Using AI to track processes on construction sites

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Constantin Kauffmann took part in the Digital Tech Fellows Program at FAU. His Master's thesis led to a business idea: object recognition using artificial intelligence should improve the efficiency of work on construction sites. (photo: Theodor Konopatzki)

Start-up with roots at FAU goes down well with investors.

The start-up oculai has obtained capital worth 2.5 million euros in a seed financing round. The start-up intends to invest the funding in continuing to develop their technology and working towards it being implemented on as many construction sites as possible. The up and coming company has its roots at FAU: the three founders, who were all students at FAU, received assistance along the way to establishing their own company from programs offered by FAU’s Digital Tech Academy, among others.

The company oculai offers digitalization and AI solutions for construction companies. Construction processes are tracked automatically by placing cameras in an elevated position and using deep learning models. Users can then access functions such as an automated schedule showing the planned and actual state of construction work, AI-generated daily construction reports or key performance indicators. This makes construction projects more transparent, more productive and easier to plan, and automates the site manager’s work processes.

The founders Constantin Kauffmann, Tim Sippl and Yannik Mack met while studying at FAU. The idea for oculai originated from their research into the camera-based recording of manual industrial processes. After the initial idea was sparked, the start-up took shape during several start-up programs, including the Digital Tech Academy and the ZOLLHOF Tech Incubator. It was officially established in July 2021. The company is now based in Munich and has approximately 20 employees.

From the initial idea to founding a start-up – how FAU can help

Young entrepreneurs at FAU benefit from ideal conditions for putting their innovative ideas into practice. The University offers a wide range of support services. One of them is the Digital Tech Academy, the interdisciplinary hub for digitalization and entrepreneurship at FAU. It is the central point of contact for spin-off services, joint R&D projects, IP management, training and event management. The digital start-up center ZOLLHOF, an FAU initiative based in Nuremberg, offers comprehensive support to start-ups in areas such as the Internet of Things, smart city and big data. Young entrepreneurs can rent out work space, receive practical assistance in developing their business idea and benefit from the tech incubator network.

Detailed information on innovation and start-ups at FAU