STEM students showcase innovative skills at HackED

Transforming water drainage areas into wetlands, a gaming app to train people for mining jobs and an app to help WA Police and the community map anti-social areas; these were just some of the winning ideas at HackED 2017.

The annual hack-a-thon run by SPUR, powered by Landgate attracted 200 keen secondary students on 17 August 2017.  The students gathered at the Midland Railway Workshops and used location data to develop new ways to improve their communities.

SPUR General Manager Peter Markham said it was an excellent opportunity for students to discover the wide range of location information available through data.wa.gov.au.

“HackED is a fast-paced, exciting way for students to discover the power of open data and to build critical thinking, creativity and digital literacy - key career skills,” Mr Markham said.

“This year the judges were thoroughly impressed by the standard of entries.

“The students took location data and added their creativity to solve community challenges and find ways of improving services to young people.”

Mr Markham said the event would not have been possible without the generosity of sponsors including the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority, City of Swan, Bankwest, Bloom, Esri Australia and TSG.

Winners:

Best Overall Hack

Years 7–9

Sacred Heart College

An app connecting microphones placed on street lamps that would record decibels and alert police to noisy situations such as out-of-control parties.

Years 10-12

St Norbert College

An app allowing young people to use their phones or Smart Riders to access government facilities.  Governments would have access to tag-on data which would lead to better planning.

Best Innovative Idea

Years 7–9

Governor Stirling Senior High School

An interactive game that trains people seeking employment in the mining industry.

Years 10-12

Warnbro Community High School

A website for young people to pitch ideas about community events to local governments.

Best Use of Geodata

Years 7–9

Sacred Heart College

A project that uses mapping data to turn water drainage areas into attractive landscaped wetlands featuring art by local Aboriginal people.

Years 10-12

John Calvin Christian College

An app that enables the community to work with WA Police to map local areas affected by anti-social behaviour.