Scotland’s Edinburgh Napier University to Establish Trimble Technology Lab

Scotland’s Edinburgh Napier University has received a gift from Trimble to establish a state-of-the-art Technology Lab for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC). The lab will expand the university’s leadership in training and research in 3D building design, digital fabrication and the sustainable built environment.

Trimble’s broad portfolio of building construction solutions support the Constructible Process, Trimble’s innovative approach for enabling digital transformation of AEC workflows. This process empowers disparate teams across the construction lifecycle with actionable data to improve productivity and reduce waste.

The Trimble Technology Lab will provide students enrolled in Edinburgh Napier’s School of Engineering & the Built Environment (SEBE), including Architectural Technology, Civil Engineering and Project Management Programs, hands-on experience with Trimble solutions. Applications of these solutions range from scanning buildings or sites, design and 3D printing of architectural building models and digital fabrication to implementing construction cost estimating and scheduling to improve productivity and reduce costs. Partnering with Trimble allows Edinburgh Napier University to more fully integrate across its curricula the technological tools that are rapidly transforming how buildings and living environments are designed and constructed.

“We're extremely excited to be establishing a state-of-the art Trimble Technology Lab in collaboration with Scotland’s Edinburgh Napier University,” said Allyson McDuffie, director of Education & Outreach at Trimble. “Our mission in transforming the AEC industry requires that we invest in aspiring designers, architects, contractors, engineers and project management professionals by driving awareness of, and access to, industry-leading solutions for training and research.”

“We are proud to be joining forces with Trimble to create the first dedicated Trimble Technology Laboratory in Scotland,” said Professor Andrea Nolan, principal and vice-chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University. “This generous gift means students and researchers across Edinburgh Napier University will have access to technologies broadening our applications of surveying, 3D building modeling, performance analysis and digitally empowered delivery for the built environment in new and exciting ways. Our next generation of architectural technology, engineering, sustainable construction and surveying professionals at Edinburgh Napier will be able to experience and apply cutting-edge solutions to real-world built environment problems thanks to Trimble’s pioneering support.”

According to Professor Robert Hairstans, head of Edinburgh Napier’s Centre for Offsite Construction and Innovative Structures: “The new Trimble Technology Lab at Edinburgh Napier will prepare the next generation of engineering and construction leaders to be bold and better in addressing the industry’s 21^st century challenges of harnessing technological innovation, increasing productivity and decarbonizing the built environment.”

The lab will include a broad range of Trimble’s industry-leading solutions such as the Trimble^® XR10 HoloLens with hardhat, Trimble mechanical total stations, a Trimble unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and a handheld scanner. Advanced software solutions include RealWorks^® scanning software, Trimble Business Center, Tekla^® Structures, Tekla Structural Designer, Tekla Tedds, Trimble Connect and the company’s popular 3D modeling software, SketchUp Pro.