This year’s Big Earth hackathon is focused on addressing the multi-faceted, highly critical and challenging topic of wildland fires. We have identified three focus areas, described below, that are particularly important and have potential for innovative data-driven solutions. Teams can define projects in any of these areas, or at the intersection of one or more areas.
Equity/FairnessWildland fires affect many different segments of the population. Impacts range from injuries, or even death, to property loss or damage, from dislocation to temporary or long-term health impacts, both directly or indirectly. In this focus area, you are challenged to find which groups are affected by the risk, occurrence and recovery from wildland fires and to what extent. You may extend your study by looking at what strategies/policies could be put in place to promote equity and fairness.
Prediction/AnalysisIn recent years, wildland fires have become both more prevalent and more devastating. The fire season and fire regions are also shifting. In the meantime, more and more people live in the wildland-urban interface where the risk of fires is higher. In this focus area, you are asked to consider related questions, such as: which communities, areas, and structures in California are at greatest risk of wildfires now and in the future; what are the health impacts of smoke, both near and far-field; and what is the efficiency of existing evacuation routes and response efforts?
MitigationCurrent mitigation strategies for wildland fires include controlled burns, public safety power shutoffs, removing fuel in at-risk areas, and others. In this focus area, you are asked to shed light on which are the most effective and efficient mitigation efforts for wildland fire risk. Are traditional efforts effective or are their better alternatives available? Another way of formulating this quest: can you advice on what mitigation strategies can give communities, or California as a whole the “best bang for the buck”?
Requirements
- Participants must be registered with SUNET ID via bigearthhacks.stanfor.edu website
- Project descriptions and hacks must be posted to devpost prior to 10am on Friday, May 27.
Prizes
!st place Prize
Each member of the 1st place team will receive a Amazon Gift card worth $100.
2nd place Prize
Each member of the 2nd place team will receive a Amazon Gift card worth $50.
3rd place prize
Each member of the 3rd place team will receive a Amazon Gift card worth $25.
Microsoft AI for Earth Challenge
Microsoft’s AI for Earth program is dedicated to supporting the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology towards tackling Earth’s most pressing environmental challenges. AI for Earth is sponsoring a special prize during Big Earth Hackathon: Wildland Fire Challenge for the best project using AI to solve an important problem in the area of wildfires. The winner will receive:
$5,000 of Azure credits to continue to build their solution
Inclusion in the AI for Earth grantee program, including access to educational materials and technical support from Microsoft engineers and data scientists
Best Solo Project
The best solo project will receive an Amazon Echo Spot
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
David Shew
Wildfire Defenseworks
Luke Beckman
American Red Cross
Reis Thomas
CAL FIRE
Sandy Robertson
CEE, Stanford
John Donahue
Planning and Entitlements, Stanford
Stace Maples
Stanford Geospatial Center
Judging Criteria
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Problem Motivation
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Creativity/Innovation
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Impact and Project Achievement
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Project Presentation
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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