LANDesign

Ease of use and power do not usuallly co-exist well in computer programs. Somehow, as the work to be done gets difficult and more complicated, the way you use the program gets difficult and complicated too. But that is not the way LANDesign works. LANDesign is the coordinate geometry program to use for any surveying, land planning, site design, road layout or civil project. LANDesign and your Macintosh® computer will make even the toughest jobs almost fun.

If you purchase LANDesign directly from COMPUneering you get a one-month money-back guarantee. LANDesign can't eliminate field work, but making it easy to make sense out of all that data is what LANDesign does best.

Some of the latest features and options include: DXF export (optional), import from data collectors (optional) and import pictures for background display.

LANDesign: professional problem solver

LANDesign is a COGO (coordinate geometry) program designed for use by Professional Surveyors, Civil Engineers, Land Planners, Architects, Archaeologists and others involved in land development & division, boundary reconstruction, road layout and mapping.

It will help you solve your everyday problems in ways you only dreamed of before. It is the first surveying program designed to utilize the power, the accuracy, and most importantly, the ease of use of the Macintosh®.

Surveying made easier

LANDesign was created specifically for the Macintosh computer. It is NOT a program written for some other system and moved to the Macintosh. It takes full advantage of the Macintosh's hierarchical pulldown menus, dialog boxes, mouse, multiple windows and interactive graphics (e.g. the ability to set and move points, lines, curves, etc. by pointing and clicking). It is the first program in its price range to do this.

All information is displayed graphically (and optionally numerically) as you enter it.

All of LANDesign's functions prompt you for the proper data as needed. No more memorization of cryptic commands and keys sequences. When you finish your data input you already have a plot because it was created as you worked.

Designed to work the way you work

LANDesign allows the user to add or move points with the mouse and/or keyboard. All conventional COGO features are supported.

The program supports bearing-bearing, bearing-distance, and distance-distance intersections, as well as offset intersections and line-curve intersections. Curves can be set by connecting two or three points, by inscribing betweent tangents, or by specifying the parameters in various combinations.

Boundaries (lots, blocks, parcels, sections, etc.) can be created by pointing and clicking to select the appropriate lines, curves and points to define a closed figure. As points and lines are moved (or curves adjusted) the area enclosed in a boundary is automatically computed and re-displayed.

Avoid wear & tear on the digits

You don't always have to type in numbers when you want to enter a value. Dozens of entry codes, formats, and formulas are understood. These codes and formats help avoid roundoff errors as well.

Objects

There are five types of objects: points, lines, circular curves, boundaries (lots), and field traverses. Each object can have a number, group number, name, description, etc. Objects may be cleared, cut, copied, pasted, duplicated, rotated, translated, renumbered, renamed, etc. Object know what other objects they are related to.

Double-clicking on an object allows you to change its characteristics. Points, lines and curves can be selected and assigned different shades and colors; lines and curves can have various thicknesses. Lines may be dashed in a variety of styles.

Every object has a label which cna be moved, resized, and rotated. You can choose what (if anything) should appear in each label.

Points

A point represents three-dimensional coordinates and other information that you attach to it. A point's symbol size and style are user-controllable. Point data can be listed in a separate text window.

You can enter points by various methods, such as by entering coordinates, sideshot readings, or bearings & distances from existing points. Points can be set at intersection locations. You can use the mouse to set a point. Data may be read from a file as well.

Points may be cut, copied, pasted, duplicated, etc. Points can be added along a bearing or a curve.

You can move points by various methods, such as by specifying a distance and direction or by a relative or absolute amount towards an existing point. Points may be rotated, flipped, dragged, and aligned.

Boundless boundaries

Boundaries can be defined and changed, with dynamic display of area and perimeter. A boundary consists of a closed path of lines and/or curves. The area enclosed by a boundary can be shaded or colored.

You can automatically set areas in boundaries by sliding or pivoting a side. A simple subdivision can be designed in just a couple of minutes.

Traverses the easy way

Any number of traverses are allowed in each document. Any number of legs are allowed in each traverse. Various types are allowed: closed loop, closed, and open. Various angle types are allowed: azimuth, bearing, angle right, deflection angle.

Field traverses (and sideshots) can be computed and adjusted using traditional methods. The traverse is displayed graphically as you enter the field data. No more trying to imagine what the field crew did. No more time-consuming plots by the dratsman.

When the traverse is entered and adjusted you can see what has been done. If the scale doesn't show all the detail you need, you can zoom in (or out). You don't have to guess what is appropriate, nor do you have to wait for a plotter to completely redraw what you just computed. Legs can be edited, deleted, or added in spreadsheet format. The spreadsheet can list whatever you want it to list; just take your pick:

Flexible simplicity with safety

Most operations on objects are undo-able and redo-able, including cutting, clearing, and moving objects, and traverse adjustment.

All objects can be cut, copied and pasted into the same or other documents within LANDesign, and into other programs that accept PICT.

None of your existing point data (from other computer programs) has to be lost since LANDesign supports import and export of points in a text file format for inclusion in spreadsheets or for brining data into and out of other programs.

Traversed data is protected (locked) so that points in the traverse cannot be moved accidentally. All other points and lines can be moved with a click and drag of the mouse.

See it your way

Set scales and origin to any desired values. You can even have a distorted scale (i.e. different scales horizontally and vertically). Zoom in or out any number or times.

Objects may be colored, shaded, and made various thicknesses.

Avoid verbose overdose

The user has complete control over what is (or is not) printed and displayed for all objects including the traverses. You choose what you want to see in the label of each point, line, curve, boundary, or traverse, or groups of the same.

You can mix the display of data so that each point, line, etc. can have different types of information displayed. Of course you can "show all" or "hide all" data at the click of a mouse.

Radial stakeout

Radial stakeout of points by various criteria is yours for the asking. The display includes angle right, direct distance, plus chainage, and offset distance.

More than one way to print a plot

LANDesign allows printing on the ImageWriter, ImageWriter II (in color), and LaserWriter® (both the original and the whole family of LaserWriter II's). Drawings can easily be plotted with the aid of a package such as MacPlot™ on most popular pen plotters. The graphics and text are all vecctor, as opposed to bitmap, making for smooth results on high-resolution output devices.

The units of measure are your choice

LANDesign is used worldwide. You can change units at any time, choosing froma combination of various English and metric units, such as feet, varas, mm,etc.

All numbers are optionally accompanied by your choice of units. Everything is automatically and instantly converted when you change units.

Precise calculations with flexible format

All numbers are stored and calculated with 15 decimal digit precision ("double precision"). All numberes can be displayed in your choice of numerical formats (decimal or scientific), with any number of digits appearing.

The windows have the answers

Open up to nine windows per open document. One contains the drawing, some have tables, and the rest accept or display text for various purposes. You can scroll through, move, and resize all windows.

Create reports and documentation

You can create documentation, reports, applications for permits, etc. combining the graphics and texts that are created by the program. To do this at any time, you need only copy the desired diagram or text to the Clipboard, then paste into most other applications or into the Scrapbook. Or simply print it directly.

System requirements are easy too

Any Macintosh or Mac OS made in the past ten or fifteen years, though it requires Classic mode under Mac OS X.

Deed plotting is part and parcel

You can enter deed descriptions in various ways; the data appears as you enter it. Edit any one line's bearing and distance in one step: this automatically adjusts the other points and lines. Check for closure, area enclosed, etc.; the information appears graphically as well as in text. You can also have the informatin appear in a separate text window.

Import data and grapics

Import point data from ASCII (TEXT) files, including some that come from data collectors. Data may consist of coordinates or bearings and distances, as well as many other fields.

Direct input of raw data in various formats from data collectors is planned for release as an optional feature.

PICT files can be imported. The picture will then appear in the background, and can be scaled and moved. You can then trace over what you see, or simply use it to help guide you in your design.

Export graphics

LANDesign allows data o be saved in its native file format, as well as in PICT ( and optionally DXF) for export to AutoCAD®, or virtually any other CAD package that supports an appropriate standard file format.

This allows you to add north arrows, title blocks, notes, tables, etc. or other information to enhance the graphics produced with LANDesign.

Data and graphics may be exported either via a file or the Clipboard.

Another option allows you to export graphics in CGDEF format for use by the GIS program MapGrafix™; precise coordinate information is not lost in the translation.

Export data

You can save the contents of any of the text windows as a standard text file, which can then be opened by any word processor or spreadsheet program. Exported point lists can be used for creating contour maps and terrain models in programs such as GeoView™ or MacGRIDZO™.

LANDesign reviewed - MacUser Magazine - September '89:

[LANDesign was awarded 4-1/2 mice out of 5 in this review.]

"LANDesign...a versatile land-surveying program... The program lets surveyors operate within the program in ways they worked before they had a Mac to help them.

"The interface is complete and intuitive - even new Mac users should be able to use LANDesign immediately.

"The program is intelligent... I was particularly impressed by the excellent design of the interface and overall elegance of this very complex program."

Demos available

A demonstration package is available. Please call 905-738-4601 for information.

Price and money-back guarantee

The basic price is US$595, or CDN$695. Optional features are available for an additonal fee. Shipping is extra; call for details.