**Disclaimer**

This syllabus is to be used as a guideline only. The information provided is a summary of topics to be covered in the class.
Information contained in this document such as assignments, grading scales, due dates, office hours, required books and materials may be from
a previous semester and are subject to change. Please refer to your instructor for the most recent version of the syllabus.

LAP 494/598 AutoCAD for Landscape Architecture & Planning

Landscape Architecture I The Design School I Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Syllabus

Instructor: Nikolas Smilovsky, PhD, GISP

Contact: [email protected]
Term: Fall 2019, 1/7/19 – 4/26/19
Lecture Location & Time: CDN263, Thursday 2:45pm – 4:15pm
Office Location & Hours: DS125, Fridays 9am – 11am & by appointment

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 I. Course Catalog Description

This course provides 3rd year Landscape Architecture students with a broad introduction
into 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and modeling
with a focus on construction, landscape architecture, and site design specific
applications.

II. Learning Objectives

To expose students to comprehensive introduction into the world of Computer-Aided

Design (CAD). Students will start with the basics, learning why CAD is important in
today’s world and where it is currently being leveraged for design. Students will study
the basic functionality and commands of Autodesk’s AutoCAD software. Simple vector
drawing, unit scaling, and the import of spatial data will also be reviewed. Students will
complete independent lab assignments and a final project to solidify their introduction
into drafting.

III. Learning Outcomes

 Students will learn the basics of AutoCAD.

 Students will learn how to import and export data from AutoCAD.
 Students will learn how to properly scale drawings and organize layers/references.
 Students will learn how to create layers and properly interact with them.
 Students will learn how to use CAD for landscape design.
 Some students will learn intermediate and advanced concepts, depending on previous
experience.
 Students will be exposed to the CAD industry and learn where to find resources.
 Students will be exposed to the future of Computer Aided Drafting.

IV. Required Textbook & Supplemental Reading

There are no required textbooks for this class. All readings will be supplied in class, by
the instructor. See homework in section VI for more information.

It is recommended that all students purchase a 1TB external hard drive for project data.
This hard drive will be used daily for the students benefit, helping ensure project
organization and data fidelity.

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 Students will need access to Autodesk’s AutoCAD 2017/2018. Functionality of this
software will be reviewed in class. Autodesk software is freely available to all students
with ASURITE accounts and can be installed on personal computers. The lab will have
Autodesk’s AutoCAD software installed, however it is recommended that all students
have personal copies at their disposal. Due to assignments needing this software, the
easier it is to access, the better. This software is imperative for the student’s success in
the class.

CAD software requires moderate processing power from computers. Be warned that
some machines might not be compatible with the new software or might have difficulties
processing data sets. It is recommended that all students install and test Autodesk’s
AutoCAD software prior to the start of the class.

V. Grading

Grades will be assigned to students, according to the following scales and performance
characterizations. “A” grades indicate superior performance, significantly exceeds
expectations, and requirements. “B” grades indicate very good performance and meets
professional expectations of competent performance. “C” grades indicate good
performance and meets minimally acceptable professional performance standards. “D”
grades indicate poor, marginal, and not professionally acceptable. “E” grades indicate
unacceptable or irresponsible performance.

 A+, between 98 – 100%

 A, between 93 - < 97%
 A-, between 90 - < 93%
 B+, between 87 - < 90%
 B, between 83 - < 87%
 B-, between 80 - < 83%
 C+, between 77 - < 80%
 C, between 70 - < 77%
 D, between 60 - < 70%
 E, <60%

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VI. Assignments

 Class Attendance – 50% (500 points out of 1000 total class points)

Due to the complexity and speed of information being passed to the students,
attendance is mandatory. Attendance will be taken weekly. Throughout the semester
two unsanctioned absences are allowed. Excused absences related to religious
observances/practices that are in accord with ACD 304–04 and excused absences
related to university sanctioned events/activities that are in accord with ACD 304–02
will also be permitted upon request. If the student misses’ additional classes, they
will automatically loose points towards their final class attendance grade. Attendance
in this class is worth 25% of your final grade (250 points). Each absence, more than
two, will result in a 10% reduction from the total points possible. No exceptions will
be made for students.

 Homework – 25% (250 points out of 1000 total class points)

Most weeks students will complete independent reading and lab assignments.
Weekly readings will correspond to lectures and other topics being explored in the
class. These assignments are not intended to be long or tedious, rather they will focus
the benefits of utilizing GIS applications in environmental design. The selected texts
should be fun and give students a wide exposure to different aspects of GIS.
Assignments are submitted through Canvas. Questions are due at the beginning of
the first class each week. This class has a total of 10 weekly homework assignments.
Each assignment is worth a total of 25 points. Each day an assignment is submitted
late will result in a 10% reduction from the total points possible. No exceptions will
be made for students.

 Final CAD Project – 25% (250 points out of 1000 total class points)

At the end of the semester each student will submit a professional CAD project for
review. Each student will design a unique site plan of a local area in Tempe.
Students will use basic drafting skills to complete a rough sketch of a proposed
renovation for this local geography.

In addition to the final presentation, graduate students will be required to submit a 5

to 8 page paper supplementing what they turn in for the final project. The paper will
include further research on the subjects presented in this class.

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VII. Attendance

See section VI above for details.

VIII. Academic Integrity

Academic honesty is expected of all students in all examinations, papers, laboratory

work, academic transactions and records. The possible sanctions include, but are not
limited to, appropriate grade penalties, course failure (indicated on the transcript as a
grade of E), course failure due to academic dishonesty (indicated on the transcript as a
grade of XE), loss of registration privileges, disqualification and dismissal. For more
information, see http://provost.asu.edu/academicintegrity.

If you fail to meet the standards of academic integrity in any of the criteria listed on the
university policy website, sanctions will be imposed by the instructor, school, and/or
dean. Academic dishonesty includes borrowing ideas without proper citation, copying
others’ work (including information posted on the internet), and failing to turn in your
own work for group projects. Please be aware that if you follow an argument closely,
even if it is not directly quoted, you must provide a citation to the publication, including
the author, date and page number. If you directly quote a source, you must use quotation
marks and provide the same sort of citation for each quoted sentence or phrase. You may
work with other students on assignments, however, all writing that you turn in must be
done independently. If you have any doubt about whether the form of cooperation you
contemplate is acceptable, ask the TA or the instructor in advance of turning in an
assignment. Please be aware that the work of all students submitted electronically can be
scanned using SafeAssignment, which compares them against everything posted on the
internet, online article/paper databases, newspapers and magazines, and papers submitted
by other students (including yourself if submitted for a previous class).

Note: Turning in an assignment (all or in part) that you completed for a previous class is
considered self-plagiarism and falls under these guidelines. Any infractions of self-
plagiarism are subject to the same penalties as copying someone else’s work without
proper citations. Students who have taken this class previously and would like to use the
work from previous assignments should contact the instructor for permission to do so.

IX. Student Conduct

Learning takes place best when a safe environment is established in the classroom.
Students enrolled in this course have a responsibility to support an environment that
nurtures individual and group differences and encourages engaged, honest discussions.

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 The success of the course rests on your ability to create a safe environment where
everyone feels comfortable to share and explore ideas. We must also be willing to take
risks and ask critical questions. Doing so will effectively contribute to our own and others
intellectual and personal growth and development. We welcome disagreements in the
spirit of critical academic exchange, but please remember to be respectful of others’
viewpoints, whether you agree with them or not.

Students are required to adhere to the behavior standards listed below:

 Student Services Manual on Disruptive

Behavior: www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/ssm/ssm104-02.html
 Dean of Students Policy on Student Rights and
Responsibilities: https://eoss.asu.edu/dos/srr
 Academic Affairs Manual, ACD 125: Computer, Internet, and Electronic
Communications: www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd125.html

Students are entitled to receive instruction free from interference by other members of the
class. If a student is disruptive, an instructor may ask the student to stop the disruptive
behavior and warn the student that such disruptive behavior can result in withdrawal from
the course. An instructor may withdraw a student from a course when the student's
behavior disrupts the educational process under USI 201-10
(http://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/usi/usi201-10.html).

Course discussion messages should remain focused on the assigned discussion topics.
Students must maintain a cordial atmosphere and use tact in expressing differences of
opinion.

Inappropriate discussion board messages may be deleted if an instructor feels it is

necessary. Students will be notified privately that their posting was inappropriate. Student
access to the course Send Email feature may be limited or removed if an instructor feels
that students are sending inappropriate electronic messages to other students in the
course.

X. Disability Resource Center

Student Support and Disability Accommodations: Students who believe they have a
current and essential need for disability accommodations are responsible for requesting
accommodations and providing qualifying documentation to the DRC at:
http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/ed/drc/. If you are a student in need of special
arrangements, we will do all we can to help, based on the recommendations of these
services.

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XI. Harassment

Harassment (Title IX): Title IX is a federal law that provides that no person be excluded
on the basis of sex from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any education program or activity. Both Title IX and university
policy make clear that sexual violence and harassment based on sex is prohibited. An
individual who believes they have been subjected to sexual violence or harassed on the
basis of sex can seek support, including counseling and academic support, from the
university. If you or someone you know has been harassed on the basis of sex or sexually
assaulted, you can find information and resources
at https://sexualviolenceprevention.asu.edu/faqs.

As a mandated reporter, I am obligated to report any information I become aware of

regarding alleged acts of sexual discrimination, including sexual violence and dating
violence. ASU Counseling Services, https://eoss.asu.edu/counseling, is available if you
wish to discuss any concerns confidentially and privately.

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