Landscape Architect

Also called: Environment Friendly Landscape Designer, Environmental Designer, Environmental Planner, Exterior Designer, Golf Course Architect

Varies

estimated salary

Landscape architects plan and design land areas for projects such as parks and other recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial, and residential sites.

  • Confer with clients, engineering personnel, or architects on landscape projects.
  • Prepare site plans, specifications, or cost estimates for land development.
  • Analyze data on conditions such as site location, drainage, or structure location for environmental reports or landscaping plans.
  • Develop marketing materials, proposals, or presentation to generate new work opportunities.
  • Inspect landscape work to ensure compliance with specifications, evaluate quality of materials or work, or advise clients or construction personnel.
  • Prepare graphic representations or drawings of proposed plans or designs.
  • Present project plans or designs to public stakeholders, such as government agencies or community groups.
  • Integrate existing land features or landscaping into designs.
  • Manage the work of subcontractors to ensure quality control.
  • Create landscapes that minimize water consumption such as by incorporating drought-resistant grasses or indigenous plants.
  • Collaborate with architects or related professionals on whole building design to maximize the aesthetic features of structures or surrounding land and to improve energy efficiency.
  • Research latest products, technology, or design trends to stay current in the field.
  • Inspect proposed sites to identify structural elements of land areas or other important site information, such as soil condition, existing landscaping, or the proximity of water management facilities.
  • Develop planting plans to help clients garden productively or to achieve particular aesthetic effects.
  • Identify and select appropriate sustainable materials for use in landscape designs, such as recycled wood or recycled concrete boards for structural elements or recycled tires for playground bedding.
  • Design and integrate rainwater harvesting or gray and reclaimed water systems to conserve water into building or land designs.
  • Collaborate with estimators to cost projects, create project plans, or coordinate bids from landscaping contractors.
  • Prepare conceptual drawings, graphics, or other visual representations of land areas to show predicted growth or development of land areas over time.
  • Provide follow-up consultations for clients to ensure landscape designs are maturing or developing as planned.
Work Context
  • Telephone — 93% responded "Every day".
  • Electronic Mail — 93% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 65% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 79% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 54% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 50% responded "Extremely important".
  • Letters and Memos — 47% responded "Every day".
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Work Activities
  • Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Create graphical representations of structures or landscapes.
  • Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
  • Incorporate green features into the design of structures or facilities.
  • Design water conservation systems.
  • Select project materials.
  • Incorporate green features into the design of structures or facilities.
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Knowledge

Design
  • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Building and Construction
  • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Skills

Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination
  • Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Visualization
  • The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Document management software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat Hot Technology
Map creation software
  • ESRI ArcGIS software Hot Technology
Computer aided design CAD software
  • McNeel Rhino software Hot Technology
  • Trimble SketchUp Pro Hot Technology
  • Coyote Software DynaSCAPE Design Hot Technology
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Hot Technology
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Hot Technology
  • Autodesk Revit Hot Technology
  • Bentley Microstation Hot Technology
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Education

Get started on your career:

Job Outlook

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
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