I run a large construction site and rely heavily on the BIM model.
Our site is powered by a generator. This morning, both the generator and the backup battery failed, leaving us with no power.
As a result, we had no water-our site depends on storage tanks and a booster pump. The toilets couldn't flush, no one could wash their hands, and-most critically-no one could make coffee.
Where is this story going, you might ask?
Well, Trimble Connect won't work without an internet connection. And here's the kicker: the office internet needs electricity. No power means no internet. To get around this, many people assume the best solution is to install the desktop version directly on their PC and store BIM models locally-essentially creating a self-contained setup. You'd think that would work. But no.
Trimble has designed the system so that even the desktop version requires an internet connection and online login. Without signing in, you're locked out of software that's already installed on your own computer.
I'd genuinely love to know how people are expected to use this software in remote locations-places where internet access isn't just limited, it's completely unnecessary. After all, it's a construction site, not a Zoom meeting.
Kind Regards
Andrew Newmarch