Landscape Industry Research Articles

A Systematic Review of the Digital Twin Technology in Buildings, Landscape and Urban Environment from 2018 to 2024

Digital Twin (DT) technologies have demonstrated a positive impact across various stages of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Nevertheless, the industry has been slow to undergo digital transformation. The paper utilizes the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach to study a total of 842 papers on the application of DT in buildings, landscapes, and urban environments (BLU) from 2018 to 2024. Based on the research results, suggestions have been made for future research and practical directions. Meanwhile, it provides assistance to BLU’s designers, constructors, managers, and policymakers in establishing their understanding of the digital transformation of the AEC industry. The existing relevant research can be mainly divided into three categories: case study, framework study, and technology study. Compared with the buildings and urban environment industries, the number and depth of research in the landscape industry are relatively low. Through in-depth analysis of BLU projects, three research trends in the future are determined: (1) research and application of DT framework in the design and planning stage; (2) development of design tools and basic theory based on DT model; (3) application and exploration of DT technology in the landscape industry.

Study of the Procurement of Landscape Plant Nurseries in Sukamantri Village Tamansari Sub-district Bogor Regency

Abstract Nurserymen play an important role in the landscape industry by producing and providing plants according to the required specifications. Sukamantri Village is one of the centers of landscape plant production and sales in Bogor Regency. The main problem faced by the nursery is the fluctuating demand for landscape plants, which can cause a shortage or excess of plant stock. This research was conducted in Sukamantri Village, Tamansari Sub-district, Bogor Regency, from November 2022 to February 2023. This study aims to obtain information on the variety of plants in the nurseries and analyze the problems in order to obtain recommendations for the development and sustainability of the nursery. Data obtained through surveys, interviews, and secondary data. They were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using the SWOT approach regarding internal and external factors in the procurement of landscape plants. The results show the variety of plants includes indoor and outdoor ornamental plants, herbal plants, and fruit plant seedlings. The problem faced is the decline in domestic and foreign sales. Some of the recommended strategies include developing human resource skills, improving production technology, better planning production, promoting on social media, and expanding the market by strengthening networks.

Lifelong Learning Opportunities for Landscape Architecture Bachelor's Programs: Assessments on Landscape Design Component

Lifelong Learning Opportunities for Landscape Architecture Bachelor's Programs: Assessments on Landscape Design Component

Sample Collection for Ganoderma Butt Rot of Palms

Palms are an integral part of the urban landscape in Florida. Ganoderma butt rot of palms, a disease caused by the wood-decaying white-rot fungus Ganoderma zonatum, is one of the major biotic concerns for the landscape industry. The lethal disease is prevalent across palm-growing regions in the US, and all palm species are believed to be susceptible to this fungus. It may take six months to a year for the diseased palm to die once the initial symptoms appear. But with the availability of a disease diagnostic assay, this fungal pathogen can be detected using saw dust samples collected from declining palms, several months before symptoms appear. Collect good quality samples by following these steps and understanding the caveats associated with each step.

Consumer Purchase Likelihood of Landscape Management Pest Scouting Program

The US landscape industry consists of 632,000 businesses with >1 million persons employed in 2022. The most common service that landscape service providers (LSPs) perform is pest management. Over the past 25 years, LSPs have been challenged to adopt more holistic approaches to pest management via the use of nonchemical and less toxic chemical controls. Integrated pest management (IPM), specifically scouting, may be a useful approach for LSPs to manage pests more sustainably and market new services, such as biological control releases. Scant literature is available on LSP scouting practices or consumer acceptance of scouting services. The goal of this study was to determine if IPM-aware consumers were more likely to purchase a scouting program offered by an LSP. An online survey was distributed across the United States through a third-party panel service. The final sample included 928 usable responses. Data were analyzed using a binary logistic regression model. Fifty-seven percent of respondents reported having some knowledge or were very knowledgeable of IPM. Respondents 65 years of age and older were 13.1% points less likely to purchase a scouting service. Education level did not influence purchase likelihood. Consumer knowledge of IPM had a positive influence on the purchase likelihood, respondents with “some knowledge” (5.6%) and “very knowledgeable” (8.6%) were more likely to buy IPM services. Further, if the consumer was open to purchasing the scouting program, it is plausible that they might be more willing to allow an LSP to use a combination of chemical and nonchemical methods to manage pests.

Automated hanging water column for characterizing water retention and hysteresis of coarse‐textured porous media

AbstractModeling and characterizing hysteretic water retention is critical for predicting hydrodynamic behavior in porous media. This is especially true in coarse‐textured media used in geotechnical engineering, greenhouse, and landscape industries, where subtle changes in water status may lead to plant stress. However, based on the traditional hanging water column method, water retention measurements are laborious and time consuming because of the stepwise manual water potential adjustments and wait‐time requirements for equilibrium conditions to develop. Therefore, we designed and fabricated an automated system to collect wetting‐ and drying‐water retention data from coarse porous media. The basic system consisted of (1) a compound pressure transducer (± 70‐cm range) providing both the porous medium's volumetric water content (θ) and matric potential (h) determinations, (2) a 70‐cm linear actuator to vertically position a 50‐mL burette, and (3) a diffuse laser distance sensor positioned by a 10‐cm linear actuator to monitor the burette's vertical position relative to the sample position. This automated system determined the initial drying process beginning with a fully saturated sample (h = 0 cm) and determined subsequent wetting‐ and drying‐water retention curves. Our automated water retention measurements in quartz sand (ASTM C778‐21) exhibited maximum‐ and minimum‐standard deviation in θ of 0.013 and 0.00044 cm3 cm−3, respectively. Parameters of the hysteretic water retention model of quartz sand were characterized using repeated measurements. Results of this research included the creation of an automated water retention system and the well‐characterized hydraulic parameters for the original well‐graded and narrowly sieved particle sizes of quartz sand.

4C Marketing Theory from the Perspective of Horticultural Industry Marketing Strategy Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the market strategy of landscape industry in China. On this basis, by using the methods of literature, case analysis and questionnaire survey, this paper discusses the market strategy that should be adopted by the landscape industry in China, in order to provide some reference for the development of the landscape industry in China. In recent years, with the continuous development of the global economy, the level of science and technology is also constantly improving. People are increasingly pursuing a high quality of life. However, with the rapid development of The Times, human beings' requirements for ecological environment are increasing day by day. Therefore, the whole world is exploring how to improve the level of ecological security in our country. Landscape industry is the basis of human survival and development, but also the basis of human survival and development. Due to historical, cultural, economic and other factors, today's market conditions around the world are not the same, but they have their own unique advantages. Through literature research on the origin and development history of the horticulture industry, this paper finds that the horticulture industry is closely related to the development of human society and is closely related to the world's economy, culture, history, art and customs. Today, when the global ecological environment urgently needs to be improved, the landscape industry has been paid more and more attention worldwide. At present, the world has begun to pay attention to the benefits of landscaping on the human body, and carried out a variety of research on landscaping treatment, after the epidemic was raging around the world in 2020, people's yearning for natural life has become stronger. With the development of scientific research, people have attached importance to the beautification and healing effect of horticulture, The attention to ecological environment is the inevitable trend of the development of human society. In the garden, he also became more sophisticated. It is no longer just a natural exploration, but a government-led national architecture strategy, as well as an industry dominated by the elite, its emergence and popularity, so that more home garden fans can enjoy the beauty of nature to bring them. In this context, with the wide spread of the concept of "home garden", the development of Chinese landscape architecture has entered a new stage. Therefore, for the development prospects of the landscape industry, how to use market strategies to promote the development of the landscape industry and improve the influence of the industry, especially for the development of the landscape industry, has positive significance for the development of the landscape industry. By means of questionnaire survey, this paper studies the influencing factors of consumers' purchasing behavior of garden commodities, and integrates with the 4C market theory. Taking Hongyue Garden as an example, this paper conducts an empirical study on the company's market strategy, finds out the advantages and disadvantages of the company in the market, and hopes to bring some references to other garden companies. So as to better promote the development of the landscape industry.

Paclobutrazol and maleic hydrazide-induced growth inhibition in warm season turfgrasses through structural and physiological differences

Warm season turfgrasses are fast growing and require frequent mowing, which increases maintenance cost. Various plant growth retardants are used to reduce the growth and required amount of mowing of turfgrasses. Therefore, the present study was planned to explore the impact of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and maleic hydrazide (MH) on the growth rate and quality of warm season turfgrasses. Four turfgrasses were grown in pots at research area, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan. Paclobutrazol (PBZ) and Maleic Hydrazide at 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.04% levels were applied through foliar application with three repeats in CRD arrangement. The data of growth, quality and anatomical attributes were evaluated. The results showed significant differences in growth and the quality of turfgrasses in response to different levels of plant growth retardants. PBZ application at 0.04% maximum reduced fresh (26%, 35%, 25%) and dry (45%, 54%, 34%) weights of shoot, root and clippings respectively in Fine Dacca turfgrass. Additionally, PBZ application decreased the amount of mowing (40%) compared to control. Fine Dacca also produced the highest visual quality turf with maximum Chlorophyll a (46.87%) and Chlorophyll b (60%) in comparison to nontreated turfgrasses. The minimum number and density of stomatal and mesophyll cells by 45%, 47% were also recorded in Fine Dacca at PBZ (0.04%) with respect to control. It is concluded that PBZ at 0.04% could be used to reduce the amount of mowing in warm season turfgrasses, which will decrease the cost of lawn maintenance and support the landscape industry.

Perceptions of organic practices among turfgrass professionals in Louisiana

Landscape contractors are increasingly interested in organic products for Louisiana’s residential and commercial turfgrass areas. However, the use, motivations, and barriers to adopting organic practices in the commercial turfgrass and landscape industry sector are not well documented. This study examined the perceptions of organic landscaping practices among members of the Louisiana Turfgrass Association. The study’s participants were primarily men aged 31 to 60, with six to 25 years of landscaping experience. Most turfgrass professionals were applying organic fertilizers and believed future organic product use would increase due to consumer demands and potential governmental regulation. Turfgrass professionals responded that they understood the USDA definition of organic but were less familiar with Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) labeling. Greater efficacy and access to organic products coupled with increased extension and educational efforts may increase Louisiana turfgrass professionals’ choices to adopt organic practices; however, more research is needed to better understand the adoption processes at play.

Lean, green, and smart manufacturing: An ingenious framework for enhancing the sustainability of operations management on the shop floor in industry 4.0

In the present competitive landscape industry, individuals have emphasized fulfilling the consumer needs in available resources and limited constraints. However, the industry individuals face several problems in achieving operational efficiency. These problems include ergonomics issues, environmental waste, work processes waste, inobservance on the shop floor, and workers’ apathy. The operations management teams use various approaches to improve operational excellence on the shop floor, including lean manufacturing, smart manufacturing, green manufacturing, and artificial neural network. These approaches are used to enhance productivity by eliminating problems in the operations management on the shop floor. The present research aims to develop a framework for improvement in operational excellence and sustainability in operations management on the shop floor in an industry 4.0 environment using lean, green, and smart manufacturing concepts. In the study, a strategic ergonomics assessment and environmental assessment have been used to assess working and operational performance on the shop floor. The adaptability of the developed framework has been investigated by implementing it in mining machinery manufacturing industry. The framework has been developed with insights gained from previous research, industry individuals, and brainstorming analysis on problems faced in operations management on the shop floor in industry 4.0 working environment. The novelty of the present study lies in the fact that no model has been developed for achieving operational excellence on the shop floor in industry 4.0 using the smart, lean green manufacturing concept. The developed framework significantly improved productivity by 85%, improved machinery utilization by 21%, reduced production time by 65%, reduced manufacturing defects by 96%, and production cost by 75%. The present research work strongly believe that the developed model would benefit industry individuals in enhancing sustainability in operational excellence on the shop floor in industry 4.0 environment by establishing a more competent and cleaner working environment with available resources.

Telescopic handlers: applications, challenges and scope

Telescopic Handlers, also known as Telehandlers or teleporters or boom lifts are small human-operated machines extensively used by the agricultural, construction and landscaping industries. Different types of attachments are being used with these telehandlers which make them extremely versatile, safe, swift and costumer friendly. They prove out to be very efficient when used with various attachments designed as per the market requirements. Common attachments include forks, lifting jibs, man-basket or work platforms, buckets etc which are attached to the telescopic boom of the telehandlers as per use. However, these attachments should be chosen with utmost care keeping in mind that it does not pose any threat on the operation safety. While, these telehandlers have numerous advantages and applications, they also have certain limitations which slightly restricts their use in some cases. The present work is a review on telescopic handlers, their applications, limitations and future scope of research on their improvement to expand the domain of the usage.

텍스트 마이닝 분석을 통한 조경시공 연구경향 분석

This study aimed to derive research trends related to the landscape construction field from various academic journals published in Korea from 1980 to 2022 by using text mining techniques. Research trends were analyzed through VOSviewer, the big data analysis program, and focused on keywords for landscape construction. As a result, first, a total of 226 research papers related to landscape construction showed a gradual increase by an average annual average of 5.8. This is caused by the increase landscaping-related various academic journals since the 1980s, and the increase in research opportunities on landscape construction, methods of construction, and materials due to the expansion of the landscape industry. Second, as a result of analyzing co-occurrence keywords related to landscape construction, it appeared in the order of Plant, Management, Improvement, Species, etc. In addition, as a result of network analysis, it was classified into four research clusters: (1) Post-management and Function improvement, (2) Plant and Plant growth environment, (3) Space and Usability, and (4) Constructability and Economy. Third, as a result of analyzing the field of landscape construction based on the passage of time, the research trend of the field of landscape construction tends to embrace various topics. However, in the future, research on landscaping construction and maintenance smart technology in the era of the 4th industrial revolution, as well as the development of materials and construction methods considering climate change, will be more necessary. This study is meaningful in that it analyzed the research trend related to the landscape construction field in detail through bibliographic analysis for the first time in Korea. In addition, it is meaningful as fundamental data for deriving the developmental research direction in the landscape construction field in consideration of the social paradigm and technological trends changing in the landscape architecture industry.

Dandelion segmentation with background transfer learning and RGB-attention module

Automatic weed control using weeding robots has arisen as a promising alternative for reducing the amount of herbicide applied in the agriculture and landscaping industry. Dandelion detection is a challenging task for weeding robots. To obtain accurate dandelion segmentation results, a multi-category segmentation dataset is converted into a binary segmentation dataset to learn the difference between background and foreground, which is referred to as background transfer learning. This method can help us use different datasets to overcome the problem of dandelion segmentation in a complex background environment. In addition, the color space information of the dandelion images with concentrated colors is aggregated in convolutional networks. Inspired by the attention mechanism in the neural network, we design a color-attention module to learn the weight of each color space. In this way, the color information is used to segment the dandelion. By combining background transfer learning and color-attention module methods, the dandelion segmentation method can effectively segment the dandelion with a satisfactory accuracy rate. The results of ablation experiments show that for the input images of different colors, the method proposed in this paper can learn different attention information. The proposed method can be used in agricultural and landscape industry weeding.

Laboratory-Scale Study on the Effects of Freezing in Soils when Subjected to Different Moisture Content

This study was undertaken to investigate how soil characteristics and moisture content impact the freezing process in soils that are common in Georgia, United States. Three soil types (sand, loam, clay loam) with a water content of 30% or 40% field capacity were subjected to temperatures of −1.0 °C, −1.5 °C and −2.0 °C, respectively, in a freezing chamber. The three soil types revealed unique freezing profiles at both 30% and 40% field capacity. In general, all soil types at 40% field capacity remained at higher temperatures for longer periods of time compared to the same soil type at 30% field capacity. The loam soil at 40% WHC (water holding capacity) took the longest time to reach all four threshold temperatures. Both the soil texture and amount of water available for freezing affected the time each soil and water combination took to reach the threshold temperatures. These results have practical implications for the ornamental landscape industry and gardeners in subtropical climates where annual flowers are commonly grown in winter color beds. Since subfreezing soil temperatures are not as common in subtropical areas as they are in more northern climates, especially in recent decades, it would be worthwhile to examine the impact of additional factors such as organic content and nutrition on freezing processes in subtropical soils.

First Report of Phytophthora nicotianae Causing Dianthus chinensis Root Rot and Foliage Blight in China.

Dianthus chinensis is a popular ornamental plant that is widely cultivated in China. From May 2020 to 2021, root rot and foliage blight were observed on approximately 50% groundcover plants at several landscape sites of Xuanwuhu Park and Nanjing Railway Station, China. Symptoms of wilting and chlorosis appeared in the initial stage, and severe infection caused the whole plant to die . To recover the causal pathogen, infected root and leaf samples were cut into 5×5 mm2 squares, surface-disinfected in 70% ethanol for 30 sec, placed onto 10% clarified V8 PARP agar at 25°C . After three days, Phytophthora-like hyphae were visibly emerged from both root and leaf tissues and growing into cV8A. Individual hyphal tips were transferred to new cV8A plates to obtain a total of 10 pure isolates. Colony morphology of all isolates on cV8A had slightly radiate to stellate patterns with cottony aerial mycelia. After four or five days all isolates had identical morphological traits including papillate and noncaducous sporangia on cV8, hyphal swellings, and intercalary and terminal chlamydospores. A representative isolate Pni-dc7 was examined for morphological measurements. Sporangia were mostly ovoid and sometimes obpyriform, averaging 28.9±5.6 µm in length and 24.9±5.8 µm in width (n=30). Chlamydospores were abundant and spherical with an average diameter at 29.2 ± 0.3 µm (n=30). Oogonia were not observed. For sequence analysis, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene complex were amplified using the primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 and NL1/NL4 , respectively, while the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (coxII) gene was amplified using FM58/FM66 (Martin et al. 2003). The ITS sequence of isolate Pni-dc7 (GenBank Acc. No. MZ519893) had a 100% identity to those of P. nicotianae (MH219914, KU172524, MT065839). The LSU sequence (MZ573547) had a 100% identity to those of P. nicotianae (KX250514, MZ348950, HQ665198).The cox2 sequence (MZ519893) had a 100% identity to those of P. nicotianae (MH221078, KJ506439, JF707072). Based on morphological and molecular evidence, Pni-dc7 was identified as P. nicotianae. Pathogenicity tests were conducted using both detached leaves and whole plants. Asymptomatic leaves were collected from healthy plants.A 5×5 mm2 Pni-dc7-colonized cV8A plug was placed on each wound of five leaves. Sterile agar plugs were used for a non-inoculated control leaf. All six leaves were placed on a wet filter paper in a closed container at 25°C. All inoculated leaves had necrotic tissues around the wounds, the symptoms progressed from spots to the entire leaves after two days . The control leaves remained asymptomatic. In the whole-plant assay, a D. chinensis plant (approx. 0.3 m in height) was inoculated with 5 mL of zoospore suspension that was mixed into the potting soil(500g). Three plants were inoculated and control plants were treated with sterile distilled water. After two weeks all three inoculated plants in three repeats of the assay had root and crown rot and foliage blight, whereas all control plants remained asymptomatic. P. nicotianae was reisolated from all inoculated plants. This is the first report of P. nicotianae causing root rot and foliage blight on D. chinensis in China. Considering the importance of D. chinensis to both ornamental nursery and landscaping industries in China, diseased plants at the landscape sites were removed to prevent the spread of P. nicotianae to production sites and other landscape locations.

Florida Nursery and Landscape Industry Economic Contributions Report

This report summarizes production and marketing practices and trade flows for the Florida ornamental plant grower and dealer firms for 2018. Written by Hayk Khachatryan, Melinda Knuth, Alan Hodges, and Charlie Hall, and published by the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department, February 2022.

New Insights into the Roles of Osmanthus Fragrans Heat-Shock Transcription Factors in Cold and Other Stress Responses

Sweet osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans) is an evergreen woody plant that emits a floral aroma and is widely used in the landscape and fragrance industries. However, its application and cultivation regions are limited by cold stress. Heat-shock transcription factor (HSF) family members are widely present in plants and participate in, and regulate, the defense processes of plants under various abiotic stress conditions, but now, the role of this family in the responses of O. fragrans to cold stress is still not clear. Here, 46 OfHSF members were identified in the O. fragrans genome and divided into three subfamilies on the basis of a phylogenetic analysis. The promoter regions of most OfHSFs contained many cis-acting elements involved in multiple hormonal and abiotic stresses. RNA-seq data revealed that most of OfHSF genes were differentially expressed in various tissues, and some OfHSF members were induced by cold stress. The qRT-PCR analysis identified four OfHSFs that were induced by both cold and heat stresses, in which OfHSF11 and OfHSF43 had contrary expression trends under cold stress conditions and their expression patterns both showed recovery tendencies after the cold stress. OfHSF11 and OfHSF43 localized to the nuclei and their expression patterns were also induced under multiple abiotic stresses and hormonal treatments, indicating that they play critical roles in responses to multiple stresses. Furthermore, after a cold treatment, transient expression revealed that the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of OfHSF11-transformed tobacco significantly increased, and the expression levels of cold-response regulatory gene NbDREB3, cold response gene NbLEA5 and ROS detoxification gene NbCAT were significantly inhibited, implying that OfHSF11 is a negative regulator of cold responses in O. fragrans. Our study contributes to the further functional characterization of OfHSFs and will be useful in developing improved cold-tolerant cultivars of O. fragrans.

Arthropod and Disease Management in Boxwood Production

Abstract Boxwood (Buxus spp.) is the most commonly cultivated woody ornamental shrubs in landscape settings and nursery production. Boxwood is grown for its attractive evergreen foliage and versatility in both formal and informal gardens. Meeting the high demand for boxwood plants worldwide has become challenging in recent years as the boxwood industry has been negatively impacted by a growing number of serious diseases and arthropod pests. Globally, the most common arthropods of concern are boxwood leafminer (Monarthropalpus flavus, Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), boxwood psyllid (Psylla buxi; Hemiptera; Psyllidae), Eurytetranychus buxi (Acari: Tetranychidae) and the invasive moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Moreover, major diseases of boxwood include boxwood blight (Calonectria pseudonaviculata, Hypocreales: Nectriaceae), Volutella blight (Pseudonectria buxi, Hypocreales: Nectriaceae), and Phytophthora root and crown rot (Phytophthora spp., Peronosporales: Peronosporaceae). These pests and diseases can lead to significant economic losses to growers and can decimate plants in landscape settings. Here we have reviewed recent research advances focused on the description and management of boxwood arthropod pests and diseases. Boxwood arthropod pests and diseases can be managed by implementing integrated arthropod pest and disease management strategies such as sanitary and cultural practices, genetic resistant cultivars, biological and chemical control methods. This information is provided to aid nursery producers, landscape industry professionals, and other stakeholders in developing integrated arthropod pest and disease management plans for boxwood.

Florida Nursery and Landscape Industry Characteristics Report

This publication summarizes production, marketing, and trade practices for Florida ornamental growers and dealers based on a 2019 national survey by the Green Industry Research Consortium, a multi-state research project under the USDA-National Institute for Food and Agriculture. The most recent survey collected information on business practices for the fiscal year 2018-2019 in all 50 states.

Understanding Landscape Architecture Industry Needs: A Preliminary Review of Graduates Communication Proficiency Model (CPM)

Communication is a fundamental part of the working environment that comprises interpersonal relations and communication between groups and individuals and other social interactions within the active community. Communication and soft skills have become an important issue due to the lack of study and development, especially in the Landscape Architectural practice. It can be seen that the lack of communication and soft skills by current graduates has affected employability leading to a large quantity of unemployment and lack of advancement within the landscape industry. Hence, to keep up with the current trends of what employers seek within these landscape architecture graduates, it is believed that a paradigm shift in the training of students must take into account the development of Communication Skills within the curriculum to help aid the development of graduate employability skills. A method of assessing communication skills is also required to rate a Landscape Architect’s level of communication competence to further enhance the graduates’ career in the industry.
 Keywords: Soft Skill, Communication Skill, Landscape Architecture, Employability Skills