Portfolio of Visual Impact Reports 2013-2015: Ata Tara

BACKGROUND As a Registered Landscape Architect (AILA) and Landscape Planner with additional qualifications in architecture, Ata was a key member of the professional infrastructure and environmental services companies, Cardno, Cardno Chenoweth and MODE Design. This ongoing practice in the field relates directly to Ata Tara’s primary research interests in urban character assessments and mapping through CAD and GIS systems. Through his work, Ata has completed or been involved in preparing more than 50 visual impact assessments, involving extensive scenic amenity mapping. This portfolio highlights four publicly available assessment documents that are relevant to various planning applications including new public works through council commissions and environmental impacts of major private works such as mining operations and resort developments. CONTRIBUTION Ata, as part of the consultancy project team who produced these assessments, was responsible for field surveys, data collection, landscape assessments, GIS mappings and technical report writings that contributed to the works. This activity contributes to Ata Tara’s research interests in quantitative approaches to analyse different aspects of urban environments. This includes the development of adaptive methods in landscape planning using modelling capabilities in CAD and GIS environments. SIGNIFICANCE Research activity in the architectural disciplines takes place both within and without the academy. This research activity evidenced within this portfolio is significant in contributing towards the maintenance of this broad community of research, inclusive of industry connections, and in interacting effectively with this community. All of these assessment documents are produced following the submission of a competitively reviewed proposal, and are publicly available on council and company websites, or form part of a published report.