John Crespo, Utah-based landscape architect, shares how Moasure streamlines complex site measurements, enhances design precision, and gives him full control, all the way from initial survey to final submission.
“Moasure paid for itself after one project, with the savings offsetting the cost of the product.”
Results at a Glance
Since adopting Moasure in 2022 after seeing it in action at ASLA in San Francisco, John has:
- Simplified his estimating process, reducing overall project time
- Regained full control of his design process
- Increased his average profit margin by $1,000 per project.
Crafting Landscapes in Harmony with the Land
Landscape architecture is both an art and a science – it’s about crafting functional, aesthetically pleasing, and environmentally sustainable outdoor spaces that work with their surroundings, not against them.
That starts with understanding the landscape, which is where Moasure comes in. Its motion-based measuring technology captures complex areas, elevation changes, and curves with ease, helping John Crespo, landscape architect near Salt Lake City, build a detailed picture of any site on his first visit.
“It's truly revolutionizing how I go about my work, and so I love technology that can do that and help save me time and save me money, so with a tool like Moasure, it just makes the whole process simpler.”
With Moasure, John can walk the site, collect precise measurements in real time, and immediately start visualizing what he can create in that space.
The Challenge
From Tape Measures to Tech: Evolving the Site Survey
Traditionally, a landscape architect would measure a job site using tools like tape measures, measuring wheels, laser distance meters, or total stations. For larger or more complex sites, they might hire a professional surveyor to capture detailed topography and elevation data. This process can be time-consuming, expensive, and often requires coordinating schedules, waiting for survey results, and manually translating data into CAD software. But it had to be done:
“It's crucial to understand your property before you start designing, so getting a very accurate layout helps you get to know the property a little bit better as you walk along and understand all the nooks and crannies so that you can design and give your client the best product.”
Before Moasure, John either relied on traditional methods, or outsourced the job altogether, incurring extra costs, causing delays, and limiting flexibility.
“I used to hire out for site measurements. That meant I was on someone else’s schedule, waiting for data, and paying a premium for it. Moasure changed that completely.”
Now, he works on his own terms. Moasure gives John the freedom to measure when he wants, plan as he goes using Labels, and adapt on the fly, editing his measurements as he goes. It saves time – including eliminating a whole extra site visit with a surveyor – reduces overheads, and delivers the kind of granular detail that drives better design.
“Moasure lets me go out when I want, and work at my own pace. I walk the site, take the measurements, and I’m already planning the design by the time I get back to the office.”
The Solution
Saving Time, Reducing Costs & Gaining Control
Hiring out measurements used to be one of John’s biggest project bottlenecks. Between coordinating with surveyors and waiting on deliverables, valuable days – and dollars – were lost. Moasure gave him that time back.
“It’s very expensive and so I capture some of those costs back again and then work at my own pace.”
With Moasure, John now controls the timeline, and therefore, the budget. Moasure’s portability and speed let him complete measurements in a single site visit, without third-party help or requiring return trips.
“I capture those costs back and work at my own pace. I come out when I want, measure what I need, and move on.”
Tackling Challenging Terrain with Confidence
No two projects are the same, and many come with a unique set of challenges: steep grades, curved paths, mixed surfaces, and structural elements like pools, retaining walls, or raised beds.
“This place had everything – buildings, gardens, raised beds, slopes, hardscaping – Moasure handled it all. It gave me the full picture without needing extra tools or a team.”
Unlike traditional tools, Moasure makes light work of these complexities. It captures slopes, elevation changes, curves, and corners with the same ease as straight lines, building a complete topographical picture in minutes – and because the measurements are visualized in real time, John can check, edit, and expand the site diagram on the go.
Instant Cut & Fill Data: Planning Made Practical
For John, one of Moasure’s most valuable features is its automatic cut-and-fill calculations. These instantly show how much material needs to be added or removed, helping plan for soil, mulch, or grading adjustments.
“I used to spend hours figuring out how much soil or mulch I’d need, or I’d have to hire someone to do it. With Moasure, I get that instantly after I walk the site. It’s just awesome.”
That kind of real-time insight doesn’t just help with John’s landscape architecture designs – it keeps projects efficient and cost-effective, reducing material waste and improving coordination with contractors.
“It saves me tons of time having the topography maps, it is just awesome to have that instantly after doing all the leg work.”
Exporting with Ease: From Field Data to CAD Drawings
Once a site is mapped, John exports his Moasure data directly into his CAD workflow, no cleanup required. Whether he's prepping base maps or submitting drawings for city approvals, the process is seamless.
“Once I’ve measured the site, I export everything directly into AutoCAD using Moasure’s DWG or DXF export function. I add my title block, make any small edits I need, and it’s ready to go.”
This integration not only saves hours of drafting – it also ensures every plan starts with accurate, trustworthy measurements. For projects requiring municipal approval, precision is non-negotiable, and Moasure delivers:
“The information Moasure gives me is critical for city approvals. It’s accurate, reliable, and fast. It’s just part of my process now.”
The Result
Designing Smarter from Day One
Moasure doesn’t just collect measurements, it delivers information that drives good design. From surface area calculations to slope gradients, and compliance with local green space regulations, John uses Moasure data to guide every early decision.
“Some cities have limits on how much turf you can have. Moasure gives me the square footage instantly, so I know right away whether we’re within the limits, or if we need to adjust the plan.”
That insight shapes everything from drainage planning and sight lines, to the positioning of screening elements.
“It helps inform all those early decisions – where to place trees, how to deal with drainage, what views we want to preserve. It means I can design efficiently and confidently."
So, can landscape architects create their designs without Moasure? Of course they can. But by embracing this unique technology as 110,000+ outdoor professionals already have, site measurements can be simplified and sped up, especially on complex or uneven terrain.
Instead of juggling tape measures, measuring wheels, or waiting on costly third-party surveyors, Moasure opens the door to being able to walk a site and instantly capture accurate measurements, including elevation changes, curves, and slopes.
Add to that the ability to export data directly into CAD software, which saves time and reduces the margin for error, landscape architects can make informed design decisions from day one. It’s a smart investment that pays off in efficiency, flexibility, and better project outcomes.