Digital Studio

The Plant Sciences Building opened in November 1996 with an exciting computer studio environment for the study of Landscape Architecture. 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. Student stations include a drafting table with a parallel ruler, a chair, and a computer table with a computer and monitor. Each computer is equipped with a variety of software programs as well as full Internet access. Each student station is also connected to a Local Area Network that allows shared resources (plotters, printers, scanner, etc.). Individual computers provide unparalleled opportunities to integrate digital technology into the curriculum. The technology-rich environment of the program enables the program to explore new and rapidly changing areas in landscape architectural education and new and emerging technologies that characterize today's global environment. Learn more below!

Resources

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

Rhino Software Request: Request Rhino license

Fill out the form

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

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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)
ArcGIS Pro
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher)
Sketchup

Other software is available from the UMD Software Catalog

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 are 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:

If you have any questions please contact Chris Behnke at cbehnke@umd.edu.

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 131) is assessed $200 per studio. Once admitted in the Landscape Architecture Program, students are assessed $300 per studio (LARC 230, 231, 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.

Email Groups/Reflectors

The program maintains two email groups.reflectors 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. If you are not receiving emails from the reflector, would like to modify, delete or add an email (must use UMD email address) to this listserve, please contact: Saratu Samaila (ssaratu2@umd.edu).

Landscape Architecture Network Use Agreement

Students are required to read and agree with the Landscape Architecture Network Use Agreement to receive access to the computers in studio and other department resources. Failure to complete this will result in denial of studio and other department resources.

If you have any questions please contact Chris Behnke at pslatech@umd.edu.

Landscape Architecture Network Use Agreement

Work areas in each design studio are assigned during the first week of classes each semester. You are assigned a drafting table, computer worktable, borco table cover, parallel rule, and computer workstation. Digital design studio access requires studio fees to be paid for general use, maintenance, and printing/plotting (non-refundable).

Your work area assignment is for one term (first day of classes to last day of exams). At the end of the semester each student is expected to participate in a group clean-up to tidy the studio. It is the responsibility of each studio instructor to coordinate the timing of the End-of-Semester cleanup and checkout.

You are expected to keep this area clean and leave your area in a clean fashion at the end of each term and to remove all of your belongings by the date of account termination. No materials will be stored for students over the summer. No exceptions are allowed.

In addition to the following rules, all students are also subject to University of Maryland Policy on the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources. Policies can be found at http://www.nethics.umd.edu/aup/.

General Rules: Design Studios, Classrooms, and Printing

Failure to comply with these rules may result in suspension, restriction, or denial of network or computer accessibility.

Do not cut on any surface of your drafting table or computer work table. Do not use the parallel rule for cutting. Do not spray adhesives on the borco cover or use any spray paints in the studio. The construction lab should be used for cutting and application of adhesives. Do not remove the borco or parallel rule at any time.
Absolutely no food or drink is permitted in the GIS lab, 2137.
Each student is assigned a workstation that includes a workstation computer, LCD monitor, keyboard, and mouse in the studios 2148, 2150, 2152, 2154, 2156, and 1144. Workstations and monitors are locked down and no workstation will be removed from the studio for any reason. Keyboards and mouse may be moved at user’s discretion for proper ergonomics. You are responsible for your workstation computer and its components and it is your responsibility to turn over a clean work area for the next term. Any problems with workstations should be reported immediately to Technical Support (pslatech@umd.edu; or in person in Room 2139B). If your workstation computer, keyboard, LCD monitor, or mouse is damaged due to misuse, negligence or abuse then you are responsible for the replacement cost of the damaged component(s). End-of-Semester checkout will include a visual check that original equipment is present and in working order.
Your assigned workstation is for your use only and designated for LARC program related classes and projects. The workstations shall not be used by students outside the LARC program. Use by friends, spouses or commercial use is prohibited.
Not-for-profit favors and/or profit-making activities such as flyers, posters, development and sale of software or digital materials, unapproved work, or contract work unrelated and not approved by the Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture is prohibited.
Workstations will have preinstalled software. Students are not allowed to install additional software unless approved by Technical Support. Requests for additional software are encouraged and should be forwarded to Technical Support.
Personal files need to be backed up and stored on the students’ own external hard drive and or cloud service. At the end of each term personal files will be deleted from studio workstations.
The Department is not responsible for lost or corrupt student files. The department does not backup student files.
All workstations will be password protected and this same password will be your network access. The System Administrator and Instructor of Record will also have access to your workstation. Your password is your safeguard, keep it completely confidential.
Do not remove keyboards, mouse or cause any other damage to your work area.
Please do not display questionable or sensitive material on the computer at any time.
All network accounts will be terminated at the end of the spring semester.
Printing is for your use only and designated for LARC program related classes and projects. The printing devices are not for students outside the LARC program, friends, spouses, commercial use, or classes outside the LARC curriculum (not required for the LARC degree). Periodic checks will be made on the printers and any printout found to be in violation of the above written rule will result in a penalty charge of 50 cents /page or $8.00/square foot for plots.
The LARC program will offer a variety of equipment to accommodate your needs on a checkout basis. Technical Support will control the checkout of all equipment. Any damaged equipment must be replaced or professionally repaired at the discretion of Technical Support.

Acceptance Declaration

I have read and understood the provisions and legal restrictions described above governing the use of University of Maryland and Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture computing resources referenced in this agreement. I further understand that if the terms of this agreement are violated, the Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture may issue a warning, deny access to computing resources, refer for prosecution, or administer other penalties, depending upon the nature of the infraction.