SALEM – The horticulture department is in the process of acquiring new equipment that will expand the scope of instruction for students, according to Stanley Jones, director of the horticulture program at KSU-Salem.
A “plotter” that links to personal computers will enable students to experiment with computer-aided drafting design (CADD) techniques after being limited to hand drawings in the past. Jones explained that the computer aided drafting landscape design approach is the wave of the future.
The plotter allows for the addition of color and an expansion of size. Previously, students used ink markers on an 8 1/2” x 11” hand-drawing and had to use this to represent their design. The new machine accepts designs that are sent to it from the PC, enlarges them to a possible 24” x 36”, which is the industry standard, and prints them out.
Jones described how this machine will help in the bidding process through a database called a “plant pallet” that offers information about the cost and care requirements for the plants used in a given design. This care plan and cost tabulation was a task done by hand before, he said. “Dynoscape” is a separate software program that, after installation on the computers, will work in conjunction with the plotter.
Also, Salem horticulture students can utilize the new blueline printer, which uses a high quality drafting paper called Vellum to print professional blue prints from their own hand-drawn drafts.
Fortunately, the geology department at KSU’s main campus gave some light tables that provide light through materials that are lying on top of it. More visibility allows landscapers to trace the contours of plans and topographical or utility maps. “We’re happy about the cooperation we’ve received from the geology department at Kent,” said Jones.All new drafting tables have been ordered and are on the way, and 4 additional, smaller lighting tables are due at the campus soon.
“This teaches students about general drafting concepts, like line weights, and graphics. They needed to learn that before,” Jones said.
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Ann Marie Stroney shows off the horticulture department's new plotter, above right. Tiffany Kalleker stands next to the blueline printer, above left.
(Photos by Melody Gustafson)
