Case Study: How Leasing a Construction Camera Gave the University of Idaho Real-Time Insight Into a Major Build

The Challenge

The University of Idaho’s existing meat science laboratory, home to Vandal Brand Meats, had not been updated in decades. This USDA-inspected facility serves as the heart of the meat science program, supporting teaching, research, and community outreach.

With growing student enrollment and advancing industry standards, the university recognized the urgent need for a modern facility that could:

• Accommodate larger classrooms and advanced processing technology
• Support hands-on, experiential learning in meat harvesting, processing, packaging, and storage
• Facilitate cutting-edge research in meat science
• Maintain separate USDA-compliant spaces for fresh and packaged foods
• Ensure modern safety standards and humane animal treatment
• Improve accessibility and visibility on campus
• Expand Vandal Brand Meats retail sales and community education

These goals led to the development of the Meat Science and Innovation Center Honoring Ron Richard, a major capital project. Given the scale and visibility of the investment, transparency and communication would be critical throughout construction.

However, major capital improvements are infrequent, and project budgets are typically structured for one-time use, especially when a specific college or department funds the work. Also, purchasing equipment that would have limited use after project completion was not a practical option.

The team needed a flexible, easy-to-deploy solution that delivered immediate value throughout construction without the long-term commitment of owning hardware.

The TrueLook Solution

To meet those needs, the University of Idaho Agriculture and Engineering team chose to lease a TrueLook 4K IR Fixed Construction Camera. Leasing a jobsite camera allowed the team to gain full visibility for the duration of the project without purchasing hardware that would see limited use after completion.

For Daryle, leasing aligned with how the university funds and manages major projects. Futhermore, it provided a clear cost structure, fit neatly into the project budget, and avoided the challenges of storing, maintaining, or redeploying equipment later.

The University of Idaho team selected TrueLook based on past experience and strong recommendations from fellow project managers. The team also had confidence in the platform and knew it would deliver reliable results on a high-profile build.

Once the camera arrived on site, installation was quick and straightforward.

The Results

Throughout construction, the leased TrueLook 4K IR Fixed Camera delivered continuous visibility into the jobsite. Live viewing allowed stakeholders to check progress at any time. Security recordings helped protect materials and equipment during off-hours.

Aaron found the time-lapse and security features especially valuable, capturing the entire build while adding an extra layer of oversight.

For Daryle and the project management team, the ability to share a live link with contractors, designers, and stakeholders was a major advantage. Different groups used the camera in different ways, from monitoring milestones to answering questions without requiring site visits.

The final time-lapse became one of the most valuable outcomes. It provided a clear visual story to share with the campus community and served as a historical record of the project. It also offered a practical reference point for future questions about infrastructure placement and construction sequencing.

Completed in early 2026, the Meat Science and Innovation Center now stands as a modern facility that supports education, research, safety, and community engagement. It allows the University of Idaho to better serve students and stakeholders while reinforcing its reputation as a leader in meat science.

Leasing a construction camera played a key role in that success. The approach delivered full visibility, strong documentation, and fast deployment without the burden of ownership.

By choosing to rent, the University of Idaho gained a powerful construction visibility tool that matched the scale and frequency of its capital projects. The result was better communication, stronger documentation, and a smoother experience for everyone involved from project start through completion.

Once construction wrapped, the leasing model continued to pay off. With no long-term ownership responsibilities, the University of Idaho team returned the camera just as easily as it was installed. There was no need to store, maintain, or repurpose equipment after project completion, keeping the focus on the finished facility rather than post-project logistics.

For a one-time capital project, leasing provided a true end-to-end solution—from fast setup to a simple return—making it easy for the team to gain full visibility during construction and move on once the job was done.