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  • From: "Gaden@ziplip.com" <Gaden@ziplip.com>
  • To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [permaculture] Permaculture Design software
  • Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 10:52:49 -0700 (PDT)


Re: Darren J. Doherty's - "Some of the software I would recommend to users of
this list is as follows (as relates to permaculture design work): MapInfo
Professional – easy to use (full windows) and powerful GIS (Geographic
Information Systems) software that we have been using for about 8 years now
for all of our plans development."

I'd agree with that. I've used it many times to great effect. I did find it a
bit of a steep learning curve when I first started using it. But certainly
saves a lot of time and produces great visualisations for clients.

There's another GIS program which was written down in Australia. Oziexplorer.
It is nowhere near as powerful as Mapinfo, but it is very user-friendly and
amazingly cheap for its functionality. (Mapinfo is fairly pricey) It also
works with digitised datasets which can be built up in several layers. In
some cases these datasets can be downloaded from the web, or alternatively
purchased from the relevant government departments.

Autocad. For very simplistic small projects like a residential backyard, you
can get simple CAD programs for landscape design etc. Many of these are
available as shareware online. Nothing like the functionality of a
professional CAD. But for the home designer, they save a heap of time cutting
out graph paper plans.

3D Visualisations. I haven't used one for a fair while. But in the past I
have played with 3D VR programs. These allow you to scan in a contour map.
(May need to highlight the contours if they are light coloured). The program
will then convert this onscreen to a 3D model. You can then 'fly' around the
model at any 'height', angle or scale. Then you can modify the landscape,
scrape out dams and the like. Fun to play with. Time consuming and addictive.

Training tools. There are some interesting programs, based on fractil
generation, which enable you to create artificial (but realistic) 3D
landscapes, mountains, islands etc. These can be useful for creating design
problems, tutorials etc.

A powerful one of these is called Terragen. This allows you to render
photorealistic scenery complete with landscapes (topography), plants,
seasonal effects (snow storm!!), skies, clouds ad infinitum. Another great
time waster. There's a whole web community focused upon the creation of these
realistic landscapes.

Application. In reference to the Pitcairn Island permie project. There seems
to be a pleathora of online information about this island. It is quite
conceiveable to create a detailed accurate online virtual reality image of
the island, using the kind of software mentioned.

This could then be used as a focal point for web based designers around the
world to collaborate on developing and displaying design options. That would
be a world first.

Gaiden






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