As a member of the community, the landscape architect performs a number of important tasks. The main responsibilities of a landscape architect involve planning and managing open spaces in rural, suburban, and urban settings. The general scope of their tasks involves designing both natural and man made environments. These areas are intended for public or private use. With their creativity and technical skill, landscape architects can produce sustainable, pleasing, and innovative open areas that people can enjoy as recreational areas. Some of the areas that landscape architects design and monitor are housing developments, plazas, zoos, burial grounds, botanic gardens, and commercial and industrial complexes, which have specific functions that fulfill the everyday needs of the community.
In the course of their career, professional workers may be involved in a wide range of projects. In collaboration with engineers and landscape contractors, they work on project of various sizes, such as designing housing estates, producing a layout of gardens and parks, and planning sporting sites. These are just some examples of the projects that landscape architects are called upon to take part in. Seasoned landscape architects may also be tasked to complete mining construction as well as motorway construction. In order to complete these projects in time, it is often necessary to work with surveyors, environmentalists, and town planners as well.
The job description can include a bevy of tasks. Aside from core responsibilities, they may be required to fulfill other tasks, which they can still fulfill given their skills set. Some of these are:
• Developing concepts, methods, and policies for landscape design and planning on different levels, including local, regional and national.
• Formulating methods to restore or maintain historic sites.
• Perform visual impact and environmental assessments for new developments or for the purpose of revisiting existing policies for possible modification.
• Implement plans and monitoring procedures for the conservation of protected areas such as national parks.
• Ensure the safety and sustainability of major development projects such as dams, wind farms, and roads.
One of the most important tasks of a landscape architect is to assure the functionality of the area that is to be developed while attaining certain aesthetic qualities. In the process of preparing for a landscape development project, the landscape architect conducts a comprehensive study of parameters such as soil, drainage, subsurface water, and climate. The local flora and fauna are also taken into consideration.
During the planning stage, their task is to provide solutions based on the main thrust of the project and considering all the existing factors influencing the outcomes. Aside from producing working drawings, the landscape architect must also provide shareholders with the relevant work specifications, time schedules, and cost estimates.
These professionals can assume the role of project managers especially of the landscaping design project is of a huge scale. Aside from the performance of standard tasks, they also need to manage a team of professionals who are all involved in the undertaking. Some of these professionals are other architects, planners, and civil engineers.
