Benjamin George

Landscape & Environmental Plan

Associate Professor | Virtual Reality & Online Design Education


Benjamin H. George, ASLA

Contact Information

Office Hours: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Office Location: FAV 238
Phone: (435) 797-0561
Email: benjamin.george@usu.edu
Additional Information:

Educational Background

PhD, Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences, (Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning), Utah State University, 2014
IDENTIFICATION OF THE CONSTRAINTS AND BARRIERS TO THE ADOPTION OF DISTRIBUTED DESIGN EDUCATION
Other, Landscape Architecture, Utah State University, 2009
Indoor Outdoor Relationships at the Residential Scale
Other, Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast, 2006
BS, Political Science, (Conflict Resolution), Utah State University, 2005

Biography

Hold a doctorate in Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences, and a Masters in Landscape Architecture.

Teaching Interests

Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Thematic and Zoological Design, Landscape History, Planting Design

Research Interests

Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Thematic and Zoological Design, Online Design Pedagogy, Design Pedagogy, History Pedagogy, Conflict Resolution, Irish Studies

Awards

Award of Excellence, 2017

American Society of Landscape Architects

Certificate of Excellence, 2016

Utah Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects

Merit Award, 2025

Utah Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects

Honor Award, 2024

Utah Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects

Excellent in Teaching, Junior Level, 2024

Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture

Award of Scientific Merit, 2020

Digital Landscape Architecture Conference

Graduate Student Teaching Award of Merit, 2013

North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture

Robins Award for Graduate Instructor of the Year, 2013

Utah State University

2012 College of Agriculture Graduate Student Teacher of the Year, 2012

College of Agriculture


Publications | Abstracts

  • George, B., Chamberlain, B., Fernberg, P., Gardner, P., (2024). Assessing the Value of Artificial Intelligence in Plant Selection. Digital Landscape Architecture Conference
  • George, B., Chamberlain, B., (2023). Producing 2D Asset Libraries with AI-powered Image Generators.
  • Fernberg, P., George, B., Chamberlain, B., (2023). Entourage Automaton: Making 2D Visual Assets with AI Image Generators . Annual Conference of the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture
  • George, B., (2021). The Impact of VR on Student Design Decisions: Assessing Density and Proximity When Designing in VR Versus Traditional Analog Methods. Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture
  • Hughes, A., George, B., Sleipness, O., Ramineni, S., (2016). Hidden History: Using digital tools to discover the historical landscape around us. Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture Conference 2016
  • Sleipness, O.R, George, B., (2015). Beyond the Sagebrush Rebellion: Envisioning the Role of Landscape Architects in Alternative Futures of Land Ownership in the Intermountain West. Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Books

  • George, B., Gottwald, D., Disney and the Theming of the Contemporary Zoo: Kingdoms of Artifice. Bloomsbury

    Publications | Book Chapters

  • George, B., Walker, A.E, (2017). Educational Media and Technology Yearbook, volume 40: A. Social learning in a distributed environment: Lessons learned from online design education. Springer *

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Journal Articles

Academic Journal

  • George, B., (2025). AI in Practice: Landscape Architecture Artificial Intelligence Survey Findings. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture
  • Braiden, H., Chamberlain, B., George, B., Fernberg, P., (2025). AI in Practice: Professional Survey Findings from Landscape Architects in North America. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, 10, 626--633. doi: 10.14627/537754059
  • George, B., Chamberlain, B., Fernberg, P., (2024). Assessing the Value of Artificial Intelligence in Plant Selection. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture9, 277-284. doi: 10.14627/537752026
  • Martinez, A., Fernandez, J., George, B., Spooner, D., Rezaeimalek, S., (2023). Determining the effect of alleyway design on perceived safety through virtual reality. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, 9
  • George, B.H, Chamberlain, B., Fernberg, P., Gardner, P., (2023). Enhancing Plant Selection in Landscape Architecture: Assessing the Value of AI in Plant Selection.. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, 9
  • Fernberg, P., George, B., Chamberlain, B., (2023). Producing 2D Asset Libraries with AI-powered Image Generators. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, 8:2023, 186-194. doi: 10.14627/537740020
  • George, B., Bussiere, S., George, P.L, (2020). Non-traditional Students and the Design Studio: Creating a Productive Learning Environment. Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal—Annual Review, 14:1, 27-35.
  • George, B., Gottwald, D., (2020). Cinematography in the landscape: Transitional zones in themed environments. Landscape Research Record, 9, 49-64.
  • George, B., Park, K., (2020). Flying high: A case study of the integration of drones into a landscape architecture curriculum. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture
  • George, B., (2019). Learning to draw: An assessment of an online landscape architecture basic graphics course. Landscape Journal, 37:1, 23-37.
  • George, B., (2018). Using virtual tours to facilitate sustainable site visits of historic sites. European Journal of Sustainable Development, 7:4, 411-422.
  • George, B., Shelton, B., Walker, A.E, (2017). Barriers to the adoption of online design education within North American collegiate landscape architecture programs. Landscape Review
  • Summerlin, P., George, B., Fulford, T., (2017). Which software are you teaching?: A survey of design software usage in landscape architecture curricula.. The International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design, 11:4, doi: 10.18848/2325-1662/CGP
  • Sleipness, O., George, B., (2017). Impacts of Immersive Virtual Reality on Three-Dimensional Design Processes: Opportunities and Constraints for Landscape Architecture Studio Pedagogy. Landscape Research Record, Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture 6
  • George, B., (2017). A study of traditional discussion boards and social media within an online landscape architecture course. Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research, 13:1
  • George, B., Sleipness, O., Quebbeman, A., (2017). Using virtual reality as a design input: Impacts on collaboration in a university design studio setting. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, 2, 252-259.
  • George, B., Bussiere, S., (2016). Factors impacting students’ decisions to stay or leave the design studio. Landscape Research Record, 3:1
  • George, B., (2016). Distributed site analysis utilizing drones and 360 degree video. Digital Landscape Architecture, 1, 92-99.
  • Sleipness, O., George, B., Hughes, A., Remineni, S., (2016). Hidden dimensions: Illuminating landscape history through mobile apps. . Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, 1, 273-280.
  • George, B., (2014). An Analysis of the Spatial Structure of the National Palace of Queluz. Landscape Research Record, 1:1
  • Fernberg, P., George, B., Jones, S., A Speculative Roadmap for 3D Reconstruction Techniques in Planning and Landscape Architecture. . Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture
  • Huff, O., George, B., Fernberg, P., Prompting Design: Evaluating the Impact of AI on Design Outcomes. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture
  • George, B., Tracking the Digital Shift: Eight Years of Software Trends in Landscape Architecture. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture
  • George, B., Assessing the Impact of Vritual Reality on the Planting Design Process. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture
  • George, B., Shelton, B.E, Walker, A.E, Barriers to the adoption of online design education within collegiate landscape architecture programs. Landscape Review

Public or Trade Journal

  • George, B., (2024). Integrating AI Technology for Plant Selection in Landscape Design: Design Online. , 16-17. *

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Technical Reports

Other Reports

  • George, B., (2015). Identifying critical environmental factors for plant selection: A whitepaper for The Plantium. The Plantium *

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Other

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Teaching

DMV 1050 - Application and Ethics of Visualization, Fall 2025
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture (BHU), Fall 2025
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture (BCA), Fall 2025
LAEP 3500 - Planting Design, Fall 2025
LAEP 6350 - Planting Design, Fall 2025
LAEP 6230 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2025
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture (BHU), Summer 2025
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture (BCA), Summer 2025
LAEP 2450 - Artificial Intelligence Generative Design, Spring 2025
LAEP 6230 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2025
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture (BHU), Spring 2025
LAEP 2900 - VR Design and Thematics Studio, Spring 2025
DMV 1050 - Application and Ethics of Visualization, Fall 2024
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture (BHU), Fall 2024
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture (BCA), Fall 2024
LAEP 3500 - Planting Design, Fall 2024
LAEP 6350 - Planting Design, Fall 2024
LAEP, LAEP 4350, 6550 - Travel Course, Fall 2024
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2024
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2024
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2024
PSC 4302 - Advanced Residential Landscape Design, Spring 2024
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2024
LAEP 6230 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2024
LAEP 6910 - Readings in Landscape Architecture, Spring 2024
, Fall 2023
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Fall 2023
LAEP 6230 - History of Landscape Architecture, Fall 2023
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2023
LAEP 3500 - Planting Design, Fall 2023
LAEP 6350 - Planting Design, Fall 2023
LAEP, LAEP, PSC, PSC 5090, 5090, 6090, 6090 - Sustainable Low Water Landscaping, Fall 2023
PSC 5090 - Sustainable Low Water Landscaping, Fall 2023
LAEP, LAEP 4350, 6550 - Travel Course, Fall 2023
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2023
LAEP 2900 - VR Design and Thematics Studio, Fall 2023
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2023
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2023
LAEP 2300, 6230 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2023
LAEP, LAEP 2300, 6230 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2023
, Fall 2022
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2022
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2022
LAEP 1030 - LAEP 1030, Fall 2022
LAEP 3500 - Planting Design, Fall 2022
LAEP 6350 - Planting Design, Fall 2022
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2022
LAEP 2900 - VR Design and Thematics Studio, Fall 2022
, Summer 2022
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2022
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2022
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2021
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2021
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2021
LAEP 2900 - VR Design and Thematics Studio, Spring 2021
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Fall 2020
LAEP 6350, 3500 - Planting Design, Fall 2020
LAEP 2700, 6270 - Site Analysis: Social, Behavioral, and Biophysical Dimensions, Fall 2020
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2020
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2020
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Summer 2020
LAEP 2300, 6230 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2020
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2020
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Spring 2020
LAEP 6900 - Special Problems, Spring 2020
LAEP 4350 - Travel Course, Spring 2020
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Spring 2020
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Fall 2019
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2019
LAEP 6960 - Masters Project, Fall 2019
LAEP 3500 - Planting Design, Fall 2019
LAEP 6350 - Planting Design for Sustainability, Fall 2019
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Fall 2019
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2019
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2019
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Summer 2019
LAEP 6400, 6900 - Geodesign Studio: Advanced Geographic Information and Tools, Spring 2019
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2019
LAEP 6230 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2019
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Spring 2019
LAEP 6960 - Masters Project, Spring 2019
LAEP 4900 - Special Problems, Spring 2019
LAEP 4350 - Travel Course, Spring 2019
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Spring 2019
LAEP 2400 - 3D Representation, Fall 2018
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Fall 2018
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2018
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2018
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Fall 2018
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2018
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2018
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Summer 2018
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2018
LAEP 6230 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2018
HONR 4900 - Honors Thesis/Capstone, Spring 2018
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Spring 2018
LAEP 6900 - Special Problems, Spring 2018
LAEP 4350 - Travel Course, Spring 2018
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Spring 2018
LAEP 2400 - 3D Representation, Fall 2017
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Fall 2017
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2017
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Fall 2017
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2017
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2017
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Summer 2017
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2017
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2017
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Spring 2017
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Spring 2017
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Spring 2017
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Spring 2017
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Fall 2016
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Fall 2016
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2016
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2016
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2016
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2016
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Fall 2016
PSC 2620 - Woody Trees and Shrubs, Fall 2016
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2016
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2016
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Summer 2016
LAEP 2300, 6230 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2016
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Spring 2016
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Spring 2016
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Fall 2015
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2015
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Fall 2015
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2015
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2015
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Summer 2015
LAEP 2300,6230 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2015
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Spring 2015
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Spring 2015
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Fall 2014
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2014
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Fall 2014
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2014
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2014
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Summer 2014
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2014
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2014
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Spring 2014
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Spring 2014
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Spring 2014
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Spring 2014
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Fall 2013
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2013
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2013
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Fall 2013
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Summer 2013
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2013
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Summer 2013
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2013
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2013
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Spring 2013
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Spring 2013
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape, Spring 2013
PSC 2620 - Woody Trees and Shrubs, Spring 2013
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2012
PSC 2620 - Woody Trees and Shrubs, Fall 2012
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Summer 2012
PSC 2620 - Woody Trees and Shrubs, Summer 2012
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2012
LAEP 2300 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2012
LAEP 6230 - History of Landscape Architecture, Spring 2012
LAEP 1030 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Fall 2011
PSC 2620 - Woody Trees and Shrubs, Fall 2011

Creative Works | Exhibitions

    Creative Works | Other

    • The Digital Library of Landscape Architecture History, Other, Digital Library
    • Exploratory Physiocartographies of Place and Time, Art - Exhibition, Group, - 2013

    Graduate Students Mentored

    Owen Huff, Landscape & Environmental Plan, April 2024
    Paul Gardner, Landscape & Environmental Plan, April 2024
    Tate Barney, Landscape & Environmental Plan, August 2023
    Adam Painter, Landscape & Environmental Plan, July 2019
    Kenzy Fogle, Landscape & Environmental Plan, July 2018
    Brandon Blauer, Landscape & Environmental Plan, September 2017
    Becca Springer, Landscape & Environmental Plan, September 2021 - May 2024
    Liz Braithwaite, Landscape & Environmental Plan, July 2018 2022
    Zach Warner, Landscape & Environmental Plan, July 2018 2020
    Tonya Randall, Landscape & Environmental Plan, January 2017 2020
    Drew Hill, Landscape & Environmental Plan, September 2017 2019