Spring 2020 • University of Massachusetts • Department of Natural Resources Conservation

Understanding the Language of Design

Landscape Contracting 105 - SPRING 2010

NRC 333 – Principles of Arboriculture II • Spring 2020

2 Credits
http://www.unri.org/arbordesign

Instructor: David Bloniarz,

Urban Forester, USDA Forest Service
202 Holdsworth
phone: (413) 537-3748
email: bloniarz@eco.umass.edu

Seminar Session: Monday 2:30 pm > 5:15 pm

Course Summary
Developing skills in communicating with design professionals is
undertaken in this practical applications course. The ability to understand
the language of design, and to use the communication tools utilized in
professional architectural, design and engineering practice will be
presented, through hands-on exercises and assignments.

A variety of concepts, tools and techniques will be introduced and students

will have the opportunity to enhance their skills at communicating design
and engineering concepts to various audiences.

This course will meet once per week, and include a substantial amount of independent work by
class participants. Online resources, web-based tools and other communication technologies will
be used to provide students with the technical skills needed to understand how architects, planners,
designers and engineers communicate their ideas and specifications to practicing professionals in
other disciplines. The students will be expected to develop a final project that will incorporate many
of the tools and skills developed during this 8-week course.

Required Tools
The textbook for this course is Plan Graphics for the Landscape Designer: With Section-
Elevation and Computer Graphics by Tony Bertauski; ISBN-9780131720633

SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain, and Architecture 2nd
Edition, Author: Daniel Tal, Publisher: Wiley. ISBN-13: 978-1118985076; ISBN-10: 1118985079

You can probably find used copies from Stockbridge Seniors. Also, the following tools will be
required in order to complete the assignments and fully participate in the class assignments. At a
minimum the following items will be needed to initially participate in the course: 12” Triangular
Architect’s Scale, 12” Triangular Engineer’s Scale and a Section Pad with 10 Squares,
Quadrille Rule, Letter Size (8.5 x 11) or on-line generated equivalent.
Additional Course Details
Topics to be introduced during this course cover a wide of interest areas, and include:

• An Overview of The Vocabulary of Design

• Using the Engineer’s and Architect’s Scales
• Reading & Understanding Architectural and Engineering Drawings
• Computer Aided Design (CADD) Tools and Google Sketch Up
• Application of Google Sketch Up, Google Maps and Google Earth software tools.
• Digital Photography, Imaging and Workflow
• Preparing Presentation & Communication Materials

Learning Goals
It is anticipated that students, who fully engage themselves in the content of this course, will acquire
new knowledge, skills and perspectives on how to communicate with design and engineering
professionals. In addition to familiarization with the course topics noted above, it is hoped that
students will learn additional skills related to group dynamics, collaboration, public speaking and
organizational methods. These skills are not unique to this particular course, but this course will
encourage exploration of these facets of peer-base learning, professional development and project
management.

Methods of Instruction
The course will be conducted in a seminar format, which will include discussion, lecture and some
student-led presentations. Because of the large amount of materials that will be covered in this
course, lecturing will be kept to a minimum, and increased emphasis on discussion and presentations
will be stressed. Each student is responsible for staying abreast of the readings, which will vary in
length and depth by topic areas, and being prepared for in-class discussions and presentations.
Participatory Learning, which encourages involvement by all students will be encouraged and will
provide the framework for the course’s seminar sessions. At least one of the class seminars will be
delivered by an internet webcast session.

Instructor Availability
My office is room 130 Holdsworth Natural Resources Center. You are welcome to drop in any time
during my office hours, or contact me via e-mail to make arrangements to get together at another
time. My cell phone is 413/537-3748. My e-mail address is bloniarz@eco.umass.edu The easiest
way to contact me is via text on my cell.

Course Requirements
• Attendance and participation in all seminar sessions.
• Reading of all assigned materials.
• Completion of all Take-home assignments
• Submission of (3) Summary Briefs on assigned reading (typed, and in proper format).
• Final Exam/Project - Preparation and submission of a final project or exam to determined by the
progress flow of this particular course.

Evaluation of Student Work

The instructor will complete review, evaluation and assignment of grades for each assignment. On
some assignments, feedback from your class colleagues will solicited, and will be used as a
component of the scoring. The feedback to, and from, your fellow students is to be constructive and
supportive. In addition, the class may divide into groups assigned by the instructor, with members of
each group evaluating each other in peer-evaluation exercises. Additionally, in completing group
assignments or projects, an individual grade for each team member will be awarded, based on the
quality and content of contributions made to the group project or assignment.
Assignment Points Scoring

Take-home Assignments (5x100 points each) 500 points

Reading Briefs (4x50 points each) 200 points
Final Exam/Project 300 points
Class Attendance & Participation 200 points
Total Possible Points 1200 points

Final Grading Evaluation

A 1140-1200 points (95.0% - 100.0%) Exemplary

A- 1080-1139 points (90.0% - 94.9%) Much above average
B 1032-1079 points (86.0% - 89.0%) Above average
B- 972-1031 points (81.0% - 85.0%) Above average
C 924-971 points (77.0% - 80.0%) Average
C- 864-923 points (72.0% - 76.0%) Below average
D 804-863 points (67.0% - 71.0%) Much below average
D- 756-803 points (63.0% - 66.0%) Much below average

Late Submission of Assignments, Presentations or Final Project

You are expected to have all required assignments, and in-class presentations and projects,
submitted on the date due. If you are late in turning in these assignments, your score will be reduced
30 percent (unless you have a very good excuse, and it is presented prior to the class date in
question). The Final Project is due on the assigned date, with no exceptions. No late Final Projects
will be accepted, since this assignment is regarded as a University Final Examination, and it follows
the specific exam calendar established by the University.

Academic Honesty
Honesty is essential to learning and inquiry. Participation in the life of the University implies a
commitment to honesty and integrity in all academic work. Academic dishonesty is a violation of the
spirit and the regulations of the University, and will not be tolerated. Any student in our class found to
be in violation of University academic honesty regulations will automatically receive, at a minimum, a
failing grade (F) for the course. Examples of academic dishonesty include: Plagiarism, Cheating, and
Fabrication. For further information on academic honesty regulations, please consult Academic
Honesty Policy, which can be found at the following website -
http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/

Class Meeting Schedule & Presentation Topics

The dates and presentation topics for the course are outlined below. This is a preliminary schedule,
and is subject to change based on the actual course accomplishments. This is an aggressive
schedule that is necessary in order to fully introduce a comprehensive toolkit of learning tools to the
class participants. All readings assigned for a particular week must be completed prior to the start of
that week’s class session, in order to facilitate active discussion on the presentation topics. Please
try to keep current with any readings, since it is important to the success of the seminar sessions.
Class Meeting Schedule & Presentation Topics

Wk # Date Topic
1 01-27-2020 Course Introduction and Semester Outline

2 02-03-2020 An Overview of The Vocabulary of Design

Preparing Presentation & Communication Materials
3 02-10-2020 Using the Engineer’s and Architect’s Scales
4 02-18-2020 Reading & Understanding Architectural and Engineering Drawings
TUESDAY
5 02-24-2020 Computer Aided Design Tools
6 03-09-2019 Google Maps and Google Earth software tools
Application of Google Sketch Up
7 03-04-2019 Digital Photography, Imaging and Workflow