Eric Gilbey, product marketing manager for the landscape industries at Vectorworks, provides his input on the current state of the landscape industry.
Green Industry Pros: How would you describe the current state of the green industry?
Gilbey: It's clear that the trajectory of the landscape design and planning industry is rapidly evolving. One of the biggest trends we foresee is the increased focus on sustainability, embodied in practices such as carbon sequestration, neutrality and geographic information systems. In particular, designers will be more conscious of where their supplies and products are coming from, and suppliers will need to make data and numbers more available upfront to accommodate this.
Green Industry Pros: What trends have you noticed within the industry?
Gilbey: Additionally, we anticipate a major shift toward data-driven decision-making, with landscape architects and other designers relying more heavily on data to inform their work. This will include incorporating maintenance plans into the entire project planning process, as well as approving water budgets and leveraging technologies like thermal infrared and drone technology.
Another trend to watch in 2024 and beyond will be the rise of AI, which will significantly impact the design industry. As Vectorworks is actively researching how to implement delivering AI rendering and image generation features at the point of use, AI-powered tools will enable designers to create more accurate and efficient designs while also enhancing the overall user experience. With these and other changes on the horizon, it's clear that the design and planning industry is poised for rapid transformation in the years to come.
For more on the current state of the industry, check out these articles below:
- Find a review of 2023 here.
- Learn about top industry trends here.
- Check out what regulations are coming down the road here.
- See what landscape pros' top advice is here.
- Discover what experts' individual takes are in the following Q+As:
- Ditch Witch
- Volvo Construction Equipment
- RedTree Landscape Systems
- Briggs & Stratton
- E&M Landscape Services
- McHale Landscape Design
- See additional commentary on the State of the Industry here.
