Landscape Modeling: Digital Techniques for Landscape Visualization Review

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(More customer reviews)Ive only had has this book a short time but I like it. There are lots of color images and text book like explanations.
However, the examples are somewhat dated as the book was published in 2001. Most of the sample images are showing some low poly objects, or discussing ways of representing trees which are frankly out of date. No mention that I saw so far of Vue D'esprit, which is far superior to some of the software discussed, such as VistaPro.
The authors need to update it with newer images and discuss some of the newer software, a lot of changes in 3d rendering have emerged in the last 4 years.
I doubt somebody who has been using WCS, Vue, Terragen, Maya, or any advanced 3D landscape artist would find a whole lot of use for this book, but it would be good to give an overview and explain some terminology for a beginner.

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Design, plan, and simulate landscapes with computer modeling tools
If you want to model how waterflows will be affected by an upstream dam, or how vegetation growth will respond to irrigation, state-of-the-art Landscape Modeling is for you! Developed by pre-eminent Harvard landscape architects Stephen Ervin and Hope Hasbrouck, it's the first-ever guide to integrating the two-dimensional capabilities of geographic information systems (GIS) and three-dimensional CAD systems in landscape planning. This resource brings together all the technical tools you need to analyze and manipulate landforms digitally, together with the contextual information needed to apply these tools for small- and large-scale land uses, from gardens to regional plans.
You get: Techniques for analyzing, evaluating, designing, planning, and simulating specific landscape types and elements such as water, terrain, and vegetation A CD loaded with interactive modeling formulas and algorithms, plus demo versions of key GIS and CAD softwares for land elements, together with how-to instructions Full color international case studies with site plans, photographs, simulations, sound and other landscape effects, and virtual environments

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Google SketchUp Workshop: Modeling, Visualizing, and Illustrating Review

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(More customer reviews)Executive Summary: Have a project in mind, do the online SketchUp tutorials, then read this
book's "Overview" section and whatever other sections catch your eye.
First off, this book isn't an introduction to SketchUp. The online SketchUp tutorials handle that job. Instead, this book is more like a series of conference papers. Very well done conference papers though.
The "Overview" section is suprisingly long at over 70 pages. Those pages, however, are rather good. SketchUp has a lot of oddities. Some oddities are just because SketchUp has its own approach to some things. Other oddities are just sort of odd. The overview provides pointers on making some things easier to deal with and to make projects flow more easily. It also provides a few hints as to why, when SketchUp isn't doing what you expect, and how to get back to predictability. Eventually these things make sense.
The rest of the book is a series of overviews of various people's work, work flows and design techniques. I was immediately drawn to the woodworking project overview because that's pretty much what my initial SketchUp efforts are all about. There are lots of other projects though and they are truly shocking in their complexity and breadth.
A reader can easily read only the overview and maybe a project section or two. That's surely the fastest way to process what you need and then get to your own project. The reality is that you get drawn back in the text. There's that cool longship in the concept art section, the virtual house design, the .... so much neat stuff!


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Discover the secrets of the Google SketchUp with the 16 real-world professional-level projects including parks, structures, concept art, and illustration. Google SketchUp Workshop includes all the wide variety of projects that SketchUp can be used for-architectural visualization, landscape design, video game and film conception, and more. SketchUp masters in every field will get you up to speed in this agile and intuitive software and then show you the real uses with through projects in architecture, engineering, and design.
* Packed with 16 real-world Google SketchUp projects from working professionals that traverse the entire spectrum of what SketchUp can accomplish * Covers both the free and Professional versions of the Google SketchUp program - it is not bound to any version* Teaches 2D illustration and pre-visualization through to the fully rendered 3D Model - from start to finish

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Google SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture (CourseSmart) Review

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(More customer reviews)As a new sketchup user (going on 3 months) and a purchaser of four books on how to use Google's Sketchup, this book is without a doubt, the most comprehensive introduction to utilizing an amazing tool to design (in 3D) to your hearts desires.
Being a newbie to sketchup can be a daunting experience, such a powerful, yet easy to use tool can get one into all sorts of trouble and lead to many a sleepless night. Aidan Chopra's `Google sketchup 7 For Dummies' was a godsend, as were the numerous online tutorials on Youtube and various online sketchup forums.
Tal's book however has made all the difference, by offering a concise and easy to understand process of how to model effectively. He delivers it with an engaging style that makes all the difference when one is trying to learn something new. The book doesn't suffer the dryness that `Google sketchup 7 Bible' sadly offered. He makes it fun because it really is fun.
Daniel Tal's book is an altogether different beast. A guide book that encourages one to simplify ones approaches by getting organized from the outset, it's all about the process to get the most out of sketchup and ease up on the headaches and sleepless nights that can often entail- no small feat to accomplish in the written word, I can assure you.
The book is set up in four parts the first of which covers the rudimentary tools. The second is where Daniel's expertise and knowledge really start to unfold. On every page, for me at least, there were numerous A-ha moments. So, that's how it's done!!, it's all so easy when one knows how.
The other benefits of the book are the tutorials. These provide numerous exercises' to hone ones skills and climb the ladder to "Sketchup awareness". Part 3 offers an all too rare glimpse into the powerful tools that the `Sandbox' can provide (a feature that I understand Tal was instrumental in fine tuning with the people at Google) to create terrain and organic forms that can really add to ones models and offer endless possibilities. If you can imagine it, Tal's methods enable you to build it. Part four is perhaps the most important one, dealing with Sketchup's unique abilities to import CAD files and also how to greatly increase productivity and turnaround time by using the numerous `Ruby' scripts available.
This is more than just a beginner's book and it is more than just a landscape architects approach to using sketchup in his work. Whether you are an interior designer, a home builder, carpenter, student, an aspiring 3D artist, or a garden designer like me, this book is indispensable.

If you love to model in 3D, you will find this book to be of immense value. Words cannot convey the gratitude I have for this book. It has made me a better, wiser, calmer and happier modeler than even I thought was possible.
Two thumbs up and five stars all the way.


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Google SketchUp for Site Design illustrates a holistic approach to SketchUp: how it works and more importantly, what to do with it.
Filled with tutorials from front to back, the book focuses on the start and completion of projects that include rich detail and expression. Each part and chapter of the book builds on the previous chapters and tutorial.
You will learn how to approach modeling site plans, buildings and site elements: from modeling each of these exterior environment elements to piecing them together to generate a singular and expressive model.
The book culminates with tutorials demonstrating effective and simple ways to include grades and terrain using the Sandbox tools and how best to integrate the entire approach with AutoCAD and SketchUp.
Also included are links to supplemental on-line resources such as YouTube tutorials and free tutorial and example models from 3D Warehouse.
The book is useful for all SketchUp proficiency levels including beginners, hobbyists, and professionals.

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