Trace Visual Planning + Design
Promoting integral landscapes through planning + design

Trace Visual Planning + Design is an Australian environmental consulting firm that offers landscape and visual impact assessments (LVIA) and urban planning services. Under the guidance of its director, Dr. Ata Tara, the company empowers clients to enhance efficiency in design and decision-making processes. Over the years, Trace Visual has engaged in multiple projects, encompassing energy initiatives, telecommunication infrastructure, and high-rise developments.

Dr. Tara, a Registered Landscape Architect and Planner with additional architectural qualifications, has over 17 years of experience in landscape planning, design, and construction. His expertise has earned him multiple landscape planning awards from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), and the Deputy Premier's Urban Design Commendation at national and state levels. In addition, his deep-rooted academic engagement as a lecturer at RMIT University enables the firm to achieve new heights. Integrating practical experience with academic research helps Trace Visual develop rigorous and objective techniques and methodologies for assessing visual impacts.

Unlike conventional service providers, Dr. Tara’s team approaches each project as a research topic, conducting thorough literature reviews and additional research activities to perform comprehensive data assessments. This ensures that the consultancy services are finely attuned to each undertaking’s specific requirements, enhancing the quality and relevance of its assessments. Trace Visual employs an evidence-based approach, leveraging advanced geospatial analysis and verified visual simulations. By conducting detailed visual context and character analysis, the company ensures that its recommendations to clients are based on factual accuracy.

“Ethical responsibility forms the foundation of our operations, guiding us to conduct objective assessments even in the face of challenges,” emphasizes Dr. Tara. While clients seek biased results, the company is steadfast in its commitment to impartiality, striving to create balanced assessments that benefit communities and the environment.

Visual impact assessments are pivotal because they are reviewed by various stakeholders, including the community and local councils. The firm also conducts comprehensive assessments to determine the impact of proposed developments on the surrounding communities. Even minor oversights, such as the neglect of specific sensitive groups, can significantly impact a project's outcome.
Navigating such complexities of visual impact assessments often entails ensuring the reliability and defensibility of findings, especially in legal contexts. To this end, Trace Visual adheres to its evidence-based approach, which safeguards its work against potential devaluation. Although the company occasionally encounters conflict of interests from clients expecting more favorable outcomes, it stands firm in its conviction that objectivity and evidence-based analysis are paramount to the credibility of development endeavors.

However, budget constraints and conflicting stakeholder interests from developers, councils, or the local community often lead to prolonged project timelines, even for simple projects like installing telecommunication towers. Trace Visual prioritizes transparent communication with clients and takes ownership of every project. This results in prolonged project engagements as they frequently revisit and inquire about assessments years later. Despite the firm’s initial efforts to accurately price and scope projects, evolving complexities often lead to negotiations for change, causing conflicts of interest and stressful situations.

A recent project exemplifying Trace Visual’s commitment to thorough assessment and ethical conduct involves the proposed installation of an infrastructure project in North Queensland. This project aimed to boost tourism and local economic activity in a highly scenic area. While economic studies supported the proposal, the company’s visual impact assessment revealed significant negative impacts on the landscape, as opposed to other studies that were positive. Despite the financial implications, Trace Visual upheld objectivity, engaging in extensive dialogue and revising the technical report to address objections while maintaining factual accuracy. After nearly a year of negotiations, the client accepted the revised report and settled the outstanding payment. This highlights the need to maintain ethical compliance and foster effective communication, especially in challenging circumstances.

In addition to its expertise in visual impact assessment, TRACE Visual is renowned for its proficiency in large-scale landscape planning, scenic amenity assessments, and community engagements to support planning scheme updates. Dr. Tara's teaching role in the Master of Landscape Architecture program at RMIT University further enhances the company's offerings, providing opportunities for deeper studies and research aligned with project outcomes as value-added options to provide dual benefits for the practice and academia. Through Dr. Tara’s academic position, Trace Visual has also built a network of global experts across the U.S. and Europe who comply with established standards and undergo rigorous peer review. This, in turn, enabled the firm to prioritize innovation, objectivity, and ethical responsibility, thereby excelling in LVIA. Trace Visual sets new standards through transparent communication and adherence to global best practices, enriching the built environment while preserving nature for future generations.