A landscaping site can now be measured right on the tablet.Photo: Drafix Software Inc.
Drafix Software Inc., makers of PRO Landscape design software, has made landscape CAD design for iPad available in the PRO Landscape Companion app. PRO Landscape Companion is the iPad and Android tablet design component for the desktop/laptop version of PRO Landscape.
For years, users of PRO Landscape have been able to take their iPad or Android tablet right to the customer’s house and create a photo imaging design and price quote. The new CAD component allows users to measure and design the site in a scaled drawing right on the tablet. They can then transfer the design right to the computer and do additional work.
“One of frustrating parts for landscape designers has always been creating the site plan so they can actually do their landscape design,” said Pete Lord, president of Drafix Software. “We’ve always allowed users to import an AutoCAD file, survey or plot plan or even Google Earth image to help save time. But there are still cases where the site needs to be hand measured.”
The ability to measure a site directly on the tablet saves a great deal of time, according to Chris Walter, owner of Computerized Landscape Design Inc. “I really just want to spend my time on the landscape design,” Walter said, “and anything that helps me get to that faster is awesome. The fact you can create a scaled design while you are on site, then change it later will save me hours of valuable time for each job.”
PRO Landscape Companion is free for users of PRO Landscape. For users who do not have PRO Landscape and instead prefer a standalone tablet landscape design solution, the new CAD functionality will be incorporated into Drafix Software’s PRO Landscape Contractor app in the coming months.
The 3.0 version of PRO Landscape Companion works in conjunction with PRO Landscape, Version 22. PRO Landscape includes photo imaging with a library of more than 14,000 images, night and holiday lighting, CAD specific for landscape design, complete customer proposals and 3D rendering.
The 3.0 version of the PRO Landscape Companion app will be available for iPad in the App Store in mid-February, a company spokesman said, adding that an Android version with the updated functionality will be available later in the first half of 2016.
