Using Trimble Site Contractor

The Trimble Site Contractor (TSC) extension helps you connect your SketchUp and Trimble Siteworks workflows. After you have prepared your model, you can export it from SketchUp to Trimble Siteworks through the Trimble Site Contractor (TSC) extension.

To learn more about preparing your model for export, see Best Practices for Trimble Site Contractor.

You can also import geolocated point and surface data into SketchUp to help create or revise your design.

Exporting SketchUp Geometry

When you export using the TSC extension, you orient your SketchUp model to its location on the site by:

• Defining numerical offsets for northing, easting, and elevation, adjusting the SketchUp origin to specific project coordinates. 

• Specifying the location of control points on the model, enabling pinning the design to the ground in the location you want to build it. 

The export produces two files for the design:

• .dxf file for the linework

• .ttm file for the terrain model 

When you choose to export the model as a project, TSC creates a complete Trimble Siteworks project folder along with the design files in your selected location. 

To export a model, follow these steps:

1. Click Export (). The Trimble Site Contractor dialog appears.
   
   

   

2. Under Export Units, choose the unit of measurement TSC will use when exporting your model.

3. Enter project and design names.

4. In the Offset section, enter your offset values. These are the values that the Sketchup origin will be offset by, and are used to move your model to the project coordinates you want.
   

   

5. Click Set Control Points. Markers representing your control points appear in the modeling window  and a screen appears containing  information for setting the control points.

6. On the model, set the control points by: 

   1. Pointing-and-clicking the location for the yellow control point marker to specify a 2D control point.

   2. Pointing-and-clicking the blue control point marker to specify a 3D control point that contains the benchmark elevation of the model. 

7. Click DONE when you have finished locating the control points.
   
   

   

8. If you’ve pre-selected the geometry in your model that you want to export, select Export Selection Only.

9. To create a Trimble Siteworks project for the exported design:

   1. Click Project.

   2. Select the location on your device where you want to export your Trimble Siteworks projects. Or, if there isn’t one, create a new folder.

   3. Click Select Folder. TSC creates a Trimble Siteworks project with the design files in the location. 

10. To export just the design:

    1. Click Design.

    2. Select a location on your device.

    3. Click Select Folder. TSC adds the .dxf and .ttm files to the folder.

While the export completes, a series of status notifications momentarily appear.

Importing Field Data as Reference Geometry in SketchUp

Field data, such as survey measured points, linework, and surfaces, can be collected and saved in Siteworks as a .spj file. The .spj file can be imported into SketchUp using the Trimble Site Contractor extension. In SketchUp, this information can serve as reference geometry to help the creation of the excavation model. An imported .spj file will place the first point measured in the file at the Sketchup origin.

To import field data from Siteworks, follow these steps.

1. Click Import ().
   
   

   

2. Locate and select the .spj file on your device.

3. Click Open.