Research Interest

Professional landscape architect with 10+ years of experience on award-winning projects; a dedicated collaborator on service-learning projects for the land grant missions and a research record focused on the historical precedents of relatively unknown landscape architects and landscapes of the Great Plains at the turn of the 20th century. Furthermore, I examine how geospatial and other technologies for interdisciplinary processes can identify, preserve, and improve these historic public landscapes.

Selected Publications and Recent Funded Research:

• Fischer, D. L. (Principal), Kirkwood, M. (Co-Principal), "Northern Plains National Heritage Area Planning," Sponsored by National Park Service, Northern Plains Heritage Foundation, North Dakota State University, $23,181.00. (July 15, 2017 - May 30, 2018)
• Kavasseri, R. (Principal), Cao, D. (Co-Principal: 10%), Fischer, D. (Co-Principal), Srivastava, M. (Co-Principal), Zhang, Q. (Co-Principal: 20%), "SCC-Planning: ZER0H: Zero Energy Ready Homes," Sponsored by NSF, Federal, $99,122.00. (September 1, 2017 - August 31, 2019)
• Co-Principal Investigator, 'Augmented Reality Sand Table'. North Dakota State University, Technology Action Plan, $13,625, 2016
• Co-Principal Investigator, 'Environmental Photography and Planning in the Bakken'. North Dakota State University, Dean's Challenge Grant for Interdisciplinary Research and Creative Activity, $5,000, 2015-2016
• Co-Principal Investigator, 'Anticipatory Preservation Planning: protections of rural cultural and physical landscape'. North Central Regional Center for Rural Development Grant for $11,112, 2014-2015
• Google Earth Pro Grant for the Google Earth Education Initiative. $36,000 software value for classroom research, presentation and collaboration. 2012-2014

Book Chapter:

Fischer, D. 'Reassessing Small Urban Spaces: Is Whyte Still Right?' In Revisiting Social Factors: Advancing Research into People and Place, 55-72. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015

Journal Papers:

• Fischer, D. and Fischer H., 2016. 'A Collaborative Heritage Preservation Process for Oil Field Communities.' In Landscape Research Record. No. 5
• Kirkwood, M. and D. Fischer, 2015. 'Mending Views: The Intersection of Environmental Photography and Planning in western North Dakota', In Exposure Journal, Volume 49.1

Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings and Presentations:

• Song, Y., Fischer, D. 2018. 'Identifying Superior Connections: Using Hyper-Local Data Aggregation Tools for Sense of Place Assessment in Duluth, MN.' Presented at the Environmental Design Research Association Annual Conference, Oklahoma City, OK June 06-10
• Fischer, D. L. 2017. 'Morrell and Nichols' Historical Park as an influential setting for North Dakota's Art Deco Capitol Building.' Presented at the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture Annual Conference, Beijing, China May 25-28
• Fischer, D. and Fischer, H., 2016. 'A Collaborative Heritage Preservation Process for Oil Field Communities.' Presented at the Council for Educators in Landscape Architecture Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, UT March 23-26
• Kirkwood, M. and Fischer, D., 2016. 'Weldon Gratton's Panoramic Overlook for Theodore Roosevelt National Park.' Presented at the Council for Educators in Landscape Architecture Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, UT March 23-26
• Fischer, D., Kirkwood, M., and Pepple, K. 2014. 'Oil in the Fields: Mapping, Fracking, and Landscape Architects.' Presented at the American Society of Landscape Architects National Conference, Denver, CO November 6-9
• Fischer, D., Chambers, M., and Fischer, H. 2014. 'Mapping the Bakken Oil Formation: New Depictions from within and without the Dome.' Presented at the Environmental Design Research Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA May 28-31
• Fischer, D. 2014. 'HWS Cleveland in North Dakota: Island Park and the shadow of a century without landscape architects.' Presented at the Council for Educators in Landscape Architecture Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD March 26-29

Professional Credits and Activities:

• Professional Landscape Architectural Registration: 
• State Board of Architecture State of North Dakota – License #34 

Professional Experience:

• 2004-2007. Intern Landscape Architect. Cityscapes, LLC, Fargo, ND
• 2007-2013. Principal Landscape Architect. The Leonard Atelier Group, LLC, Fargo, ND
• 2013-2016. Landscape Architect (consulting part-time), Land Elements, Fargo, ND
• 2016-2018. Landscape Architect (consulting part-time), Fischer + Fischer, LLC, Fargo, ND

Professional Memberships:

• ASLA
• EDRA

Teaching Experience:

• 2013-present. Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture (tenure-track). College of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
• 2006-2010. Part-time adjunct instructor of Landscape Architecture. College of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
• 2011-2012. Full-time adjunct instructor of Landscape Architecture. College of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

Courses Taught:

• LA 451 Urban Design Studio
• LA 531 Portfolio Design Seminar
• LA 231 Landscape Architecture Graphics
• ARCH 189 University Studies Arch/LA (Interim)
• LA 351 Residential Landscape Architecture
• ARCH 571 Portfolio Design Seminar (Interim)
• ENVD 172 Environmental Design Fundamentals (Interim)
• LA 272 Parks and Open Space Landscape Architecture Studio
• LA 231 Landscape Architecture Theory and Graphics
• LA 571 Environmental Planning Studios
• LA 552 Advanced Landscape Planning 
• LA 471 Urban Design Studio 
• LA 472 Remediation and Planting Design Studio
• LA 572 Design Thesis Studio
• LA 789 Commemorative and Cultural Landscapes Seminar

Ask Me

Who are your role models or inspiring folks?

Angela Danadjieva, Kathryn Gustafson, Diana Balmori, and Michael Van Valkenburgh

Outside of art and design fields, what inspires you?

I am inspired by people and trees.

What do you wish you had known when you started out as a student/in this field?

The student is in control of the learning - that is exciting. The telephone is your friend and professionals want to talk to you.

What was your most memorable meal?

I was eating a chicken caesar salad in the NDSU dining center with 5 other professors and I somehow leaned into the side of my plate sending my meal flying across my lap and the floor.

In your office, you can only have three things, one book, one tool, and one picture. What would they be and why?

Silent Passengers by Larry Woiwode (best book of short stories), a Mitsubishi Vermilion and Prussian Blue Pencil (to think and draw), and a picture of a Robert S. Duncanson painting (for inspiration and conversation with visitors).