Yo, what’s up, future engineers and architects? Forget geometry class—we’re talking about building a real skatepark. You’ve got the vision for Long Beach’s next epic spot, and your brain is already running circles around the city planners. The catch? You need the pro tools. Good news: the tech used by the big AECO firms (that’s Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations, BTW) is totally within your reach. Let’s dive into how you and your squad can use this crazy pro software and hardware to make your park the main character!

PART 1: The Design Squad Workflow (Flexing on the Adults)

Your crew is basically a mini-firm. You need different roles, and each one needs the right gear.

Application 1: The “Site-Scout” Role (Data Collector)

 

Gear Software/Hardware Setup, Use, & Why Who Benefits
THE MAP HACK ESRI ArcGIS (The Geospatial Guru) Setup: Get free access through the ArcGIS for Schools Bundle (esri.com/en-us/industries/education/schools). Use: You pull in real Long Beach satellite maps, zoning info, and elevation data. Why: No more guessing! You avoid bad locations instantly and prove your site choice is legit. The Planner, The Engineer, The City Planners.
THE REALITY CHECK Trimble SX12 Total Station (trimble.com/en/products/surveying-and-gis/total-stations/trimble-sx12) & Access (Survey Grade) Setup: Partner with a local surveying firm or college construction tech program. Use: Captures hyper-accurate, survey-grade points (the “point cloud”) of the existing site. Why: This data is the truth. It makes your digital model match the IRL ground to the millimeter. The Surveyor, The Civil Engineer, The Construction Crew.
THE QUICK CAPTURE Lixel K1 Handheld Scanner (lixel.co/products/k1) Setup: Partner with a local firm that uses this equipment. Use: Walk the site quickly and scan any existing structures or surrounding areas. Why: Gives you a super-fast, dense 3D model of the existing context. Great for a quick, comprehensive survey. The Designer, The Estimator.

 

Application 2: The “Build Master” Role (3D Modeler & Coordinator)

 

Gear Software/Hardware Setup, Use, & Why Who Benefits
THE 3D POWER Autodesk AEC Collection (Revit, Civil 3D, Navisworks) (autodesk.com/collections/architecture-engineering-construction) Setup: FREE for students! Get the Autodesk Education Plan (autodesk.com/education/students). Use: Revit models structures; Civil 3D models site grading; Navisworks finds “clashes.” Why: It’s BIM (Building Information Modeling)—it catches all the budget-breaking mistakes digitally first. The Architects, The Engineers, The BIM Coordinator.
THE DATA HUB Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) (autodesk.com/construction) Setup: Included with the AEC Collection (or accessible via a project site). Use: Central platform where all files live, managing version control and access. Why: Single source of truth. Everyone is always looking at the latest file. The Project Managers, The Designers, The Contractors, The Owners.
THE FINAL CHECK XGRIDS Software (https://xgrids.com/application) Setup: Software used to process mobile scanner data. Use: Cleans up raw point cloud data from the site, turning it into a light, usable 3D model for Revit or Civil 3D. Why: Raw scan data is huge! This makes it manageable so your computer doesn’t lag out. The BIM Technician, The Designer.

 

PART 2: The Communication Boss (Locking Down the Approval)

 

Gear Software/Hardware Setup, Use, & Why Who Benefits
THE MARKUP MADNESS Bluebeam Revu & Studio (bluebeam.com/products/revu) Setup: Bluebeam offers a FREE Academic Program (bluebeam.com/academic). Use: Open a Studio Session and invite your crew and stakeholders. Everyone reviews the same PDF in real-time, marking up, measuring, and adding “punch list” items. Why: It’s the fastest way to get feedback without printing 100 pages. The AI tools even auto-sort your comments! The Review Team, The Client (City/School).

🚀 BONUS LEVEL UNLOCKED: The Seiler Connection (Getting Pro Help!) 🤝

You need real hardware, training, and a pro to guide you. Companies like Seiler Design Solutions, Seiler Instruments, and Seiler GeoDrones can be your technical sponsors.

The Seiler Component How It Helps the Students & School Workflow Application & Flex
Seiler Geospatial / www.seilergeo.com
Seiler Instruments (seilerinst.com)
 Distributor for Trimble gear and other surveying/scanning hardware. They can help schools or local partners access, rent, or demo equipment like the Trimble SX12 Total Station. Application: Seiler can offer a demo day where students get hands-on time operating the Trimble equipment to capture their Skatepark Site Data. Flex: Students get real survey experience that looks great on college applications.
Seiler GeoDrones (seilergeodrones.com) Specialists in UAS/Drone Mapping for surveying. They can capture high-resolution aerial imagery and accurate site topography quickly. Application: Seiler GeoDrones could fly the site to generate Ultra-High-Resolution Orthomosaic Imagery. This provides the best possible aerial base map for the design in Civil 3D. Flex: Students start their design with custom, perfect-quality data they helped collect.
Seiler Design Solutions (SDS) (seilerdesignsolutions.com) Autodesk Platinum Partner and experts in training on Revit, Civil 3D, and ACC workflow. Application: SDS can host specialized Workflow Workshops for the school’s CTE or STEM classes, showing how Trimble data feeds into Autodesk. Flex: Students learn the exact professional workflow, mastering the handoff between fieldwork and digital design.

 

How Schools Can Get More Involved with Seiler:

 

  1. Host a “Tech Day”: Invite Seiler representatives to give a presentation or host a hands-on lab on Reality Capture (showing off scanners and drones) or BIM Coordination.
  2. Seek Mentorship/Internships: Encourage students to reach out to SDS for project mentorship. Knowing how to correctly use the Trimble-to-Autodesk workflow is a huge advantage.
  3. Educational Discounts: Schools can often work with Seiler to ensure they are getting the best educational pricing and support for specialized software add-ons or hardware maintenance.

Go build your digital park! Prove that high schoolers can run projects too! Flex that future industry knowledge!

Feel free to reach out about academic licensing, software and hardware. workflows and demos!