Using Vectorworks to Estimate Landscape Performance

Research project
Landscape Architecture Foundation
2014

This article investigates how Vectorworks Landmark software could be used to estimate the performance of a given design. As landscape architects, we are faced with the challenge of situating our designs within a broader ecological and climatological context. A design proposal must invariably contend with the active forces of its environment, however, these forces (such as rainfall, flooding, heat gain, wildlife migration, etc.) can be incredibly difficult to model through conventional CAD and BIM software. This article addresses how Landmark can be used to help landscape architects quickly represent their creative vision while simultaneously ensuring its performative functionality.