analysis in the presentation and sales process. Another benefit comes at the end of the project with easier and more accurate document output. For all designers, once you start using 3D for your projects, you’ll be able to easily collaborate with other design professionals. You can ask architects for building models they have in progress or already completed for the project, and you can request that surveyors provide files with 3D terrain data.
3D Tool of Choice for Better Modeling
To have a successful 3D workflow, you need to have a supportive, versatile software. For me, it’s Vectorworks Landmark. My practice focuses on horticulturally intensive design and construction detailing sympathetic to the architecture and site. It can be difficult for clients to visualize how plants will look or integrate with the buildings on the site.
