BIM company Trimble has donated both hardware and software solutions to Colorado's top construction education program
On March 27th, Trimble announced that they were giving an in-kind gift to Colorado State University's Department of Construction Management. The department focuses on the technological and managerial aspects of construction work, and the undergraduate program is currently the only program in Colorado accredited by the American Council for Construction Education.
“Collaborating with CSU’s Department of Construction Management has been exciting. Trimble’s portfolio is highly relevant for students at the university,” Trimble vice president Roz Buick said. “It will be rewarding to see the next generation of architecture, engineering, construction and building operations professionals experience the breadth and depth of our construction lifecycle solutions."
The donated software spans Trimble's portfolio, including RealWorks scanning software, Trimble Business Center, Vico Office Suite, Tekla Structures, Sefaira Architecture and SketchUp Pro, alongside MEP-specific software. Trimble also plans to donate the accompanying hardware, including laser scanning equipment, Field Link and Rapid Positioning Systems, UAS and surveying systems, and GNSS receivers. The donation will essentially make Trimble's solutions the common platform across the department.
In the company’s press release on the donation, Buick also stressed that it will give the students the opportunity to “apply our solutions to real-world applications in their curricula." Some of these applications include scanning buildings for preservation and renovation, creating 3D-printed models of buildings, conducting surveying, and improving construction estimating and scheduling.
“Through numerous pieces of Trimble hardware and software applications, students gain important exposure to cutting edge technologies in surveying, virtual design and construction (VDC)-based estimating, site logistics, 3D modeling, building energy performance analysis, laser scanning, photogrammetry, and so on. said Jon Elliott, the Assistant Head of the department. “Through this exciting collaboration, Trimble is making significant contributions to our goal of preparing construction management students for a technologically advanced and dynamic construction industry.”