[JustinNapier]

Hi, My name is Justin Napier and I am representing our company, Idea Spectrum, which develops Realtime Landscaping Design software (www.ideaspectrum.com).

Basically, we are in need of ideas for landscaping symbols.

Let me provide some more information: I am in charge of Idea Spectrum's customer support as well as adding artistic content to our programs. I have run into a snag though; I am having trouble finding good symbols to create.

The kinds of symbols I would like to create are the kind you (professional landscapers) use every day in your plan drawings. I want to be sure to provide good standard symbols in our software.

Here are some symbol categories I would like to create:

Irrigation
Electric
Lighting

And any others you can think of excluding plants (they are pretty much finished). As suggestions are posted for additional categories I will update this thread.

If any and all of you could send me anything you think would be helpful, I would greatly appreciate it.

Basically I want your two cents: suggestions, comments, links, pictures, books, ect.



Thank you very much for any help you can provide; it is appreciated.

Justin Napier
Idea Spectrum

[Raj Venugopal]

What is your company's budget for this type of design work?

[JustinNapier]

What is your company's budget for this type of design work?

Currently we have not set aside a seperate budget for these stages of the design because we are doing it in house.

[papercutter]

Looking at your website, it all looks like 3d visualization stuff... are you guys adding plan/ construction doc functionality?

Dave

[JustinNapier]

Looking at your website, it all looks like 3d visualization stuff... are you guys adding plan/ construction doc functionality?

We currently have full 2D overhead design functionality, but it is all colored and realistic. What we are working on now is adding CAD line drawing capabilities to aid the user in creating on a computer what they would by hand.

[papercutter]

I'm always looking at options. Let me know if you're looking for beta testers.

Dave

[Forge]

I don't know exactly what you are looking for, but on my plans I use a water droplet for sprinkler heads, a small 'bolt' for any outlets and a light bulb for any lighting going in. Very easy to distinguish from various circles and shapes used for plant material.

If the client needs any kind of 'as-built' plan I use blue lines to delineate the piping and a dirty yellow for electric.

Hope this helps...

[agla]

Why would you not use the standard symbols that are established within the irrigation ad electric industries?

[Lanelle]

I agree with agla.

[JustinNapier]

Why would you not use the standard symbols that are established within the irrigation ad electric industries?

These are the kind of standard symbols I am looking for. In all of my searches, though, I have not been able to find a good group of them. I have nailed down the plants by sifting through various books and plans sent by some of our customers, but the other categories are giving me some trouble.

I don't know exactly what you are looking for, but on my plans I use a water droplet for sprinkler heads, a small 'bolt' for any outlets and a light bulb for any lighting going in. Very easy to distinguish from various circles and shapes used for plant material.

Thanks Forge, that does help a lot. I will add these to my list. I think that variety is going to be key.

[papercutter]

Justin, have you tried over at www.cben.net ? If you click on Mech/Elect/Plumb in the left column and select Electrical Details, you can't miss 'em (starting page 2)

Dave

[agla]

google:irrigation symbols

or get a book or guide on irrigation.

There are plan standards for all sorts of things. Making up new ones for a program that is to be sold is probably not a good idea if it is for professional use.

Then again, it is really not a professional level program that you have. That is no offense to you, but just like there are standards for symbols, there are industry standards for plan file formats as well. Like it or not, the dwg format is the standard. After that there are the contractor/nursery designer programs like Pro and Dynascape. Then there is a big drop off to homeowners and guys just trying to get something going. Those are the raster images and 3d graphic programs.

The only thing that matters is that you use a program or pencil that gets you what you need to get out of it. You can never get out of it more than you put into it. There is no magic with any of them.

[papercutter]

Originally posted by agla

You can never get out of it more than you put into it. There is no magic with any of them.

Says you. I had the foresight to ask my Autodesk reseller for EXTRA magic. And, it's compatible with this: http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/ezbake.shtml

Seriously though, I'd have to agree- why deviate from what folks have shared for decades? I'm not referring to Forge- if your plans only go to your crews, use whatever shorthand works for you- but if you're designing a drafting package, that just goes against common sense.

Just my two cents- if you're after a 2d drafting function, keep it simple. I stick with AutoCAD because it's an electronic drafting board for me, and is therefore quick and efficient. There are 24 functions I use on a regular basis, in AutoCAD. Most other programs make those 24 functions way more complicated than they need to be.

Dave

[JustinNapier]

google:irrigation symbols or get a book or guide on irrigation.

Yes, this was our first step. However, the results yielded less than we need. Books have been purchased and are on their way, but we thought it would be in the company's best interest to ask this group as well.

There are plan standards for all sorts of things. Making up new ones for a program that is to be sold is probably not a good idea if it is for professional use.

I think I am being misunderstood. I am asking for ideas and referrences to landscaping symbols. We plan to incorporate as many symbols as we can to allow for a great deal of customization.

Then again, it is really not a professional level program that you have. That is no offense to you, but just like there are standards for symbols, there are industry standards for plan file formats as well.

Again, I think you misunderstand. I do not understand your grounds for voicing your opinion about the professionalism of our software on this thread. We have had thousands of landscapers using our software professionally and successfully; this would seem to be the only result that matters in judging the professionallism of any tool. Our customer base is split pretty evenly down the middle between homeowners and landscapers. I realise that there may be customers that will stay with AutoCad, but our goal is to provide something better, cheaper, and simpler to landscapers. This is not the purpose of this thread however; the purpose is to obtain ideas for symbols for our new software.

Like it or not, the dwg format is the standard.

I am sorry, but how does this statement apply to getting ideas for landscaping symbols? DWG is a file format, and is not used by our company.

After that there are the contractor/nursery designer programs like Pro and Dynascape. Then there is a big drop off to homeowners and guys just trying to get something going. Those are the raster images and 3d graphic programs.

Thus far we have been extremly successful with bridging the gap between the CAD program users and the homeowners, and we always welcome suggestions for improvements. However, I would prefer to stay on the topic of landscaping symbols in this thread.

The only thing that matters is that you use a program or pencil that gets you what you need to get out of it. You can never get out of it more than you put into it. There is no magic with any of them.

I agree completely. This is why we are including the full ability for the customer to create their own symbols. For the purpose of convenience and quality, we are also including as many industry standard symbols as we can find.

[JustinNapier]

Just my two cents- if you're after a 2d drafting function, keep it simple. I stick with AutoCAD because it's an electronic drafting board for me, and is therefore quick and efficient. There are 24 functions I use on a regular basis, in AutoCAD. Most other programs make those 24 functions way more complicated than they need to be.

Oh trust me, I fully understand your concerns. Keeping a software application simple while powerful is perhaps the largest headache of the whole developement process. The symbols will be grouped in a library though, with subcategories to organize them; we feel that this will be simple, fast, and intuitive.

Seriously though, I'd have to agree- why deviate from what folks have shared for decades? I'm not referring to Forge- if your plans only go to your crews, use whatever shorthand works for you- but if you're designing a drafting package, that just goes against common sense.

Our goal is not to deviate from industry standards, but to include every nice-looking symbol that could be useful. Obviously the industry standard symbols are the highest priority, but we are open to including custom symbols as well. In our history we have been met with much praise for offering a large variety, letting the customer pick and choose what is right for their plan.

Justin, have you tried over at www.cben.net ? If you click on Mech/Elect/Plumb in the left column and select Electrical Details, you can't miss 'em (starting page 2)

Thank you Dave! This will help a good deal. I will get a DWG viewer on my system as soon as I have the chance.