Valmiera INSPIRE Hackathon 2018

The Valmiera INSPIRE Hackathon 2018 took place from 30 May to 1 June 2018 in Valmiera, Latvia, hosted at the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA). This event was specifically designed for 2nd and 3rd-year IT students of ViA, aiming to engage them in practical applications of open data and geospatial technologies.
🎯 Objectives
- Introduce students to real-world challenges in open data and geospatial information systems.
- Foster collaboration between academia and industry professionals.
- Develop innovative solutions addressing local and regional issues through the use of open data.
🧩 Activities and Focus Areas
While specific project details from the hackathon are not extensively documented, the event's structure included:
- Workshops and Training Sessions: Participants received guidance on utilizing open data platforms and geospatial tools.
- Team-Based Projects: Students formed teams to tackle challenges related to environmental monitoring, urban planning, and public services.
- Mentorship: Experts from Plan4all and other organizations provided mentorship throughout the hackathon.
🏢 Organisers and Supporters
- Plan4all: A non-profit association focused on promoting open data and geospatial technologies.
- Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA): The host institution, providing facilities and student participation.
- EUXDAT: A project aimed at developing e-infrastructure for big data analytics in agriculture and land use.
- PoliVisu: A project focused on enhancing public policy-making through big data and visualization tools.