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Trimble SysQue

Score7 out of 10

8 Reviews and Ratings

What is Trimble SysQue?

Trimble SysQue is a software design software which enables designers and contractors to design in Autodesk Revit with real-world, manufacturing-specific MEP content that is ready for fabrication.

Categories & Use Cases

Top Performing Features

  • Data exportability

    Data can be exported via a CSV or Excel file for further reporting and analysis outside of the tool.

    Category average: 7.6

  • Submittal design and management

    Tools that allow users to draft and build submittals, track their status, submit them online, annotate submittal PDFs, and send submittal approval online.

    Category average: 8

  • Takeoff tools

    Allow users to list the materials and quantities they will need for the project either manually from hardcopy blueprints or electronically from digital blueprints.

    Category average: 7.4

Areas for Improvement

  • Job costing

    Tracking and monitoring of the costs of all materials, labor, subcontractors, & equipment required for a given construction project. Allows users to compare actual costs to estimated costs, see how the job is progressing, identify which parts of the job are using the largest parts of the budget.

    Category average: 7.3

  • Cost databases

    Pulls information from online databases and aggregates it to allow contractors to compare prices of materials from different suppliers.

    Category average: 7.6

  • Cost calculator

    Application that calculates cost of estimated quantities and materials, typically within spreadsheets.

    Category average: 7.8

SysQue plusses and minuses

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Trimble SysQue for drawing piping at a fabricable level, place hangers, and create point files. Their comprehensive library of content allows us to use a wide range of materials, connection methods, and hanger types. With BIM becoming more and more prevalent as a requirement for construction projects and the required LOD is higher and higher Trimble SysQue has been one of the tools that we have been using to achieve that.

Pros

  • The amount of content in their database library
  • The ability to change materials after piping has already been drawn with minimal rework
  • Hanger placement and point creation

Cons

  • The parameters for content is inconsistent from one fitting to another. As cloud spooling and automated cutters become more and more prevalent this becomes a problem to feed the right information to a fabrication shop or cutter and causes delays in production.
  • Trimble SysQue draws with generic fittings/pipe and then converts it to the selected system. The processing time for those fittings can be quite long sometimes.
  • Thread-o-lets do not work correctly a good portion of the time. When detailing a mechanical room this is a huge problem.

Return on Investment

  • It has allowed us to produce high level detailed models
  • It gives us the ability to produce point files that aid in a speedier layout process for the field.

Alternatives Considered

Autodesk Fabrication (ESTmep+)

Trimble SysQue

Pros

  • It allows Contractors to use Revit with Spooling functions.
  • The database of millions of native Revit Families.
  • Excellent support from Trimble.

Cons

  • The Spooling feature could always use improvements.
  • More tie into the estimating software.

Return on Investment

  • More Construction Managers are demanding their Subs use Revit, and this software allows it to happen.
  • The cost is not cheap. However, when you have Designers that are skilled, it pays back.

Other Software Used

Procore, Smartsheet

SysQue Review

Pros

  • Creates fabricatable parts inside of Revit
  • Allows us to export hanger points for shooting with a robot on site
  • Saves us time getting to coordination by allowing us to use engineers' model as a base.

Cons

  • SysQue doesn't switch between elbow types on the fly very well so if you are processing a run with mixed elbow types in it, there can be some minor issues.

Return on Investment

  • There has been a huge improvement in productivity. We don't need as many detailers to do the same amount of work because of SysQue.

Other Software Used

Revit

A great tool for ANY Mechanical Contractor

Pros

  • The content library is vast.
  • The support team is very responsive when problems arise.
  • In the latest update, the spooling is more efficient.

Cons

  • The ability to erase points that have been written to a TFL file would be a great addition.
  • Fitting to fitting placement can act up from time to time.
  • I think that the spooling can continue to improve.

Return on Investment

  • Being able to fabricate has a HUGELY positive impact on ROI.
  • Point files is a massive time saver for laying out hangers and ditches for underground.

Other Software Used

Revit