SpaceHACK For Sustainability
Use Satellite Data
to Make a Difference
The United Nations' Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 ambitious targets that address the world's most pressing social, economic, and environmental issues. The SDGs were established to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by the year 2030. In light of this, the SpaceHACK 4 Sustainability Hackathon is taking a unique approach to tackling these global goals. In light of these pressing societal and environmental issues, it has become increasingly vital to take action and find solutions. That's why the SpaceHACK for Sustainability Hackathon is stepping up to the challenge. By bringing together innovative students and faculty, this hackathon aims to harness the power of satellite data to take steps towards addressing the United Nations' Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).
This exciting two-day event promises to be an exciting learning experience, where participants will be divided into small groups and tasked with developing a 5-minute presentation that explores how satellite data can be used to achieve the UN's SDGs. Using Planet satellite data and Google Earth Engine, students will work to create solutions that tackle the following three tracks: sustainable groundwater usage in Nepal, reducing wildfire risk and addressing social disparities at the Wildland Urban Interface, and addressing the impact of climate change and poverty with a focus on Brazilian Favelas.
The presentations will be evaluated by a panel of expert judges, and winning teams will be awarded prizes for their outstanding efforts. So come and join the SpaceHACK 4 Sustainability Hackathon, and be part of the solution to some of the world's most pressing problems. Let's work together to create a better future for all!
3rd Floor of Hayden Library
or Participate Virtually!
March 24th - March 25th
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Sustainable Groundwater Usage
NEPAL
With the rise of environmental engineering and the lowering cost of solar technology, we have seen a rise of the use of solar irrigation systems in Nepal’s southern plain. While this is helping to mitigate one issue caused by increasingly erratic rainfall patterns, in order to ensure a sustainable future we need to better understand and consistently monitor the impact these systems are having on depleting groundwater resources.
Through the SpaceHACK Challenge, we seek to understand if groundwater can be accurately measured using space assets, providing the opportunity for enacting public policy around governance of groundwater.
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Climate Impacts on Favelas
BRAZIL
Built into structural unstable areas on the outskirts of major cities in Brazil, shanty towns known as favelas are a common occurrence. Over the past few decades, due to increasing and profound social disparity in Brazil, these regions have almost doubled. Now, increasingly severe and more frequent weather events and natural disasters like landslides caused by climate change are leaving hundreds dead in a single event.
Through our SpaceHACK challenge we seek to understand how these events are disproportionately impacting favelas in Brazil’s largest cities and how through remote sensing from space we may be able to better alter and protect the region's most marginalized.
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Wildfire Risk and Social Disparity
WESTERN U.S.A. & GLOBAL
Wildfires are an escalating crisis on a global scale. While often starting in rural and remote areas, the increasing intensity and rate of spread of wildfires due to climate change are impacting more people in the region where wilderness meets human built environments - the Wildland Urban Interface.
Through the SpaceHACK challenge, we seek to understand whether social inequities that often push poor and marginalized communities to certain areas are linked to greater wildfire risk of loss of life and property in this chaotic region.
The student teams will look at data from a variety of large fires over the past 5 years in different global regions most impacted by wildfire activity - Western US, Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, Greece - to better understand this problem.
