May 12, 2024
AI: Just one more tool in the tool box
As a landscape design-build business owner, HGTV media personality and STIHL USA brand ambassador, Sara Bendrick has been exposed to a lot of new technologies and has observed how the ‘landscape’ of the landscape industry has evolved over her past 12 years in the profession. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerging in all sectors, Bendrick shares her perspectives on working with technology, where it might be helpful and what it can’t replace.
AI in the landscape
Design is maybe one of the most obvious ways to think of AI being used in the landscape profession. There are various websites, apps and digital tools that anyone from a child to a DIY’er to a professional can use to help imagine a new design for a space. In fact, there are some AI programs specifically for designing building exteriors and surrounding landscapes. While the learning curve can be intimidating, it can be quite fun to see what AI can dream up for your space.
After experimenting with a few programs myself, I did not find the AI designs to be too relevant in terms of turning those ideas into buildable spaces… yet. However, I did find that it generated new ways of looking at the space that I had not considered, which could be an interesting way to design with AI input.
In my personal opinion, I think clients playing with AI might pose a challenge to the design process, since they might come up with something unrealistic. I believe a ‘less is more’ focus, based on the realities of the space, is sometimes better, but many AI-generated designs are not specific enough to the unique site location. They don’t usually consider the microclimates, soils type, mature plant sizes and spacing, functional circulation, and other logistical concerns that a professional designer would notice.
For professionals on the other hand, I see AI as an extremely useful tool to have on your side. AI can be a quick way to enhance, colour and texturize your professional drawings for clients. Drawings that used to take hours to draft can be sped up with the help of AI to sell the ideas you're trying to share. The biggest difference between a DIY homeowner using AI and a professional is the professional can contribute useful userdefined parameters to hone the design into something that is realistic to the space.
There are a handful of robust AI software options built into some existing drafting tools that will likely become a new standard in these design settings. However, most of these robust programs also have high subscription costs and steep learning curves so will most likely have limited use outside the licensed landscape architecture or urban planning worlds.
AI in the field
Beyond the drafting desk you can see AI being used in the field. The first AI weedkilling robot was created by Carbon Robotics. It's programmed to recognize weeds smaller than human hands can pick and kill them with a laser. This replaces backbreaking labour, it can work 24/7 and remove or reduce the use of herbicides. One farm claims it does the work of “30 people 24 hours a day” according to a news segment “Click on Detroit” Local 4 News. This technology is paving the way for other AI technologies in the agricultural space. I think we’ll likely see changes in emerging technologies like this in the landscape maintenance world at some point in the future too.
AI in business development
Another popular use of AI technology in the landscape industry is business support and marketing.
From technology that helps you map and estimate projects remotely to chatbot-generated sales support, there are tools that can streamline your business practices. For now, I am hesitant to incorporate a chatbot as my first line of communication as we are a boutique design business and personal touch is something we value… we’ll see if I change my mind in a few years!
One marketing strategy STIHL USA has incorporated is weather-based AI-driven social media marketing. They can push social campaigns in certain geological areas based on weather. For example, why would you want to post about gardening in the middle of a blizzard? It would be an ideal time to promote your snow and ice management services, though. Traditionally, it would be hard to track local weather patterns on a national level, so this AI marketing tool offers an innovative way to navigate sending messages to audiences at relevant times. This seems like a very beneficial way to use AI if you ask me.
From the design desk, to in the field, to business and marketing strategies, we are seeing AI being adopted and tested all around us. I think it will leave an imprint on the landscape industries and change the way we design, build and maintain. Some of it I welcome as a small business owner, and some of it I dread if I am honest. It's hard to be motivated to learn more ‘tricks of the trades’ if your business strategies are already working, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to learn more about AI and other new technologies in the industry that could be helpful — especially if we are on the verge of change.
To learn more about Sara Bendrick, visit her website sarabendrick.com.