A landscape design business used AutoCAD to assist with the sustainable landscape design of a one-of-a-kind environment at the Pinterest headquarters in San Francisco. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. provided the image. Landscape architects typically use computer-assisted design (CAD) tools to create drawings of sites. CAD is the standard tool for any type of designer who needs to prepare accurate drawings quickly. It's especially useful for landscapes and buildings because it allows them to be designed separately but assembled at a later date. CAD programs also help ensure consistency in the details of designs created by different people. At Pinterest, several landscape architects were involved in the project at various points during development. Using CAD allowed them to see what other designers had done and make changes if needed before starting work on their section of the project. Landscape architects often use specialized software programs to draw site plans or to display 3D models of projects. These programs can help them identify problems with the design early on in the process and give them ideas for improving things later on. For example, a program might show them that a particular area of the site could not be developed due to its proximity to an existing building. CAD files are also useful when preparing bids or requests for proposals. Any changes to the design made after the initial proposal will need to be reflected in any further contracts.