Trimble, Illinois Tech Partner to Establish Trimble Technology Lab

Illinois Institute of Technology has received a gift from Trimble to establish the state-of-the-art Trimble Technology Lab for the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering’s construction engineering and management program. The lab will expand the university’s expertise in civil and environmental infrastructure, building construction field systems, and project controls and collaboration.

Trimble’s broad Connected Construction portfolio enables professionals along the project lifecycle to accelerate project processes—improving productivity, quality, transparency, safety, and sustainability, while reducing waste.

The Trimble Technology Lab will provide undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Illinois Tech’s civil and architectural engineering programs with hands-on experience through a wide breadth of Trimble solutions. Applications of these solutions include conceptual design, estimating, structural engineering and analysis, project management, and office-to-field solutions. Partnering with Trimble allows Illinois Tech to integrate cutting-edge solutions into its curricula and empowers graduates to rapidly transform how buildings and living environments are designed and constructed.

“Working with David Arditi, Illinois Tech’s designated Trimble Technology Lab faculty champion, to establish this newest lab provides a thrilling new addition to our network of universities,” says Allyson McDuffie, director of education and outreach at Trimble. “This education and outreach program, currently spread across 10 countries, aims to support the next generation of influencers by actively integrating industry-leading Trimble solutions into higher education curricula and research programs, creating a new workforce equipped and empowered to ‘Transform the Way the World Works.’”

“The Illinois Tech-Trimble collaboration makes it possible for the CAEE department at Illinois Tech, Chicago’s only tech-focused university, to harness the innovative tools and resources developed by Trimble. The aim is to accelerate students’ understanding of how to use innovative equipment and processes in the engineering, construction, and management of building and civil projects,” says Arditi, professor of civil and architectural engineering at Illinois Tech. “Trimble software and equipment will enable hands-on learning experiences for undergraduate and graduate students in civil, architectural, and construction engineering. Students in the College of Architecture will also benefit from this partnership by having access to the software and equipment provided.”

The lab will include a broad range of Trimble’s industry-leading solutions such as the Trimble XR10 HoloLens with hardhat, Trimble SiteVision augmented reality solution, 3D laser scanners, and Trimble total stations. Advanced software solutions include RealWorks scanning software, Trimble Business Center, ProjectSight, Tekla Structures, Tekla Structural Designer, Tekla Tedds, Trimble Connect, and the company’s popular 3D modeling software, SketchUp Pro.

“We are thrilled to bring the Trimble Technology Lab to our campus,” says Brent Stephens, chair of the civil, architectural, and environmental engineering department. “The hands-on experiences enabled by this gift will make an immediate and lasting impact on our students’ education and careers.”