Functions and Roles of Digital Landscape Architectural Drawing

Abstract

This work discusses the major roles of digital technologies in the history of landscape architectural drawing, and offers a critique of the dominant trend towards realism in recent digital landscape representations. During the period of transition from conventional drawing tools, computer technologies generally functioned as mechanical tools to imitate prior manual techniques. Specifically, the GIS was served as a mechanical tool to efficiently process the manual layer cake; CAD software generally functioned to translate physical models to two-dimensional construction documents while graphic software generally functioned as a tool to perform processes similar to those of manual collage and montage techniques. Recent digital landscape drawings tend to adopt a realistic depiction like the painting of landscape appearance. In the representations, discernible traces of cutting and assembling are removed via graphic software; thus, the complete representations are perceived as if they were a copy of an actual landscape. The realistic images are an easy way to communicate with the public. However, it is difficult to achieve a full embodiment of all of the multisensory characteristics of a landscape through these visuals. They often deceive viewers by visualizing idealized conditions of not-yet-actualized landscapes and production of the final images takes up a large portion of the overall design process. Alternatively, 3D digital modeling of landscape performance and creative uses of digital technologies during the overall design process, as well as hybridized techniques with different drawing techniques and technologies, provide the opportunity to explore various aspects of a landscape.