By Brandon Knapp Uncategorized 0 Comments

Trimble Robotic Total Stations Bring Maximum Efficiency to the Job Site

When it comes to building layout, The Trimble RTS Series Robotic Total Stations enable contractors to perform tasks with maximum efficiency when compared to mechanical systems used in residential, municipal and  commercial building construction. BuildingPoint Midwest is a leading dealer of the Trimble RTS Series and we offer the RTS 655, 771, 773 and 873 models.

Learn more about each Trimble RTS, their capabilities and features below:

Trimble RTS 655

The Trimble RTS655 easily streamlines the layout of control lines, excavation lines, concrete forms and anchor bolts. It can handle anything from light topographic projects to as-built data collection.

Built in Trimble MagDrive™ Servo Technology means incredible speed, accuracy and a smooth and silent operation. Trimble SurePoint™ ensures accurate measurements through auto-correction for unwanted movement caused by external factors like wind. Trimble MultiTrack™ locks on and tracks passive prisms for control measurements and active targets for dynamic measurement, stakeout and grade control.

Key features:

  • Using the Class 3R Laser Pointer, visually mark points, with unequalled precision.
  • Automatic Servo Focus sets the optical focus for quick manual aiming when laying out points in DR mode.
  • Combine with Trimble Field Link software running on the Trimble Field Tablet to optimize your accuracy and productivity.

Trimble RTS 771

The Trimble RTS 771 is the ideal machine for your most demanding projects. This one-inch angle accuracy instrument raises the bar in high-accuracy positioning for general contractors. For construction applications, your company needs a measurement solution with optimal speed, accuracy and reliability. By combining the Trimble DR HP Precision EDM with Trimble VISION you will have the flexibility to tackle the most demanding projects.

Key features:

  • Trimble VISION video-assisted robotic measurement
  • Visual verification with data overlay and photo documentation
  • MagDrive technology for maximum speed and efficiency
  • Combine with Trimble Field Link software running on the Trimble Field Tablet to optimize your accuracy and productivity.
  • MultiTrack technology offers the choice between passive and active tracking 1″ angle accuracy
  • Automatic Servo Focus sets the optical focus for quick manual aiming when laying out points in DR mode.

Trimble RTS 773

The Trimble RTS773 incorporates advanced technologies to quickly and reliably deliver accurate layout, ensuring design intent is accomplished correctly the first time.

The RTS773’s Trimble MagDrive™ Servo Technology provides for exceptional speed and accuracy with smooth, silent operation. Trimble SurePoint™ Technology ensures accurate measurements by automatically correcting for unwanted movement. Finally, Trimble MultiTrack™ technology locks on and tracks passive prisms for control measurements and active targets for dynamic measurement, stakeout and grade control.

Key features:

  • Trimble VISION video-assisted robotic measurement
  • MagDrive technology for top efficiency and speed
  • Visual verification with data overlay and photographic documentation
  • MultiTrack technology delivers the choice between passive and active tracking

Trimble RTS 873

The Trimble RTS 873 offers the very best in advanced technology for construction layout. This machine allows your employees to eliminate the guesswork with it’s bright, autofocusing green laser, ensuring heightened layout precision.  Combined with Trimble Field Link running on the Trimble tablet, this system also will compensate for uneven surfaces to ensure total positioning accuracy.

Key features:

  • A Smarter Pointer with bright green, autofocusing laser and auto-correction for uneven surfaces
  • Trimble VISION video-assisted robotic measurement
  • MultiTrack technology offers the choice between passive and active tracking
  • MagDrive technology for maximum speed and efficiency
By Brandon Knapp Uncategorized 0 Comments

BuildingPoint Midwest & Gulf Coast’s Ellsworth Authors Scan to BIM Guide

Todd Ellsworth, Director of Professional Services for BuildingPoint Midwest and Gulf Coast recently authored a Scan to BIM Guide featured prominently on the Trimble Construction website Constructible.

Whether you’re a contractor that scans to meet your point cloud deliverable or you’re already using a scan to BIM process, Todd’s guide provides all you need to know about the scan to BIM process.

To download and read this valuable guide, click here.

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ASTM E1155 Floor Flatness Reports in a Fraction of the Time

Measuring floor flatness is an essential element of any large-scale construction project. And until recently, manually producing Floor Flatness Reports was a process that could last anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Now, with the Trimble TX6 3D Laser Scanner and RealWorks software, high-resolution Floor Flatness Reports that meet ASTM E1155 standards can be produced in just a matter of minutes, saving valuable time.

Our TX6 scanner delivers state-of-the-art speed and unmatched precision that make the dream of fast and accurate Floor Flatness Reports a reality.

The Trimble® RealWorks point cloud modeling software enables construction professionals to register, visualize, manipulate and analyze as-built data collected from their Trimble TX6 3D laser scanners.

When it comes to mandatory Floor Flatness Reports, RealWorks delivers industry-standard ASTM E1155 reporting criteria to easily view actual flatness. RealWorks Floor Flatness Reports quickly output a common language that speeds the identification of intolerance and out of tolerance areas, highlighting them according to specific requirements.

Create Floor Flatness Reports in minutes! Contact BuildingPoint Midwest & Gulf Coast today to request a free demonstration of the Trimble TX6 3D Laser Scanner & Realworks.

(855) 332-7527

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BuildingPoint Midwest Partners with Viewpoint

BuildingPoint Midwest is very excited to announce a brand new partnership with construction project management software company Viewpoint.

We will work alongside Viewpoint’s sales and professional services teams to deliver the latest technology and software solutions to the Illinois market, creating a “one-stop-shop” for contractors to fulfill their ongoing business and technology needs.

“This is a win-win partnership that will strengthen our combined abilities to deliver a full suite of leading-edge construction solutions to contractors,” said Nicholas DiBitetto, general manager of BuildingPoint Midwest. “We’re consistently asked about construction ERP solutions by our clients and having this relationship with Viewpoint will allow us to better serve our clients’ complete needs.”

DiBitetto said most of those inquiries come from BPM’s existing Trimble client base and helping these clients understand the full suite of technology solutions and services available to them is a key part of this relationship. The partnership also creates new opportunities in the heavy highway and civil engineering space, allowing BPM to re-engage with former clients — currently being serviced by Trimble — for their ERP and business software needs.

BuildingPoint Midwest Account Executive Charley Forey will lead our Viewpoint team. With more than a decade of project management and process improvement experience in software development and deployment for construction businesses, Charley has proven to be an invaluable resource providing oversight during ERP selection and implementation projects.

“By adding Viewpoint’s solutions to our mix it gives us greater flexibility to meet our goal of helping contractors innovate and modernize,” DiBitetto said. “We want to stretch the boundaries of what technology can help them achieve and we know Charley will help lead the way in those efforts.”

For more information about Viewpoint, contact Charley at D: (855) 332-7527 | C: (630) 777-5167 or by email at charles.forey@buildingpointpartners.com

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MCAA, JBKnowledge Discuss XR10 Practical Applications and Upgrades

The team at Mechanical Contractors Association of America and JBKnowledge recently released an updated evaluation and report detailing practical applications and upgrades for the Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2. It is a comparison report to the HoloLens 1.

Since the first iteration of this augmented reality technology was released in 2016, many in the construction industry have been asking for information that would justify the expense and ROI of this technology in the field. We took some time to read through the report, which you can download from the MCAA website below, and wanted to outline some of what was revealed.

Practical Applications of the Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2

The MCAA produced an initial report on the HoloLens 1 in 2018 and in that time updates in the technology have proven out a few more practical applications. We’ve included the report’s findings for you here along with direct independent quotes for each application.

Design Coordination — “Users with robust models can overlay their BIM model on top of existing building systems to confirm their planned design and installation will work with other building systems that are or will be installed.”

Installation Instruction — “Contractors are using the HoloLens to provide end-users instructions for installing building systems. Users are able to view installation instructions step by step and perform work without taking time to evaluate and look at plans and specs because the model in front of them was built to those same plans and specs prior.”

Installation Verification and Quality Management — “Contractors are not only using their BIM Models to plan and execute their work but also to verify that material was installed correctly according to quality standards. Users can overlay their models on the installed material and capture photos or videos of the quality issues. They can also annotate the model to call out quality issues for others to see and address when performing a walkthrough.”

Field Service Manuals and Instruction —  “Service divisions can equip field service technicians with the XR10 so they can access service manuals and instructions hands-free. Having Windows 10 accessible in a user’s line of sight makes it easy to pull up helpful documentation for servicing and repairing building systems without having to carry around a handbook, laptop or tablet which improves their productivity. A well-trained XR10 user can spend less time on every service task, increasing the profitability of the service department.”

Live Support for Service Technicians —  “Senior technicians can remotely assist other technicians with an XR10 by video conferencing with them, annotating their current view and providing backup support without forcing them to meet onsite.”

Performance Upgrades of the Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2

The latest MCAA report also details many of the performance upgrades and enhancements that were made from the first-generation HoloLens to the latest model. The most obvious and beneficial, according to the report, is the ability to mount the unit to hard hats. Other upgrades include:

  • Faster computing speed with an upgraded CPU
  • Twice the amount of RAM, which allows for multi-tasking in applications
  • Upgraded 8MP camera now with 1080p camera
  • 73 percent larger field of view
  • Flip-up lens that attaches to standard hard hats
  • Gesture changes that now tracks eye movements
  • Ergonomic improvements that make wearing the device much more comfortable

In conclusion, the MCAA & JBKnowledge report reveals enhanced practical applications, use cases and performance upgrades for the Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2 when compared against the first-generation released four years ago. We invite you to download the full report here via the MCAA webiste.

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Get Hololens Technology on Your Job Site Today!

We get it. Construction technology is evolving faster than your company can keep pace with. The latest in that technology are mixed-reality solutions.

Mixed Reality technology blends real-world objects with digital content, interactively, and in real-time. Together with holographic technology, it brings the models out of the screen and helps people efficiently interpret physical and digital information, and the spatial relations between them.

The leader in Mixed Reality is Trimble Connect for Hololens. Built on the cloud-hosted Trimble Connect collaboration platform, Trimble Connect for HoloLens supports a new way of working with AECO models throughout the building lifecycle, providing every stakeholder with the latest data on their site, literally.

Benefits of Trimble Connect for Hololens

It’s no overstatement to say Mixed Reality technology like Trimble Connect for Hololens will completely change the way you do business. Beyond improving accuracy and jobsite efficiency, there are countless other benefits, including:

  • Increase confidence and reduce rework by effectively conveying and clarifying design intent and impact to all stakeholders.
  • Maximize your BIM investment to track progress, quickly identify discrepancies, and assure quality by overlaying models on the real world.
  • Optimize and expedite coordination with stacked 3D data from multiple trades, both digital and physical.
  • Accelerate decision making and reduce downtime by enhancing communication and collaboration between local and remote teams.

Test Connect for Hololens on Your Next Project

The Project Managers, VDC experts and Connect Trainers at BuildingPoint Midwest and Gulf Coast can help your company implement this amazing technology on just about any jobsite. Our team will work with your crew onsite to :

  • Prepare all of the necessary rental equipment
  • Outfit hardhats with Hololens units
  • Train the team on Connect for Hololens
  • Prepare all models
  • Help you understand and optimize ROI

CALL US TO TEST HOLOLENS ON YOUR NEXT JOBSITE. (855) 332-7527

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Increase Your Speed & Accuracy with the Trimble RPT600


Meet Trimble’s amazing Rapid Positioning System. The all-in-one solution that will replace your tape measure on the job site.

The Trimble RPT600  was created specifically for common layout jobs on the construction site and it’s got everything you need to measure positions faster, more easily, and a high degree of accuracy.

The Trimble RPT600 Layout Station with Trimble Field Link 2D software measures distances and finds positions on the construction job site. Designed and engineered from scratch, the RPT600 meets all unique layout needs for:

  • Floors
  • Walls and ceilings
  • Formwork
  • Decking
  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • Concrete slabs
  • Mechanical

Whether your projects are big or small, the Trimble RPT600 puts Trimble quality and accuracy at your fingertips with only the unique features that you need.

It’s a Smarter Way to Work

The Trimble RPT600 does the work for you! It automates the measuring of distances and angles, so it finds positions faster and more accurately than a tape measure. For most building construction jobs, it’s also faster and more efficient than a total station, because it’s specifically designed to make layout projects easy. It doesn’t include features for you to adapt to, or work around…or pay for.

Work with Confidence with the RPT600

The Trimble RPT600 is simple enough for anyone to operate with confidence—its automated functions, one-button setup, and guided workflows are quick to learn. But even though this system is easy to use, it still delivers Trimble quality and accuracy.

Autostationing with Smart One-Button Setup

No matter where the tool is placed, setup is fast and automatic. Set the RPT600 on a tripod or attach it to a stationary element on the worksite. Trimble Autostationing technology lets the system self-locate relative to the project you are working on. No leveling required. Just press the green button!

About BuildingPoint Midwest & Gulf Coast

BuildingPoint Midwest & Gulf Coast is a leader in providing technology across the construction industry. Our solutions are designed to make your job sites work more efficiently and accurately, making your company more profitable.

If you’d like a FREE demo of the Trimble RPT600 or any of our other technology, contact us today!

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Trimble ProjectSight Makes Your Job Easier

Discover a project management solution that makes your job easier. Managing a construction site is like orchestrating a symphony. You’re trying to keep everyone working together seamlessly, but it’s easy to fall out of sync.

With Trimble ProjectSight, you get a project management solution that makes your job easier and allows your team to work in synchronicity, including:

  • Project Managers can collaborate and communicate—in real-time with their teams—across the construction site
  • Superintendents can organize their day—prioritizing projects and inspections with ease—using a live interface with the team
  • Project Engineers can manage all the data across the job site for fast, easy resolution of any issues among the team in real time

For more information on Trimble ProjectSight, visit our ProjectSight page or contact a BuildingPoint representative today. 

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Case Study: Pepper Construction Builds a Highly-Effective Model-Based Cost Estimating Process

Pepper Construction is one of the largest contractors in the Midwest and the company proudly leads the industry in virtual, lean and sustainable construction.

To improve competitiveness, Pepper Construction team leaders wanted the ability to develop granular-level breakouts within estimates to give customers more insight into project costs. Looking to meet these goals and to also inject consistency, speed and accuracy into its pricing process, Pepper Construction turned to BuildingPoint Midwest and Trimble for help.

BuildingPoint Midwest provided Pepper with Trimble® GC Estimator Suite, which includes WinEst, Vico Office and three Vico modules. These solutions improved Pepper’s estimating results in the following ways:

  • Improved estimate accuracy and consistency
  • Accelerated digital takeoffs
  • 4D BIM for scheduling and 5D BIM for estimating
  • Increased cost transparency with cost breakouts

To read the entire detailed Pepper Construction case study, click the button below.

View Case Study

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Trimble Visiting Professionals Program Visits Auburn University

We were very excited recently to see a great article on the Trimble SketchUp blog featuring the Trimble Visiting Professionals Program. The reason being the article featured one of BuildingPoint Gulf Coast’s partners, Auburn University in Alabama.

The VPP brings design and construction professionals using SketchUp and other Trimble products into college classrooms to demonstrate to students how they use technology in their jobs every day.

According to the SketchUp blog, “industry experts engage with students through workshops, lectures, tech demos, and hands-on training. By sharing their experiences, skillsets, and insights they are inspiring the next generation of design and engineering professionals.”

View more about the Auburn program in the video above and read more on the SketchUp blog.