Advancing Innovation in Chilean Patagonia and Colombia’s Coffee Regions
The COMUNIDAD Hackathons are regional innovation events designed to apply advanced digital technologies to pressing sustainability challenges across Latin America. Taking place in both Chile and Colombia, these parallel hackathons bring together developers, environmental scientists, and geospatial experts to design practical, data-driven solutions for climate resilience, sustainable land management, and ecosystem protection.
A Regional Initiative for Digital Innovation
Organized as part of the COMUNIDAD project, these hackathons reflect a broader effort to promote technology transfer and capacity building across Latin America. The project leverages state-of-the-art tools, including Copernicus satellite data, the European Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNSS), Big Data, AI, and numerical modelling, to improve agricultural and forestry practices, monitor ecosystems, and support decision-making for sustainable development.
Chile Hackathon: The First Geospatial Hackathon in Chilean Patagonia
Organised by the Universidad de Aysén and Universidad de Chile, the Foundation for Agrarian Innovation (FIA), the Chile Hackathon is set in the ecologically diverse region of Chilean Patagonia. The hackathon focuses on developing geospatial and AI-driven solutions to address key environmental and land management challenges. Participants will work on two targeted challenges: one aimed at optimizing silvoagropecuary land use planning through the integration of satellite imagery, UAV data, and climate records; and another focused on enhancing climate resilience and disaster risk reduction by monitoring glacier dynamics and glacial lake changes using multi-temporal satellite data. Together, these challenges reflect the region’s urgent need for innovative tools that support sustainable development and strengthen local capacity to adapt to environmental change.
KEY CHALLENGES
Challenge 1 – Hackea tu Terruño: This challenge invites participants to integrate satellite imagery, UAV (drone) data, and climate records to optimise land use planning and natural resource management in silvoagropecuary systems.
Challenge 2 – IceEnd-Hack: This challenge invites participants to develop geospatial tools to monitor glacier height and glacial lake volume changes. By using multi-temporal satellite imagery and climate data, teams will create solutions that support early warning systems and enhance disaster risk reduction in local communities.
Learn more about the COMUNIDAD Chile Hackathon here.
Colombia Hackathon: AI for Coffee Region Sustainability
Organised by the Universidad Autonoma de Manizales (UAM) and the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (FNC), this hackathon takes place in Colombia’s coffee-growing regions. The hackathon aims to enhance environmental resilience by applying AI and satellite data. Participants will co-develop tools to assist in deforestation monitoring, landslide risk assessment, and early warning systems.
KEY CHALLENGES
Challenge 1 – Mapping Critical Landslide Zones
Development of a predictive model using satellite imagery, climate data, and topographic features to identify high-risk landslide areas. The solution should include interactive risk maps and alert tools for stakeholders.
Challenge 2 – Monitoring Land Use Changes in Coffee Plantations
Design of an AI-driven system to classify and monitor changes in coffee cultivation areas, detect deforestation, evaluate environmental impact, and support sustainable practices.
Learn more about the COMUNIDAD Colombia Hackathon here.
Building Open-Source, Impactful Solutions
The COMUNIDAD Hackathons foster collaboration across disciplines and sectors, emphasising the development of user-oriented digital tools. By engaging local stakeholders and utilising real-time data, the hackathons empower communities to manage natural resources better and adapt to environmental risks.
Both events are designed not only as competitions but also as knowledge-sharing platforms where science, technology, and innovation converge to tackle real-world environmental issues in Latin America.
Visit here the official hackathon websites for more information, challenge descriptions, and registration details.