{"id":285,"date":"2024-07-15T17:22:44","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T17:22:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/thompsonlab\/?page_id=285"},"modified":"2026-03-26T20:57:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T20:57:04","slug":"ai-application-for-landscape-architecture","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/thompsonlab\/otherpublications\/ai-application-for-landscape-architecture\/","title":{"rendered":"AI Application for Rural Landscape Design"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The use of artificial intelligence text to image tools in the design fields, including landscape architecture, is growing. We present parts of our research where we explored the integration of AI text-to-image tools in participatory rural landscape design, focusing on the US Midwest region. Amidst the dominance of corn and soybean in the region’s rural landscapes, there’s a pressing need for envisioning alternative agricultural systems to enhance resilience and diversity. This study, conducted under the Reimaging Agricultural Diversity (RAD) sub team of the Diversified Corn Belt (DCB) project, aims to develop a framework for engaging stakeholders directly in rural landscape design processes. The research method involves utilizing AI text-to-image tools to generate visual representations of future rural landscapes based on input from multistakeholder engagement. The generated images were used in two community planning sessions to facilitate dialogue on the potential and necessary modifications for diversified production systems in the US Midwest. Participants\u2019 responses and feedback on these discussions allowed for creating refined versions of the images that address participants\u2019 visions of their landscapes.<\/p>\n

Below we present five images we used in the participatory sessions, and the new set of images that we developed based on community feedback. Then We present the workflow we followed to generate these images in Midjourney.<\/p>\n

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Status quo of corn and soybean, before participatory sessions.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Status quo of corn and soybean , developed based on the feedback we collected from participatory sessions.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Extended rotation with three or more crops over 3+ years, before participatory sessions.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Extended rotation with three or more crops over 3+ years, developed based on the feedback we collected from participatory sessions.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Horticultural food crops, before participatory sessions.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Perennial pasture\/forage and perennial bioenergy crops, before participatory sessions.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Perennial pasture\/forage and perennial bioenergy crops, developed based on the feedback we collected from participatory sessions.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Agroforestry, before participatory sessions.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Agroforestry, developed based on the feedback we collected from participatory sessions.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The development of the conventional landscape representation. The figure presents only the parts of the workflow that fed the final output. The figure shows the development of the image through three steps. The first two steps were generated in Midjourney. Each of the Midjourney queries generated four varieties. The black rectangles represent the varieties we selected to further develop the image. (1) Midjourney generated varieties of the prompt: \u201cAerial perspective watercolor rendering of a midwestern grid landscape that has corn.\u201d (2) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature. (3) Final version after editing with Adobe Photoshop.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The development of the extended rotation landscape representation. The figure presents only the parts of the workflow that fed the final output. The figure shows the development of the image through three steps. The first two steps were generated in Midjourney. Each of the Midjourney queries generated four varieties. The black rectangles represent the varieties we selected to further develop the image. (1) Midjourney generated varieties of the prompt: \u201cAerial perspective watercolor rendering of a midwestern grid landscape that has corn and soybean, with oats and wheat and cereal rye, with alfalfa, with buckwheat and peas and sunflower.\u201d (2) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom Out) feature. (3) Final version after editing with Adobe Photoshop.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The development of the grazing pastures and perennial crops\u2019 landscape representation. The figure presents only the parts of the workflow that fed the final output. The figure shows the development of the image through four steps. The first three steps were generated in Midjourney. Each of the Midjourney queries generated four varieties. The black rectangles represent the varieties we selected to further develop the image. (1) Midjourney generated varieties of the prompt: \u201cAerial bird view perspective watercolor rendering of a midwestern grid landscape that has perennial bioenergy crops, with grasses, with pastures, with cattle surrounded by fences, with a barn the background.\u201d (2) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom Out) feature. (3) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature. (4) Final version after editing with Adobe Photoshop.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The development of the horticultural crop landscape representation. The figure presents only the parts of the workflow that fed the final output. The figure shows the development of the image through ten steps. The first nine steps were generated in Midjourney. Each of the Midjourney queries generated four varieties. The black rectangles represent the varieties we selected to further develop the image. (1) Midjourney generated varieties of the prompt: \u201caerial birds’ eye view perspective watercolor rendering of a largescale midwestern landscape that has largescale horticultural crops, with wide rows of tomatoes plants and squash plants, with wide rows of pumpkin plants, with wide rows of melon plants, with rows of apple trees, with berries hedges, with herbs shrubs, with spearmint plants and peppermint plants, with other plants of vegetable crops, with radish plants rows, with potatoes plants rows, with greenhouses.\u201d (2) Midjourney varieties after using (Pan Left) feature. (3) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom Out) feature. (4) Midjourney varieties after using (Make Square) feature. (5) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature. (6) Midjourney varieties after using (Pan Left) feature. (7) Midjourney varieties after using (Make Square) feature. (8) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature. (9) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature. (10) Final version after editing with Adobe Photoshop.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The development of the agroforestry image. The figure presents only the parts of the workflow that fed the final output. The figure shows the development of the image through eleven steps. The first ten steps were generated in Midjourney. Each of the Midjourney queries generated four varieties. The black rectangles represent the varieties we selected to further develop the image. (1) Midjourney generated varieties of the prompt: \u201cAerial bird view perspective watercolor rendering of a midwestern grid landscape that has largescale alley cropping, with woody perennials and shrubs, with berry shrubs, with grape trees, with apple trees, with nut trees, with herb shrubs.\u201d (2) Midjourney varieties after using (Pan Right) feature. (3) Midjourney varieties after using (Make Square) feature. (4) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom out) feature. (5) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature. (6) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature. (7) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt \u201caerial bird view perspective watercolor rendering of a midwestern grid landscape that has largescale alley cropping.\u201d (8) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt \u201caerial bird view perspective watercolor rendering of a midwestern grid landscape that has corn and soybean crops.\u201d (9) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom Out) feature. (10) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt \u201caerial bird view perspective watercolor rendering of a midwestern grid landscape that has corn and soybean crops.\u201d (11) Final version after editing with Adobe Photoshop.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The development of the new version of the conventional landscape representation. The figure presents only the parts of the workflow that fed the final output. The figure shows the development of the image through three steps. The first two steps were generated in Midjourney. Each of the Midjourney queries generated four varieties. The black rectangles represent the varieties we selected to further develop the image. (1) Midjourney generated varieties of the prompt: \u201cAerial detailed wide angle watercolor, rendering of flat midwestern grid landscape with homogenous and uniform corn fields, largescale homogenous corn fields, with perennial crops and small grains, with rolling hills and town in the background, with water tower and homes, with livestock grazing in a pasture full with trees and bushes, wind turbines in the horizon, solar panels in the middle ground, main street leading to the town, farm storage for equipment, grain elevator, grain storage, processing plant, and market in the middle ground, there is a prairie area with wildlife habitat.\u201d (2) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom Out) feature. (3) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt: \u201cdetailed town, with houses, with farmsteads, surrounded by trees : people are walking : cars.\u201d (4) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom Out) feature. (5) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt: \u201c homogenous corn rows in largescale corn fields.\u201d (6) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201csolar panels : solar panels : solar panels : solar panels <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/sbFROmkAa5o> –v 6.0.\u201d (7) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201clivestock pasture <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/Kjnzh_RdI1I> –v 6.0.\u201d (8) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201clivestock pasture <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/4cIy6zd5nro> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/Kjnzh_RdI1I> –v 6.0.\u201d (9) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201cgrain elevator, processing plant, storages <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/YKeYN6GxJZA> –v 6.0.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The development of the new version of the extended rotation landscape representation. The figure presents only the parts of the workflow that fed the final output. The figure shows the development of the image through three steps. The first two steps were generated in Midjourney. Each of the Midjourney queries generated four varieties. The black rectangles represent the varieties we selected to further develop the image. (1) Midjourney generated varieties of the prompt: \u201cAerial wide angle watercolor rendering of flat midwestern grid landscape with rolling hills, the fields are rendered different shades of green and yellow to represent a diversity of crops, including corn, oats, wheat, alfalfa, cereal rye, peas, and sunflower. The fields are largescale with homogenous rows, and surrounded by windbreaks. The rolling hills are cultivated in the style of contour planting. There is a town in the background, with water tower and homes. A herd of livestock is grazing in fenced pastures that has trees and wind turbines. There are solar panels in the middle ground. A main street and electricity lines are leading to the town. There are a few on farm storages for equipment. There is a grain elevator and processing plant in the background, with market next to it. Prominent to this image is a wildlife habitat with water stream and a pond.\u201d (2) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom Out) feature. (3) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom Out) feature. (4) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt: \u201clargescale grid of fields. Each is in different shade of green, representing oats, wheat, alfalfa, cereal rye, peas, and sunflower. The fields are largescale with homogenous rows, and surrounded by windbreaks. A herd of livestock is grazing in fenced pastures that has trees and wind turbines. –v 6.0.\u201d (5) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt: \u201csolar panels : solar panels <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/sbFROmkAa5o> –v 6.0.\u201d (6) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201ctown with homes : town with water tower : homes : electricity lines : town with trees : countryside : countryside <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/hkEoE8g0oUM> –v 6.0.\u201d (7) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201cagroforestry : alley cropping : trees with crops underneath <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/jx4WXEC48MY> –v 6.0.\u201d (8) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201cgreenhouses <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/4ccqpwWy_ng> –v 6.0.\u201d (9) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201cgrain elevator <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/YKeYN6GxJZA> –v 6.0.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The development of the new version of the horticultural crops landscape representation. The figure presents only the parts of the workflow that fed the final output. The figure shows the development of the image through three steps. The first two steps were generated in Midjourney. Each of the Midjourney queries generated four varieties. The black rectangles represent the varieties we selected to further develop the image. (1) Midjourney generated varieties of the prompt: \u201cAerial wide angle watercolor rendering of flat midwestern grid landscape. There are largescale highly mechanized commercial vegetable planting fields. The fields are rendered different textures and shades of green other colors to represent a diversity of vegetable crops, including tomatoes, squash, pumpkin, kale and other greens. There are also apple orchards, grape vines, and berries\u2019 hedges. The fields are largescale with homogenous rows, and surrounded by windbreaks. There are many greenhouses, high tunnels, and low tunnels. There is a town in the background, with water tower and homes. A herd of livestock is grazing in fenced pastures that has trees and wind turbines. A main street and electricity lines are leading to the town. There are on farm storages for equipment. There is a cold storage and processing plant. Prominent to this image is a prairie wildlife habitat with water stream and a water pond.\u201d (2) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom Out) feature. (3) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt: \u201clargescale highly mechanized commercial vegetable planting fields. The fields are rendered different textures and shades of green other colors to represent a diversity of vegetable crops, including tomatoes, squash, pumpkin, kale and other greens. –v 6.0.\u201d (4) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201clow tunnels and greenhouses <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/CBDM76rZfqY> –v 6.0.\u201d (5) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201clow tunnels and greenhouses : greenhouses : greenhouses : greenhouses <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/CBDM76rZfqY> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/gxginT1lMno> –v 6.0.\u201d (6) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201cgreenhouses : greenhouses : greenhouses : greenhouses <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/NOOXMbKF0Ms> –v 6.0.\u201d (7) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201ctown with houses : town : houses <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/hkEoE8g0oUM> –v 6.0.\u201d (8) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201corchards : fruit trees : orchards : fruit trees <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/CkB_LnMHBcw> –v 6.0.\u201d (9) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201corchards : fruit trees : orchards : fruit trees <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/EVaK82MDqWw> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/jx4WXEC48MY> –v 6.0.\u201d (10) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201corchards : fruit trees : orchards : fruit trees <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/-NE2klp5wTY> –v 6.0.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The development of the new version of the grazing pastures and perennial crops\u2019 landscape representation. The figure presents only the parts of the workflow that fed the final output. The figure shows the development of the image through three steps. The first two steps were generated in Midjourney. Each of the Midjourney queries generated four varieties. The black rectangles represent the varieties we selected to further develop the image. (1) Midjourney generated varieties of the prompt: \u201cAerial wide angle watercolor rendering of midwestern rolling hills and flat plains. The rolling hills are pastures for several cows, several sheep, several pigs, and many chicken. Each of these livestock types are separated in a different pasture by metallic fences. The pastures have scattered trees and bushes. There are barns, chicken coops, and farmsteads. There is a town in the middle ground, with water tower and wind turbines. A processing plant for diary and meat is in the background. The plains are cultivated by hay and alfalfa. Hay bales are visible, with a tractor. There is a water stream surrounded by riparian buffers. People walk in the landscape.\u201d (2) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Strong) feature. (3) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom Out) feature. (4) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt: \u201cflat plain divided into ten fields. The fields are cultivated by homogenous rows of hay and alfalfa. Hay bales are visible, with a tractor and hay storage. There is a water stream surrounded by riparian buffers. People walk in the landscape. –v 6.0.\u201d (5) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt: \u201cFields, grid of fields, characterized by different shades of green. The fields are cultivated by homogenous rows of hay and alfalfa. Hay bales are visible, with a tractor and hay storage. There is a water stream surrounded by riparian buffers. People walk in the landscape. –v 6.0.\u201d (6) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201ctown and homes : town : town <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/hkEoE8g0oUM> –v 6.0.\u201d (7) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201ctown and homes : town : town : fit scale to surrounding <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/hkEoE8g0oUM> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/5Slff8vJcw0> –v 6.0.\u201d (8) Midjourney varieties after using (Remix Strong) feature with prompt: \u201caerial wide angle watercolor rendering of midwestern rolling hills and flat plains. The rolling hells are pastures for several cows, several sheep, several pigs, and many chicken. Each of these livestock types are separated in a different pasture by metallic fences. The pastures have scattered trees and bushes. There are barns, chicken coops, and farmsteads. There is a town in the middle ground, with water tower and wind turbines. A processing plant for diary and meat is in the background. The plains are cultivated by hay and alfalfa. Hay bales are visible, with a tractor. There is a water stream surrounded by riparian buffers. People walk in the landscape.\u201d (9) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom Out) feature. (10) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt: \u201cflat plains. The plains are cultivated by hay and alfalfa. Hay bales are visible, with a tractor. there is a water stream.\u201d (11) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201cflat plains. The plains are cultivated by hay and alfalfa. Hay bales are visible, with a tractor. there is a water stream <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/OoTDQN2bkqU> –v 6.0.\u201d (12) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201ctown : homes : town surrounded by trees : water stream <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/hkEoE8g0oUM> –v 6.0.\u201d (13) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201cforest : trees : forest : trees <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/jx4WXEC48MY> –v 6.0.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The development of the new agroforestry image. The figure shows the development of the image through thirteen steps in Midjourney. Each of the Midjourney queries generated four varieties. The black rectangles represent the varieties we selected to further develop the image. (1) Midjourney generated varieties of the prompt: \u201caerial wide angle watercolor rendering of midwestern rolling hills and flat plains. The image is characterized by largescale groves of organized tree lines of various species, including chestnut, hazelnut, and diverse fruit trees. Different crops are cultivated under the tree canopy, including vegetable crops, cash crops, shrubs, herbs. A narrow water stream is visible. A main street leads to a town in the background, surrounded by wind turbines. In the middle ground, chicken, turkey, and pigs eat grass under chestnut trees. There are chicken and turkey coops in this farm. Adjacent to the coops is a shed for pigs. There is also a storage building and a house. Some farming equipment are visible in front of the storage and in the farm. A riparian buffer locates on the edge of this farm where wildlife thrives. Adjacent to the town are processing facilities for fruit and nuts production.\u201d (2) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Subtle) feature. (3) Midjourney varieties after using (Zoom Out) feature. (4) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201cagroforestry : trees in homogenous straight rows : livestock understory <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/bCTjisRbVY8> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/CkB_LnMHBcw> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/EVaK82MDqWw> –v 6.0.\u201d (5) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201calley cropping : trees <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/M8QI3szz8-0> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/EVaK82MDqWw> –v 6.0.\u201d (6) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201calley cropping : trees <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/M8QI3szz8-0> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/EVaK82MDqWw> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/5EqfeJ3duZ4> –v 6.0.\u201d (7) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201csilvopasture : trees and cows : pasture with livestock <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/wMXsBKdAwQI> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/tSghQh8OxvE> –v 6.0.\u201d (8) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201csilvopasture : trees and cows : pasture with livestock <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/wMXsBKdAwQI> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/tSghQh8OxvE> –v 6.0.\u201d (9) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt: \u201cagroforestry : silvopasture : cows under trees : trees and cows : pasture with livestock –v 6.0.\u201d (10) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201ctown : homes : town : processing plant : town : homes <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/hkEoE8g0oUM> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/K3PUaNZSNg8> –v 6.0.\u201d. (11) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference image: \u201corchard: food forest : trees : orchard : food forest : trees <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/43LJ5sluIgQ> –v 6.0.\u201d (12) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201corchard: food forest : trees : orchard : food forest : trees <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/43LJ5sluIgQ> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/9l5nCfAGp2o> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/tnQPJuMA0k8> –v 6.0.\u201d (13) Midjourney varieties after using (Vary Region) feature with prompt and reference images: \u201corchard: food forest : trees : orchard : food forest : trees <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/43LJ5sluIgQ> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/9l5nCfAGp2o> <https:\/\/s.mj.run\/tnQPJuMA0k8> –v 6.0.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n