LAD302 Advanced 3D Tools for Design and Planning

Credits (ECTS):5

Course responsible:Ramzi Hassan

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Limits of class size:Max 25 students, min 10 students

Course frequency:Even numbered years

Nominal workload:Organized teaching includes lectures, computer lab hours, supervision, excursions, reviews is 125 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Autumn parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Autumn parallel,

About this course

This course is for students who have mastered intermediate skills in digital tools and wish to explore new potentials and complications associated with 3D visualizations in interaction with landscape, urban planning, architecture, construction and cultural heritage. The course will offer possibilities to work with various types of technology for design and planning which might include: 3D modelling, 3D visualizations, animation, immersive Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing, Reality Capture, digital storytelling. The emphasis is put on investigation of the added values of using digital tools in design and planning scenarios for enhancing understanding, collaboration and communication. The Virtual Reality Lab (VR-Lab) will offer an arena for testing and experimenting of new ways of knowledge-sharing, increasing collaboration, motivation and engaged learning.

The course is based on a combination of lectures, lab exercises, excursions and group work, with individual or group guidance. The course can be offered according to one of the following models: first approach: Introduction to a specific digitization tool and visualization technique to investigate their potential for design and planning. Examples are BIM for landscape architecture, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Artificial Intelligence. Second approach: Students will have the opportunity to try a 3D visualization method or other digital tool in a case to explore different aspects and problems with it. Examples of cases are specific task locations in the city and country; there may be reconstructions of historic gardens or landscapes; or it could be to explore future development potential in a location. After being introduced to various weights, the students must explore their topic individually or in groups and identify which approach they choose for the task. Third approach: Collaboration with other courses on a specific topic. Following this approach means that students have to follow two courses at the same time. For 2024, the course will be offered based on the third approach. The course will be then offered in collaboration with LAA321 course. Students will have access to the VR lab to test theories and aspects related to the use of 3D digitization tools in design and planning. There will be student presentations along the way to follow up the learning in the subject and for feedback to the students.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: Ability to study, understand and investigate the complications associated with digital tools and 3D visualizations when used in design and planning process through a case study.

Skills: Ability to use and utilize digital visualizations technologies as an interdisciplinary platform for communication, collaboration, and interaction with stakeholders and wide audience.

General competence: The ability to think critically about the use of digital tools for presentation and communication of planning and design scenarios.

  • - Lectures. - Supervision session. - Individual / group project work
  • LAD100, LAA116, LAD202. Or similar competance.
  • Students will present their final project work (report and media production) in a seminar at the end of the course in the presence of an external examiner.

    Assessment criteria is used to measure the accomplishment of the learning outcomes. The following criteria are used to make it clear what factors will be taken into account when making judgements about students’ work/performance:

    • Knowledge: show a sufficient level of factual and conceptual understanding of the subject.
    • Skills: Show evidence and clear awareness of skills to use and apply digital technologies.
    • General competence: Show sufficient level of argumentation, critical engagement, balance discussion, problem-definition and problem-solving.


    Portfolio Grading: Passed / Not Passed
  • External examiner will go through students work, teaching material, final project, course structure and check whether course objectives and learning outcomes are been achieved.
  • Attending lectures + supervision sessions + delivering assignments + presenting final project.
  • There are possibilities that LAD302 course or some topics that we will deal with in the course can be offered in collaboration with other courses at master level. More information is presented at the beginning of the course. For 2024, the course will be offered in collaboration with LAA321 course. Students have to follow the two courses at the same time.
  • The course is based on a combination of lectures, practice hours at computer laboratory or VR-Lab, excursions, and /or individual or group supervision. The course might follow one the of the following three approaches: First approach: Introducing a specific digital tool with the aim to investigate its potentials and relevance for landscape design and /or planning. Student will be challenged to define a problem definition and work on it. Examples includes studying BIM for landscape, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality. Second approach: Introducing a case study based on a real project with the aim to use digital tools and 3D visualizations technologies to understand aspects and problems connected it. Examples includes studying specific urban or landscape location, reconstruction of historical gardens and sites, studying the future development and potentials of a certain site. After being introduced to digital tools and the case study, students are required to investigate the topic individually or in groups and will be asked to identify the approach that they will follow. Third approach: Collaboration with other course on a specific topic. Following this approach means that students will have to follow two courses at once! Students would get access to the VR-Lab to test theories and aspects connected their topics. Group presentations will be scheduled to monitor the development level of investigation work and provide feedback. At the end of the course, students or groups are expected to present the final work and hand-in a description of their work.

    Expected time use: 125 hours.

  • M-LA, M-BYREG, B-LI.
  • Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse)