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Access | Accounts | Grid Computing | Ethics | Ergonomics | Hardware | LarcStudents Email | Other LA Programs | Printing | Reflectors | Software | Technology Fees | University Accounts | Wireless | Last edited January 30, 2008 8:51 AM

Digital Studio

The Plant Sciences Building opened in November 1996 with an exciting computer studio environment for the Landscape Architecture Program. Each student in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year's studios of the program has 24-hour access to his or her own computer workstation and drafting table. Students in the 1st year share twenty computer / drafting table stations. Student stations include a drafting table, chair, parallel rule, and computer table with computer and monitor. Each computer is equipped with a variety of software programs as well as full Internet access. Each student station is also connected to a Local Area Network that allows shared resources (plotters, printers, scanner, etc.). Individual computers for each student in the 2nd 3rd and 4th year studios provide unparalleled opportunities to integrate digital technology into the curriculum. The technology-rich environment of the program enables the program to explore new and rapidly changing areas in landscape architectural education and new and emerging technologies that characterize today's global environment.

Software top

The Digital Studio maintains two categories of software: base software and ancillary software. Base programs are those programs that are universal on all stations and direct instruction is provided in the curriculum. These include Photoshop, Illustrator, AutoCad and AcrGIS. Ancillary programs are those programs that are located on selected computers (teacher stations in each studio or in GIS/CADD Room - generally Station 1 and Station 2).

Hardware top

The Digital Studio provides networked peripherals for studio production. See Josh Thorton for additional information on maintenance, reservations or use policies.
Studio Desktop Computers | Studio Scanners | Studio Printers
Print Room HP 1055 | HP 755 | Large Format Scanner | Color 11x 17 Scanner | 11 x 17 Color Printer
Office 11 x 17 Color Printer

Other
Digital Cameras | Digital Movie Projector | Trimble GPS | Digital Projector | Slide Scanner
See Josh Thorton for information about these.

Access top

Building and Room Access: About a week before the first day of class each of the studio rosters is submitted by Mary Jo to University Building Security. If you did not pre-register please see Mary Jo regarding access to studios and other rooms.

Accounts top

Landscape Architecture Program Computer Account: To establish a computer account to work in the Digital Studios and the GIS/Cadd Room go to NRSL Intranet. For issues dealing with Landscape Architecture accounts please contact Josh Thor ton.

University Accounts: To establish any university wide account (email, web) go to OIT.

Ethics and Policy on the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources top

Users of the Digital Studio abide by all University of Maryland policies on the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources. All users should be familiar with

University of Maryland Net Ethics Home Page

University of Maryland Policy on the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources

If you have any questions please contact David Myers, Director Digital Studio

Larcstudents Email top

The program maintains a common listserve that includes all faculty, staff, and registered larc studio students. Announcements, job advertisements, and other information are distributed electronically to students via this email. We use your umd email address but are happy to add additional email addresses if they are provided and if they work. All nonworking non-umd emails will be deleted. Students are responsible for forwarding emails from your umd account to any other email provider (gmail, yahoo, etc.) If you are not receiving emails from the listserve, would like to modify, delete or add an email (gmail, yahoo, etc.) to this listserve, please contact David Myers, Director Digital Studio.

Technology Fees top

The Digital Studio is primarily funded through fees assessed with studio courses. Students in the first three semester studios (LARC 120, 140, and 141) are assessed $200 per studio. Once admitted in the Landscape Architecture Program, students are assessed $300 per studio (LARC 240, 340, 341, 440, and 471). Additional financial support comes from the Department, College, University and friends and alums of the Landscape Architecture Program. Students who take LARC 471 in the Sustainable Futures program are also assessed a $300 technology student fee.

University wide, Technology Fees (STF) are assessed from all undergraduate and graduate stundets. Starting for "FY05 and FY06, full-time undergraduate and graduate students pay $84 and part-time students pay $42. In FY07, the STF will increase to $88.10 per year for full-time students and $44 per year for part-time."For more information see STF website Each spring semester the Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture submits requests to the college for consideration. "Student input is critical in the allocation process of student technology fee funds. All proposals for expenditures of student fees must have student input prior to approval." - from Implementation Plan

Other Landscape Architecture Programs Digital Environments top

• Cornell
• GSD at Harvard
• NC State
• Penn State Stuckeman Center for Design Computing
• Rhode Island School of Design
• Rutgers
• UMASS
• UPENN Design Center
• University of Virginia
• Virginia Tech

Wireless top

1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year studios are equipped with wireless network access. To connect to the wireless network, open a web browser on the wireless device. Your browser will be automatically directed to a network User Login page. Use your directory ID and password to authenticate yourself to the wireless network.

For more information on using the wireless network see Mobile at Maryland (MAM) or OIT Wireless Network Registration.

Grid Computing

The Digital Studio is participating in Condor, a grid computing project with UMIACs. This program uses spare computing cycles on your computers when you are not using it, similar to the SETI project.

Reflectors

The University of Maryland reflector web page is https://reflectors.umd.edu/

Printing and Plotting

Printing and plotting are for students enrolled in LARC studio courses and students approved by LARC faculty (work study, TAs, and RAs). LARC faculty are asked to notify Director Digital Studio when allowing a student plotting and printing priveleges. All plotting and printing is restricted to university related activities. The commercial use of the printers and plotters is strictly forbidden. Friends/spouses of users are not allowed to use plotters and printers.

As of Fall Semester 2005 we are tracking printing and plotting using PCounter.   We currently are testing the system and will be monitoring print usage more closely than in the past.  The system is currently set up with the following pricing:

8.5” x 11” B&W page                                      $0.10
11” x 17” B&W page                                       $0.20
Multiplier for double sided printing                  1.5
Multiplier for color printing                             3
Plotting, per square foot, color or B&W         $1.00

You should see a $ icon in your system tray on the bottom left of your monitor that will give you your current printing balance.  We have it set up so that you have a starting balance of $0, and print jobs are subtracted from your starting balance, so your balance will be a negative number.

For example, an 11” x 17” single sided color print is valued at $0.60 ($0.20 x 3), an 8.5” x 11” double sided color print is $0.45 ($0.10 x 1.5 x 3), and an ARCH D (24” x 36”) plot is $6.00.