Technological Advancements in Visualizing Landscapes Through Virtual Reality

Written by Michael Samarripa, Landscape Designer

From the rudimentary cave paintings of our ancestors to the sophisticated computer-aided designs of today, the tools we use to communicate and visualize ideas have continually evolved. Virtual Reality (VR) is one of the newer advancements in visualization technology that can aid project evolution. What sets VR apart from previous visual communication technologies is the technology enables users to be immersed in a fully interactive, virtual environment. This technology has not only captivated gamers around the globe but has transformed our landscape design capabilities.

How VR Visualizes Design

In landscape architecture, conveying the essence of a design can often be challenging through flat, two-dimensional drawings, especially for stakeholders who may not have a background in design principles such as scale, unity, or harmony. VR dramatically changes this dynamic by allowing all stakeholders to experience the proposed environment in a lifelike way. 

Our ability to fully communicate design intent with a client is key in conveying our vision.  Instead of showing a client static concept graphics for a landscape project in a highly formal PowerPoint presentation, we can place them into the design where they can walk through a space and experience it with full autonomy. Our clients can see the first-person scale of trees in the landscape, walk through an urban center to encounter the variety and transitions between spaces, and explore countless different materials, colors, and texture combinations before making decisions. They can even sit and relax on a grass patch overlooking a playground as if preparing for a family picnic. Stakeholders can feel the harmony or lack thereof within the design without ever having to build it. 

Above, you’ll find three renderings for the Sutter Health project in Modesto, CA, where we transformed an adjacent building into a welcoming office & infusion clinic. Utilizing 3D modeling & virtual reality, our team crafted a comfortable courtyard & conducted detailed site analyses to optimize design decisions based on sun shadows and microclimates, ensuring the space met diverse needs and project specifications.

VR Allows for Immersive Iteration of Design

VR not only aids in client communication but also enhances the design development process. It allows our landscape architects to experiment with elements of space, scale, and order in real-time, providing immediate feedback. This supports better placemaking because we can reflect and refine based on dynamic changes. This immersive interactive process, coupled with our ability to showcase key design elements, more effectively serves society and maximizes the value of built environments. 

Design Takes Priority

It’s important to acknowledge a VR model is a tool to convey and aid; design must come first. We must be cautious not to let the VR model overshadow the design process, as this can lead to a shallow concept. It's our responsibility to remain aware of this risk.

Visual Alternatives to VR

While VR models present us with immense value in the design process, we recognize not every project will have the schedule, budget, and resources to adopt this technique. One way we can address this is by focusing on smaller segments of a project to make VR more accessible and feasible while using a less costly 3D modeling program for larger segments. Effectively coupling these technologies has the potential to produce efficiencies that offset initial development costs. Taking it a step further, perhaps VR and 3D modeling could not only be part of the design and communication process but part of the construction document process as well. 

For example, Revit is a 3D modeling program that integrates the construction documentation process into one powerful program. It also utilizes metadata to incorporate the cost of materials. Imagine a scenario where, when our landscape architects change the texture of a seat wall from concrete to a masonry veneer. The cost of that material change can be examined not only aesthetically by using VR goggles but cost-effectively through the use of the embedded metadata associated with this material change.  

VR is more than a novel tool; it’s a transformative medium that enhances how we communicate, design, and experience landscapes. As landscape architects, our goal is to evoke emotions and create meaningful spaces, and VR helps us achieve this by bringing our visions to life in the most interactive way possible. However, it's the blend of high-tech tools and traditional methods that truly empower us to meet diverse project needs and client expectations effectively. 

Contact our team to learn more about how we implement VR in our landscape architecture projects.

Learn about our landscape architecture experience.

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About the Author

Michael Samarripa is a Landscape Designer at Westwood. He holds a BS in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly and has over 15 years of experience designing parks, playgrounds, trails, streetscapes, and other landscapes. He is especially passionate about the benefits of VR in the landscape architecture profession and enjoys the opportunity to utilize this amazing technology on his projects!