The second Smart City IoT Hackathon took place on 24-26 September and was jointly organised by the Brussels Regional Informatics Centre and Bruxelles Formation. Its central themes were Smart Cities and the Internet of Things. The participants’ task was to use open data from the region and design applications to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of Brussels.
The 18 “hackers” were all Bruxelles Formation trainees and were divided into four groups, which each had two days to develop an app on the basis of data relating to air quality, noise levels and parking opportunities in the Brussels-Capital Region.
The result? Four useful apps!
- The first team came up with an app which enables you to detect the number of decibels in your environment – useful when you’re looking for a quiet spot to have a conversation or a good time in a busy bar!
- Team 2 worked with data from air quality sensors and developed the app Brusselair checker, which visually displays the air quality in your vicinity. When these data are combined with forecasting techniques, users can plan their open-air activities accordingly, for instance a run or a walk with the children! In need of fresh air?
- Team 3’s app, APpollution, is what you need. Using your location, this app classifies all neighbouring parks according to their air quality, ensuring that you’ll get to breathe the freshest air close to you! Last but not least – Be-car-full by
- Team 4 supplies information concerning the availability of parking spaces for people with physical disabilities. Further development of this app would make it possible to assess the use of these parking spaces. Depending on the results, the Region could reduce or accurately increase the number of such spaces. In short, this is an app with a lot of potential!
The jury included
Anne Gathoye, HR Manager of the BRIC,
Céline Vanderborght, Smart City Manager for the Brussels-Capital Region,
Jawira Portugal, PHP Developer at Bruxelles Formation and an unexpected fourth member,
Olivia P'tito, Director of Bruxelles Formation.
Be-car-full was declared to be the winner.
The winners all received a Google Home Mini, Google’s smart speaker, including a virtual assistant. The other participants were rewarded for their hard work with a 15€ Google Play Card and a 72-hour Villo subscription.
Altogether, the event was a resounding success and a genuine source of inspiration. As far as we are concerned, it is certainly worth organising a further edition!
