Site Representation and Analysis

This course introduces Geographic Information Systems and three-dimensional modeling from a Landscape Architecture perspective. It is particularly recommended for students concurrently participating in the Fourth Semester Core Landscape Studio. Students learn to assimilate data from many sources to represent sites and their context using thematic mapping and GIS site evaluation models. Particular attention is paid to modeling existing terrain conditions and developing, visualizing and analyzing site-scale grading, massing, and planting alternatives. Our approach to terrain modeling begins with engineering-scale site drawings and uses the analytical and data processing abilities of GIS to develop geographically-referenced three-dimensional site models that serve as an armature for collaborative design endeavors, development of sections, perspectives, animations, physical models, and visualized on the web through Google Earth.