<P> Landscape architecture is a multi-disciplinary field, incorporating aspects of botany, horticulture, the fine arts, architecture, industrial design, soil sciences, environmental psychology, geography, ecology, and civil engineering . The activities of a landscape architect can range from the creation of public parks and parkways to site planning for campuses and corporate office parks, from the design of residential estates to the design of civil infrastructure and the management of large wilderness areas or reclamation of degraded landscapes such as mines or landfills . Landscape architects work on structures and external spaces with limitations toward the landscape or park aspect of the design - large or small, urban, suburban and rural, and with "hard" (built) and "soft" (planted) materials, while integrating ecological sustainability . The most valuable contribution can be made at the first stage of a project to generate ideas with technical understanding and creative flair for the design, organization, and use of spaces . The landscape architect can conceive the overall concept and prepare the master plan, from which detailed design drawings and technical specifications are prepared . They can also review proposals to authorize and supervise contracts for the construction work . Other skills include preparing design impact assessments, conducting environmental assessments and audits, and serving as an expert witness at inquiries on land use issues . </P> <P> The variety of the professional tasks that landscape architects collaborate on is very broad, but some examples of project types include: </P> <Ul> <Li> Parks of General design and public infrastructure </Li> <Li> Sustainable development </Li> <Li> Stormwater management including rain gardens, green roofs, groundwater recharge, Green infrastructure, and constructed wetlands . </Li> <Li> Landscape design for educational function and site design for public institutions and government facilities </Li> <Li> Parks, botanical gardens, arboretums, greenways, and nature preserves </Li> <Li> Recreation facilities; i.e.: playgrounds, golf courses, theme parks and sports facilities </Li> <Li> Housing areas, industrial parks and commercial developments </Li> <Li> Estate and residence landscape master planning and design </Li> <Li> Highways, transportation structures, bridges, and transit corridors </Li> <Li> Urban design, town and city squares, waterfronts, pedestrian schemes </Li> <Li> Natural park, tourist destination, and recreating historical landscapes, and historic garden appraisal and conservation studies </Li> <Li> Reservoirs, dams, power stations, reclamation of extractive industry applications or major industrial projects and mitigation </Li> <Li> Environmental assessment and landscape assessment, planning advice and land management proposals . </Li> <Li> Coastal and offshore developments and mitigation </Li> <Li> Ecological Design any aspect of design that minimizes environmentally destructive impacts by integrating itself with natural processes and sustainability </Li> </Ul> <Li> Parks of General design and public infrastructure </Li>

Meaning of landscape and its relevance to architecture