Cetopo for Landscape Architecture

The push to adopt BIM and 3D workflow in Landscape Architecture is beginning to become inevitable for many practices, especially those who work closely with Architects and structural designers. But far from being a hurdle to overcome, adapting to 3D workflow can be really beneficial for communication, collaboration, and overall design success. This article sets out the benefits of working in 3D using Cetopo – without asking Landscape Architects to give up 2D CAD altogether.

Data-led site analysis

When working with Cetopo, Landscape Architects gain instant access to highly accurate topographic meshes, which can form the basis of detailed site analysis. Having access to this information right from the beginning of a project can help designers to fully understand their site, and easily visualise large areas, as well as small details. Save time by accessing this information in minutes, in exactly the format you need.

A Cetopo model can also reduce the need for expensive detailed site surveys. Since Cetopo models boast accuracy of up to ±0.15m, it’s often no longer necessary to survey the whole site. Many Cetopo customers now combine Cetopo models with smaller areas of detailed survey, reducing cost and labour time, while maintaining accuracy in their designs.

Overall, using Cetopo – even when combined with traditional surveying techniques – can save a significant amount of time in the early stages of a design project. As well as reducing the need for a detailed site survey, Cetopo users benefit from having data in many different formats. Being able to quickly access accurate 2D information, including contour lines, in DXF format means that designers and landscape architects can get started quickly, and be confident in their designs from the beginning.

Enhanced visualisation and design

It’s no secret that Landscape Architects can often be a little slower to adopt BIM and 3D workflows, largely due to the lack of flexibility in most design tools (i.e. revit). Cetopo’s models allow reticent designers to dip their toes in 3D modelling. Since Cetopo models are composed of native BIM elements, they are much easier to use than abstract models, so there’s much less of a learning curve.

Cetopo’s intelligent algorithms can produce highly detailed terrain models, which are also easy to use. By optimising the number of points needed to maintain accuracy Cetopo models remain lightweight, and easy to edit (not to mention how well they run in your software!), meaning that landscape designers can easily produce 3D models of their proposal, and create stunning visualisations easily.

Cetopo’s plugins have the unique ability to automatically replace default trees with the users desired assets (i.e. Archicad objects, Revit families, or Enscape Assets), enabling architects to quickly produce visualisations – using the right planting – without needing specialist rendering skills.

Cost Effective Project and Budget Planning

Given tight budgets, it’s essential to avoid unnecessary costs and ensure that your design team isn’t wasting time on tasks below their expertise. Cetopo saves money by reducing the hours spent modelling the site and adds efficiency at many key design stages.

It’s always easier to plan a project when you’ve got a clear understanding of what is involved. By having access to coordinated and complete site information, Landscape Architects can more easily predict how much work is involved for them, and communicate this to the wider design team. Cetopo’s efficiency can also streamline project timelines and help allocate budgets more effectively. With the scope for human error greatly reduced, your team can work more confidently and effectively, resulting in better designs and a more cohesive built environment.

Cost savings will multiply as you incorporate Cetopo into your workflow for more projects. Pricing is project-based, and users can benefit from bulk discounts. The more you use Cetopo, the more you’ll save!

Better Communication and Collaboration

By incorporating Cetopo into their workflow, Landscape Architects can benefit from eased communication and collaboration with both the wider design team (i.e. Architects and Planners) and directly with clients.

Geo-location is enabled automatically in all Cetopo models, which makes sharing files and coordinating with Architects and other design teams much easier. By coordinating using geo-located models, Landscape Architects can be certain that they know where their landscape design meets the Architect’s building edge, and that designs are properly coordinated.

Using 3D models as well as 2D drawings allows Landscape Architects to more easily communicate design ideas with laypeople who may not fully understand how to read CAD plans – or understand the visual impact of different shrub species. Cetopo users have found that communicating with clients is much easier with the aid of visuals that can be easily produced using Cetopo models.

Summary of benefits

Overall, Cetopo can help Landscape Architects in many stages of a design project. The models emphasis on high quality topographic data ensures that Lanscape designers can develop projects that are beautiful as well as accurate. Some of the key benefits include: