Student Entrepreneurs Look to Streamline Construction Projects with Augmented Reality

Construction projects often involve many different professionals, from project managers to architects and civil engineers. All of these roles can complicate the process. But two student entrepreneurs from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are looking to change that.

Sidonie Dessubret, a third-year information science student from France, and Jeremy Locus, a third-year architecture and urban planning student from India, first met through the Campus Ambassadors program for international students. Their complementary strengths in architecture and technology planning made them an ideal pair to try to simplify the construction process with technology.

Disobedient The UWM report said,“Jeremy came up with the idea of ​​starting a startup to simplify construction management using augmented reality software. In construction, there are a lot of people involved. You have the architect, the mechanic, the electrician, the plumber, the project manager, and so on.”

So the duo set to work designing Insite, a platform that uses augmented reality to help construction professionals visualize projects and spot potential problems before they arise. In March, the duo won $1,000 and took second place in a pitch competition at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

In addition to their fields of study, these two students are well-qualified for this challenge given their international roots. Construction projects can be complex anywhere. But a tool like Insite may be even more useful in developing countries where there are likely to be additional barriers related to language and access to technology.

Every entrepreneur brings their own unique knowledge and experience to the table when starting a new venture. Desubret and Lokos demonstrate how helpful it can be to find a business partner or other forms of support to offer complementary strengths. Their fresh perspective as college students will likely allow them to look at complex construction projects with fresh eyes, while those who are already well-established in the industry may find it difficult to shed processes they have used for years.

Image: Envato