UA LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE CHAIR WRITES BOOK ON REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Karen C. Hanna, chair of the landscape architecture department at the University of Arkansas, is the author of a new book, GIS for Land Architects, published by ERSI Press. This is Hanna's second book on the Geographic Information Systems technology that she feels is "fast becoming the pencils and T-squares of this era."

First used 30 years ago, GIS technology is an increasingly important software tool for organizing digital spatial data in an accessible and logical manner. This allows landscape architects to consider more a variety of design options and to do so more quickly and efficiently than ever before.

Through actual examples, Hanna demonstrates how landscape architects, land planners and designers now rely on GIS to create visual frameworks within which spatial data and information are gathered, interpreted, manipulated and shared. Featured case studies include how to prepare a comprehensive plan for a historic streetscape, create a site plan for a major vacation resort, design and manage a recreation area and to solicit public input and manage resources for a river restoration project.

Hanna is an expert in the area of GIS for use in landscape architecture. Her first book, GIS in Site Design , rose to number six on the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)book store's best seller list and won an Honor Award from the ASLA in the 1998 Arkansas Chapter Professional Awards. This spring, Hanna taught a course on GIS is Site Design at the University of Arkansas.

Hanna is a registered landscape architect in two states. Her work has been honored with numerous awards including a Teaching Fulbright to The Netherlands.

GIS for Landscape Architects is available through ESRI Press by calling 1-800-447-9778.

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