Our Program

Studio Resources

Landscape Architecture Network Use Agreement: All students in studio are required to fill out a network agreement. You will not receive access to studio unless you have filled it out and submitted.  

Fill out the form

Laser Cutter: Yearly training is mandatory before using the laser cutter. 

Complete online training

3D Printer: To access the 3D printer please contact Chris Behnke at pslatech@umd.edu for more information.

Need university-wide IT help?

Software

The Digital Studio includes programs that are universal on all stations and direct instruction is provided in the curriculum. These include:

• Adobe (Adobe Pro CC, Photoshop CC, InDesign CC, Illustrator CC)

• Autodesk (AutoCAD 3D, Max Civil 3D)

• Esri

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher)

• Sketchup

Hardware

A commonly asked question we get is whether purchasing a desktop/laptop is necessary to join the program. The answer is: it's up to you. However, we would like to point out that each student in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year studios of the undergraduate program and all graduate students have 24-hour access to his or her assigned computer workstation and drafting table throughout the school year. We also have a GIS Computer Lab available to our 1st year BLA students.

If you would like to purchase hardware and software we recommend you visit the Division of Information Technology's webpage on Terrapin Tech. There you will find helpful links directing you to resources on campus. 

The Digital Studio provides networked peripherals for studio production. See Chris Behnke (PLS 2139B) for additional information on maintenance or reservations.

Print Room

• 2 HP Color LaserJet 5550

• 2 HP DesignJet T1700dr

• 1 Epson DS-50000 Color Flatbed Scanner (11x17)

• 1 Colortrac SmartLF 42 Large Format Scanner

• 3-D Printer

Media Room

• Roland SG 540 Multimedia Printer

• Canon ImagePRESS C710 production laser printer

• TRUBIND Spiral/Coil Binding Machine

• TruLam TL-330T Laminator

Critique Hall (PLS 0104)

• 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) Laser Projector (floor to ceiling)

• 4K UHD ScreenBeam Wireless Presentation and Conferencing

Seminar Room (PLS 1144)

• 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) Wall-mounted 85" QLED Screen

• 4K UHD ScreenBeam Wireless Presentation and Conferencing

Other (See Chris Behnke for information about these.)

• Oculus Quest 2, Oculus Rift S Immersive 3D Headsets and Controllers

• Digital Cameras

• Portable LED Projector

• Slide Scanner

Building & Studio Access

Building and Room Access: About a week before the first day of class each of the studio rosters is submitted by Diana Cortez to University Building Security. If you did not pre-register for classes, please see Diana Cortez regarding access to studios and other rooms. For individual room information, please refer to Digital Studio Access Policies. Student access is granted until Graduation Day (for Winter graduates- access ends on Fall commencement date; for all others- access ends on the Spring commencement date of that academic year). 

ID Card Deactivation Application: This capability allows students, faculty, and staff to electronically deactivate their lost, or stolen, ID cards. Once a card has been deactivated, the following services will immediately be suspended until a new physical ID card is reissued:

• Access to Administrative Buildings and Offices

• Access to Residential Facilities

• Dining Services and Terrapin Express

• Facilities Management Services

• Time and Attendance System

• University Recreation and Wellness

Please be aware that, upon deactivating your ID card, a new physical ID card must be obtained from the Office of the Registrar, as a deactivated ID card cannot be reactivated.

Links to the ID Card Deactivation application can be found on Testudo; and on the Office of the Registrar website, by clicking on “Current Students”, or “Faculty & Staff.”

Computer Access

Digital Studio Computer Accounts: You will be able to access computers using your University Directory ID. This is the same logon you use to access your ".umd.edu" email address.  For issues dealing with the Digital Studio accounts of the Landscape Architecture Program, please contact Chris Behnke.

University Accounts: To establish any university wide account (email, web) go to Division of Information Technology.

Ethics and Policy on the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources

Users of the Digital Studio abide by all University of Maryland policies on the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources. All users should be familiar with:

• University of Maryland Net Ethics 

• University of Maryland Policy on the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources

If you have any questions please contact Chris Behnke.

Wireless

All undergraduate and graduate studios are equipped with wireless network access. To connect to the wireless network, open a web browser on the wireless device. Your browser will be automatically directed to a network User Login page. Use your directory ID and password to authenticate yourself to the wireless network.

For more information on using the wireless network see Student Accounts. 

Grid Computing

The Digital Studio is participating in Condor, a grid computing project with UMIACs. This program uses spare computing cycles on your computers when you are not using it, similar to the SETI project.

Printing and Plotting

Printing and plotting are for students enrolled in LARC studio courses and students approved by LARC faculty (work study, CAs, TAs, and RAs). LARC faculty are asked to notify the Director when allowing a student plotting and printing privileges. All plotting and printing is restricted to university related activities. The commercial use of the printers and plotters is strictly forbidden. Friends/spouses of users are not allowed to use plotters and printers.

Technology Fees

The Digital Studio is primarily funded through fees assessed with studio courses. Students in the first three semester studios (LARC 120, 140, and 141) are assessed $200 per studio. Once admitted in the Landscape Architecture Program, students are assessed $300 per studio (LARC 240, 340, 341, 440, and 471). Additional financial support comes from the Department, College, University and friends and alums of the Landscape Architecture Program. Students who take LARC 471 in the Sustainable Futures program are also assessed a $300 technology student fee. 

University wide, Technology Fees (STF) are assessed from all undergraduate and graduate students. For more information, please see the STF website. Each spring semester the Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture submits requests to the college for consideration. "Student input is critical in the allocation process of student technology fee funds. All proposals for expenditures of student fees must have student input prior to approval." - from Implementation Plan.

Reflectors

The program maintains two listserves that includes all faculty, staff, and registered larc studio students. Announcements, job advertisements, and other information are distributed electronically to students via this email. We use your default email address but are happy to add additional email addresses if they are provided and if they work. All nonworking non-umd emails will be deleted. Students are responsible for forwarding emails from your umd account to any other email provider (Gmail, yahoo, etc.). If you are not receiving emails from the listserve, would like to modify, delete or add an email (Gmail, yahoo, etc.) to this listserve, please contact: Diana Cortez (dcortez@umd.edu).