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| Image Courtesy: aecmag.com |
The Trimble Navigation was established in 1978 and is well-known names in the field of construction and surveying, with a concentration on surveying in construction, agriculture, mapping and GIS and giving various mobile solutions for the employees in the field. It employs around 7,600 staffs in 33 countries and has annual turnover of approximately $2.5 billion. We are bring the excerpt from the blog of author Shaun Bryant published on www.aecmag.com (AEC Magazine)
The newest acquirement consists of SketchUp in 2012 and Gehry Technologies in 2014, with various others making Trimble a world-wide player in the CAD marketplace. It has developed SketchUp and is creating it accessibility to different mobile field teams that need a simple, and low-cost, 3D CAD solution.
MEPdesigner is actually a SketchUp plug-in prepared for the mechanical, electrical and piping disciplines. Shaun Bryant has written in his article that he had the chance to chat with Paul Goldsmith who is the segment manager and Douglas Elliott, the responsible product manager from Trimble about MEPdesigner (Version 1) that how the new plug-in works and what plans they have for it in the MEP marketplace.
Primarily, Trimble was looking at SketchUp and resolute to pursue the 80/20 rule. As a guide, the top 20 percent of MEP users have Autodesk Revit MEP. Trimble required a product that permitted the other 80 percent to own a 3D MEP design tool. MEPdesigner fits perfectly into that other 80 percent segment, giving 3D design competence.
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| Image Courtesy: aecmag.com |
In a go-getting six-month growth period, Trimble fashioned V1 of MEPdesigner, which is first and foremost created for electrical contractors and engineers who are by now, using Trimble’s SketchUp for theoretical engineering and design. Even if designers are not using SketchUp now, the interface is trouble-free to learn and use.
Trimble’s MEPdesigner workflow permits for theoretical 3D design to be imported into Trimble Connect for online design development and clash spotting in existing 3D models. This permits design information to be taken care from the 3D model to the field.
It also delivers a quick and efficient tools for SketchUp users for early theoretical MEP design, showing placement of equipment in a 3D environment, which permits for speedy clash detection and high-quality design intent communication with both the design team and team members onsite.
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| Image Courtesy: aecmag.com |
When project management is to be concerned, the MEPdesigner allows the trouble-free communiqué of the 3D model among the owner, engineer and contractor and the field team and gives communication of design target of power, low voltage and specialist MEP systems. Collision detection is the name of the day which can lead to effectual pre-fabrication chances and improve the security record on the construction site. Another major advantage of MEPdesigner is the easiness in which daily work packages can be expressed to the suitable design teams. Using Trimble Connect via an internet browser, all 3D design can be highlighted and clash detect easily.
As conversation with the Trimble team, SketchUp and MEPdesigner give the possibility to make all MEP team members 3D experts. MEPdesigner needs SketchUp Pro to function but this gives right of entry to the SketchUp 3D Warehouse and many manufacturers’ content also accessible in SketchUp, thus giving an unbelievable amount of content for any designer; beginner, intermediate or expert.
MEPdesigner permits MEP design to go mobile. Bryant mentioned in his blog that interoperability with Trimble Connect. Any MEP design can be examined in the SketchUp Mobile Viewer, on tablets and other mobile gadgets. Field points can be added in MEPdesigner for the teams out in the field, which can then be utilized by the Trimble Field Points software with Robotic Station, giving accurate GPS point location for MEP data on any site.
As designs are made in MEPdesigner, the Level of Detail (LoD) becomes very vital. Trimble is tergettign for LoD of 350 (LoD 350) with all visual representation of 3D designs. This is the required standard.
The Trimble eco-system, MEPdesigner is spread via the Extension Warehouse, along with frequent Trimble AutoCAD apps, such as 2015Trimble Connect (acquired from Gehry Technologies).
Bryant was very happy with the section tool in Trimble Connect as he wrote in his blog. In a 3D view, this allowable for what has to be some of the easiest section manipulation he had seen in a 3D model. It is slick, fast and works.
The Version 1 of MEPdesigner is meant for electrical designers and contractors, with the bulk of 3D parts coming from another Trimble spin-off, TradeService. This controls all 3D data in MEPdesigner.
While these parts are mainly electrical, there will be much more targeting on piping and ducting in later versions with the 3D Warehouse provided that the mainstream of 3D components in SketchUp itself.
One of SketchUp’s main triumphant is the ability to convert 2D drawings to 3D models. In a step-by-step process, SketchUp and MEPdesigner can get better a 3D MEP model rapidly and successfully.
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| Image Courtesy: aecmag.com |
Step 1: Using Trimble Connect, a 2D reference model can be carried to SketchUp. A 3D model can then be generated from the 2D reference drawing, using 3D components in SketchUp. Typical component would be walls, doors and windows. Service openings can then be generated as well. As Trimble Connect is a free SketchUp Extension, the reference model link is faultless.
Step 2: Using MEPdesigner, the 3D model would be populated with 3D MEP components, which would then be linked with MEPdesigner by way of electrical conduit, as V1 of MEPdesigner is mainly electrical. There is no aptitude to bend conduit or use flex conduit in V1 as its main content revolves around larger rigid electrical components. However, custom components can be developed from the basic components that given, such as a breaker panel with specific connections.
MEPdesigner is diverse to most SketchUp plug-ins by way of its top level menu and toolbar that users usually use to carry on the design palette and tools. This interface is used to add parts and route conduit. Once these parts are in place, part grip can be facilitated in SketchUp in the common way and conduit and cable trays come in with real world lengths with spacers and couplings.
Once created, all MEPdesigner models can be loaded into Tekla BIMsight, where smash detections can tag and allocated to field teams. This tagged impact can then be brought back into MEPdesigner, reviewed, re-designed therefore and then signed off by the field teams.
Using SketchUp Layout, views from the 3D model can be sent to paper or electronic drawings. Any points can then be sent to field teams using the Trimble Robotic Station.
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| Image Courtesy: aecmag.com |
Conclusion: SketchUp Pro with the MEPdesigner plug-in gives an immense 3D MEP solution for within $1,000. However, it does have a long way to go to fight with some of its other contestants in this trade, such as Autodesk Revit MEP with its flexible conduit and layout testing tools.
But bearing in mind that MEPdesigner is only at Version 1, as per his blog, Bryant was sure about the growth team at Trimble will be working in the best way to make improvements and to prepare much more content.
V1 of MEPdesigner is targeted at the electrical marketplace setting up bigger electrical installations. With piping and ducting to follow, the MEPdesigner SketchUp plug-in will go from force to force, competing well with other MEP application offerings.
SketchUp has enhanced noticeably since the getting hold of ownership by Trimble, and MEPdesigner will be treated with the same rigid development and marketing, thus positioning it in the marketplace as the inexpensive easy learning solution, which is precisely where Trimble wants to be.
Overall, the MEPdesigner being a highly functional plug-in for SketchUp with a good future ahead of it, as long as Trimble keeps up the product development and component development it has fixed to SketchUp so far.
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Published By
Rajib Dey
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