In landscape design-build, artificial intelligence (AI), automation and operational transparency represent design software’s cutting edge. These innovations deliver the precision needed to alleviate the inefficiencies that erode a landscape contractor’s profit margins or prevent them from securing jobs in the first place.
The latest design software innovations are helping landscape contractors maintain a competitive advantage, as explained by industry experts.
AI’s influence
While technology is in a state of constant flux, design software remains anchored in user accessibility. And for “hands-in-the-dirt” landscape professionals, this means creating the accurate drawings and job proposals necessary to secure residential and commercial contracts.
AI features that augment practical design applications help bridge that gap for contractors. However, the challenge lies in providing practical solutions without sacrificing creative or operational control, all of which successful installations require, says David Sloan, sales/marketing manager at PRO Landscape+, an AI-powered design software developed by Drafix Software.
AI in design software serves contractors best as a supportive tool, Sloan stresses. “Contractors need AI to be a helper, not a doer,” he says. “We’ve approached (AI) to do one of two things: either solve problems that were unsolvable before in design software, or address challenges and make things easier for (landscape contractors).”
In design software such as PRO Landscape+, AI can best assist landscape contractors with enhanced photo imaging, 2D CAD drawings, 3D renderings and estimating. These solutions streamline design with more accurate mock-ups while providing contractors greater agility to adapt to client demands, for example when material changes.
Automated job costing
While AI is driving innovation in design software, Tony Kostreski, lead product specialist at Vectorworks, says recent technical advancements allow designers to leverage sophisticated data modeling tools already at their disposal. Kostreski explains that within the Vectorworks Landmark ecosystem, the shift toward “smart” design is driven by integrated worksheets that function as live, data-rich spreadsheets. Because every graphical element possesses embedded metadata, even standard 2D workflows generate real-time metrics for area, linear footage and unit counts.
“You’re automatically getting preliminary cost opinions as detailed as the designer wants,” Kostreski says, noting that these estimates scale in detail alongside the design’s complexity.
According to Kostreski, the software’s primary strength resides in the dynamic link between the design’s physical geometry and its fiscal reality. Because the software continuously tracks counts, volumes, surface areas and linear measurements for every landscape element, the designers don’t need to recalculate projects when material costs change.
Enhanced client experience
Modern landscape design software significantly elevates the client experience by dismantling the barriers between abstract 2D plans and tangible reality.
Accessible cloud-based tools achieve this transparency, which Kostreski says enables landscape designers to share a web link that lets clients explore a virtual project model on any web-enabled device.
This gives clients a new dimension to understand designs, enabling specific feedback that contractors can address before breaking ground.