Cool topographic technology

http://idav.ucdavis.edu/~okreylos/ResDev/SARndbox/Movies.html

See the link above. There is a way now to use a model sandbox to create design projects that will show the elevation and contours you create - instantly. From a permaculture standpoint, this would be a dream to play with since moving earth and water around is so essential.

The project in the link doesn't specify, that I heard, how you would be able to go beyond just moving sand around, but I assume if you took the time to create a to-scale sandbox of your, or your clients, property, then you could start demonstrating what your permaculture inspired actions would do.

Or you could just be Sepp Holzter and know damn well what will happen when you make changes to the land.

Anyway, what you will.

That's pretty cool!

Since a lot of devices are now touch screens, I wonder how hard it would be to use a tablet to instantly perform virtual tests of permaculture designs using google maps and weather data? I would like to be able to take a map from google earth, import it to a virtual sandbox on a touch-pad device and then modify and test it. How awesome would that be? No levels, or tools, or type one errors in real life, just the map, data and a touch screen? Test test test and then take the final map to an earthworks person and do it up. It would make consulting way easier too.
It would make it so easy to test multiple designs in a short period of time.

Damnit.... now I want this to happen. Somebody get crackin on it and have a prototype to me in the morning. We'll make millions

That is really awesome!! I am sure that the pennies in my piggy bank would cover the cost of that! haha It would be great if it was cost effective enough to be available to the common man.

Love the Sepp Holzer comment too.

Yeah, I would think as a permaculture consultant, this idea on a tablet would be a powerful, powerful selling tool for the largest and smallest of projects. This could applied to 1000's of acres.