Industry & practice

The practice path (start here)

Follow this sequence once. Each step should yield a durable, citeable artefact — a dictionary URL, a cited procurement sentence, or a documented mapping gap — suitable for methods sections, studio assessment, or procurement files.

Self-serve validators and the Evidence Checker are paused. Empty or draft JSON Schema modules are acceptable for a pilot: document gaps and do not invent registry field keys. Mapping gaps belong in draft consultation rather than private schema forks.

Open TLA-185 grammar remains free to read and cite. Where a project brief requires Landscape Archive–attested deliverables, require a licensed Archive package from an authorised organisation (and an Archive Seal when specified). Foundation Approved is not an Archive licence.

• 1. Open field dictionary — free public grammar (preferred labels and structural definitions)
• 2. Studio Pilot Kit — one mandated studio or practice citation deliverable
• 3. Draft consultation — send mapping gaps back into the public process
• Note: interactive validator / Evidence Checker — paused, not available yet
• When briefs require Archive-attested output: licensed package from an authorised org (landscapearchive.com.au/authorised)

In plain language

For landscape architects, students, and procurement readers who want the shape of the system without developer jargon. Status: published Foundation reference under interim stewardship. Empty or draft schema modules remain acceptable while the pack matures.

• What the field dictionary is — A shared vocabulary for planting and landscape records. The dictionary publishes preferred labels and short definitions so schedules, exports, and briefs can align on the same meanings, including where studios previously used ad hoc column names (for example “botanical name”, “Latin”, or “species_id”).
• What a term is — One published entry in that vocabulary: a human-readable name, a stable id (for example 185-004), and a permanent link you can cite in a methods section, studio brief, or RFQ. Citing a term does not require a commercial licence.
• What the schema / pack is — The structural shape for exchanging data — analogous to a form with named slots. The pack (JSON Schema modules and examples) defines which slots exist and how they nest; project data occupies those slots. Use published keys only; do not invent new registry field keys for a pilot.
• What Evidence Checker and the validator will do — When available, they support inspection of disclosed claims. Neither instrument is a certificate, accreditation, or government approval. Both are currently paused.
• Free grammar vs paid Archive fill — The dictionary and conformance rules remain free to cite under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Filled Library depth, Hub, membership seats, Studio+™, Data API, and delivery tooling are commercial products of The Landscape Archive Pty Ltd and are not under Creative Commons.
• What to do next — Browse the open field dictionary → complete one Studio Pilot citation deliverable → propose a missing or unclear term if you identify a gap → return here for the full education path.

Why free grammar / paid implementations elsewhere

The Landscape Archive Foundation (interim stewardship pending incorporation) stewards the public grammar: field dictionary, schemas, and draft reference documentation. Citing that grammar does not require a purchase.

Filled Library depth, Hub, membership seats, BIM connector delivery, Studio+™, Evidence/compliance product paths, and metered Data API / OEM redistribution (when clearance gates allow) are commercial products of The Landscape Archive Pty Ltd. Keeping the dictionary publicly citable supports procurement and curriculum reference independent of any single commercial implementation.

Procurement / RFQ checklist

Printable one-pager for RFQ writers, studio briefs, and methods appendices that cite the open specification. Pair with the published procurement sentence. Self-serve validator and Evidence Checker tools are paused.

Tick the checks that apply to your deliverable. Empty or draft schema modules remain acceptable when gaps are documented; use published registry field keys only.

1 · Cite dictionary

Confirm the open field dictionary URL appears in the brief or RFQ

2 · Procurement sentence

Paste or adapt the published procurement reference language

3 · Gaps

Document unmapped fields and route them to draft consultation

Note

Public validator and Evidence Checker — paused, not available yet

          PROCUREMENT / RFQ CHECKLIST — open TLA-185 reference
The Landscape Archive Foundation (interim stewardship pending incorporation)

PURPOSE
Use this one-pager when writing or reviewing an RFQ, studio brief, or methods
appendix that cites the open landscape metadata specification. Empty or draft
schema modules are acceptable — document gaps; use published registry field keys only.

BEFORE YOU CITE
☐ Confirm you are citing the open field dictionary URL.
  Dictionary: https://schema.landscapearchive.org/dictionary
☐ Confirm the procurement sentence references schema.landscapearchive.org.

DELIVERABLE CHECKS (tick at least one)
☐ Cite the open field dictionary URL in the RFQ / brief.
  Dictionary: https://schema.landscapearchive.org/dictionary
☐ Paste or adapt the published procurement reference language into the RFQ / brief.
☐ Document one mapping gap and route it to draft consultation.

PAUSED (not required for soft-launch citation)
☐ Public validator — paused: https://schema.landscapearchive.org/validate
☐ Evidence Checker — paused: https://landscapearchive.org/evidence-checker

WHEN THE BRIEF REQUIRES ARCHIVE-ATTESTED DELIVERABLES
☐ Require a licensed Landscape Archive package from an authorised organisation
  (not merely open TLA-185 JSON). Directory: https://landscapearchive.com.au/authorised
☐ Where seals are specified, require an Archive Seal mark / seal manifest
  that is within its valid period (Seals renew monthly; expired seals are invalid).
  Seal: https://landscapearchive.com.au/archive-seal
☐ Authenticity of seals is checked by Landscape Archive administrators
  (not a public self-serve tool). Directory: https://landscapearchive.com.au/authorised
☐ Do not treat Foundation Approved / Evidence Checker as an Archive licence
  or as government approval.

PROCUREMENT REFERENCE LANGUAGE
Landscape metadata interchange shall use the open TLA-185 field registry and JSON Schema modules published at schema.landscapearchive.org. Vendor implementations may declare scope via published capability grant manifests. This is a non-commercial reference specification under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 and does not require purchase of a specific commercial product. Where the brief requires Landscape Archive–attested deliverables, submit a licensed Landscape Archive package from an authorised organisation (see landscapearchive.com.au/authorised); Archive Seal marks may be required for pack attestation. Commercial Library, Hub, Studio+™, populated datasets, and software remain separately licensed.

NOTES
• Empty modules / missing fields → note the gap and send to draft consultation.
• Open TLA-185 grammar is free to cite — citing the dictionary does not require a purchase.
• Commercial Library, Hub, Studio+™, Data API, licensed packages, and Archive Seal
  are separate Archive products (not Creative Commons).

NEXT LINKS
• Industry & practice: https://landscapearchive.org/industry-practice
• Licence & scope: https://landscapearchive.org/licence
• Studio Pilot Kit: https://landscapearchive.org/adopt#studio-pilot
• Draft consultation: https://landscapearchive.org/governance#draft-consultation
• Authorised organisations: https://landscapearchive.com.au/authorised

Checklist page: https://landscapearchive.org/industry-practice#rfq-checklist
        

Thin learning modules

Three short modules sized for a studio handout or a CPD-minded practice hour. Reference materials for practice use (not an accredited CPD scheme).

• Practice brief — copy-paste Studio Pilot Kit; one mandated deliverable per cohort
• Outreach pack — invite 3–5 named studios / one uni contact
• Schedule honesty — before/after conformance fixtures: messy schedule excerpt vs sample open bundle
• Procurement & citation — RFQ checklist + published procurement sentence; gaps → draft consultation

Studios, universities, and CPD-minded practice

Teaching studios and practices can mandate one concrete outcome per cohort: validate an example bundle, cite the procurement reference language in a methods section or brief, or inspect an open artefact in the Evidence Checker.

Foundation Approved denotes open-specification conformance when declared against the public validator. Archive Certified training, when offered, is a separate paid vendor credential.

• One mandated deliverable per pilot — a validation, citation, or inspection outcome
• Prefer published examples and the before/after conformance fixtures; use published registry field keys only
• Use the Studio Pilot outreach pack to invite 3–5 named studios (and optionally one uni contact)
• Awards and founding-alliance programmes remain in draft until rubrics and incorporation gates clear

Scope

This page is Foundation reference material for practice and teaching: field dictionary, schemas, validators, and citation guidance. Commercial products of The Landscape Archive Pty Ltd (Library seats, connectors, Data API) remain optional implementation layers.