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Landscape Architects: Vectorworks Landmark is the software for you!
February 07, 2019

Landscape Architects: Vectorworks Landmark is the software for you!

Stephen Schrader | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Vectorworks Landmark

As landscape architects, we use Vectorworks throughout our entire design workflow, from schematic design and presentation drawings all the way through construction documents. Vectorworks allows us to exchange drawing information with architects and engineers on our project teams who might be using AutoCAD, Revit, or Civil 3D. Our entire professional staff uses Vectorworks on the Mac OS platform.
  • I tell people that Vectorworks is CAD for people who know how to draw. You can control the appearance of all the objects on a layer, or you can tweak the way a single object looks. Most of the barriers to producing good-looking, legible drawings are removed.
  • Vectorworks Landmark is made for landscape architects.Creating hardscape, planting, and irrigation plans is pretty straightforward.
  • There's a bit of inconsistency in the operation of some tools that would appear to the user to be more similar.
  • Importing complex Revit models takes a long time and, if the model has a lot of symbols in it, the import might not finish.
  • There is a learning curve for new employees, as regionally Vectorworks is not in wide use and generally not introduced in the academies
  • However, because it is more intuitive as far as WYSIWYG drawing, most people pick up the basics pretty quickly.
  • It's a really powerful suite of tools. Sometimes it's good to spend some time afforded by a larger project to explore ways to use the software more efficiently (e.g., improving worksheets, using different smart object tools, etc.)
I was an AutoCAD user before switching to Vectorworks when coming to work with my current firm. Vectorworks Landmark includes tools specifically designed for landscape architects - it's not an AutoCAD add-on. The initial investment for a new seat is much less than AutoCAD, and the Service Select program pushes down the annual upgrade cost even more.
Vectorworks is just as useful for perfectly measured, hard-line CAD drawing as it is for making beautiful presentation drawings and renderings. Tools in the application allow you to transition between working drawings and presentation drawings without modifying the underlying geometry. DWG exchange with other design team members works very well.