RELATED FIELDS in Software

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area to be landscaped Some are allowed to participate in the actual project design However, interns must perform all work under the supervision of a licensed landscape architect Additionally, all drawings and speci cations must be signed and sealed by the licensed landscape architect, who takes legal responsibility for the work After gaining experience and becoming licensed, landscape architects usually can carry a design through all the development stages After several years, they may become project managers, taking on the responsibility for meeting schedules and budgets and for overseeing the project design, and later they may become associates or partners, with a proprietary interest in the business

Many landscape architects are self-employed because start-up costs, after an initial investment in CAD software, can be low Self-discipline, business acumen, and good marketing skills are important qualities for those who choose to open their own business Even with these qualities, however, some architects may struggle while building a client base and reputation in the community

Those with landscape architecture training qualify for jobs closely related to landscape architecture and may, after gaining some experience, become construction supervisors, land or environmental planners, or landscape consultants Landscape architects use their knowledge of design, construction, land-use planning, and environmental issues to develop a landscape project Others whose work requires similar skills are architects, surveyors, civil engineers, soil conservationists, and urban and regional planners Landscape architects know how to grow and use plants in the landscape Botanists, who study plants in general, and horticulturists, who study ornamental plants as well as fruit, vegetable, greenhouse, and nursery crops, do similar work

Landscape Design A landscape designer s work is similar to that of a landscape architect, usually on residential or small commercial projects Landscape designers are not technically certi ed; therefore, they cannot call themselves landscape architects For those who do not wish to invest the time to become a landscape architect, a career in landscape design could be the answer You can become a landscape designer after completing a two-year associate s degree in a landscape specialist program offered at a number of US schools Salaries are generally less for designers than for architects On the upside, those who are self-employed are not as limited as those employed by a landscape architecture rm Work in landscape design is available almost anywhere you see a tree, shrub, or lawn Job seekers do not have to scour help wanted ads or move across the country to nd employment, though doing so could help broaden the scope Just look around you at all the possibilities Each of the following settings requires a range of workers:

Private homes Public parks and gardens Recreational facilities Shopping malls Theme parks University campuses

Historic Landscape Preservation and Landscape Archaeology Historic landscape preservation is a eld of growing interest throughout the country among managers of historic buildings and cultural and natural landscapes The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia, is one of the largest employers of landscape architects, designers, and related groundskeeping professionals Landscape archeology is a fairly new discipline, with the purpose of recovering enough evidence to re-create a garden that existed on the site in a given historical period Landscape archaeology uses traditional archae-

ological techniques to recover the fence lines, planting beds, and other evidence Just as with gardening history, there is no particular university degree at this time in landscape archaeology To become a landscape archaeologist, follow a traditional program in anthropology and archaeology Once you have graduated and started getting on-the-job experience, you could specialize (For more information on historic landscape preservation and landscape archaeology, see Kent Brinkley s rsthand account later in this chapter)

Interiorscaping An interiorscaper works with clients who want to create indoor environments lled with plants The interiorscaper provides the design, oversees the installation, and if the contract speci es, maintains the health and attractiveness of the layout Interiorscapers nd work with large landscape contracting rms or nurseries, or they can go independent, renting space with adequate lighting in a warehouse where they can store their plants Some large land developers, rather than contracting the work out, hire permanent on-staff interiorscapers to take care of the malls or other complexes they own Even though private homeowners might utilize an interiorscaper s services, most clients come from the commercial world Within the eld of interiorscaping are several different job titles, including designers, estimators, and operations managers Interiorscapers utilize the services of installers, delivery people, and job installation supervisors Maintenance technicians take care of the plants, and maintenance foremen supervise the technicians Nurseries that employ interiorscapers hire competent sales staff to interact with customers The chance for advancement is good within the industry With some experience under their belts, installers and maintenance technicians, for example, can move to supervisory or sales positions Many people start out established in the oral business, as orists or oral designers, for example, and interiorscaping becomes a natural extension of what they are doing A ower shop owner, for example, might stock tropical houseplants for retail Through walk-in customers from local of ce buildings, the orist could be requested to add installation and maintenance services

Entry-level crew workers and technicians can start anywhere from $6 to $14 an hour, with a median of $1027 an hour for landscaping and groundskeepers in 2006 Someone with a new bachelor s degree could expect to earn in the teens or twenties, depending on the country region Designers and managers average annual earnings vary from $48,000 to $82,760 per year