Like many other professions, landscape architecture and horticulture require a great amount of attribute collection, data inventory, analysis, and design. In the past few years, major emphasis has been placed on the integration of computer aided design (CAD) and geographic information system (GIS) into the university's undergraduate teaching curriculum. Our students are able to use these technological advances to build site inventories and implement their design solutions. Four innovative experiments in the university's undergraduate basic curriculum are investigating the real-time experience of gathering information on-site and collaborating site data with hands-on experience in computer software. Global positioning system (GPS) satellites provide digital coordinates and elevation information for any location on the earth. Along with a data-logger, this system is an efficient tool for data collection and data input in the field. Students perform on-site design scenario presentations to clients. The university's landscape architecture and horticulture program is utilizing GPS technology in conjunction with GIS and CAD in undergraduate teaching. This project is also improving the current practice of teaching by introducing an innovative mobile lab concept with on-site data collection, terrain model construction, design emulation, and client communication.
