NASA is calling on developers to create and deploy data-driven visualizations and simulations that address coastal flooding issues.
The space agency announced its third annual International Space Apps Challenge. The challenge calls for software and hardware developers to build mobile applications, software, hardware, data visualization and platform solutions that could help improve life on Earth and contribute to space exploration missions.
(Related: NASA recruits coders in the hunt for asteroids)
This year, a new challenge focused on coastal flooding has been added to help people understand the dangers of inundation.
“Solutions developed through this challenge could have many potential impacts,” said Ellen Stofan, chief scientist at NASA. “This includes helping coastal businesses determine whether they are currently at risk from coastal inundation, and whether they will be impacted in the future by sea level rise and coastal erosion.”
The coastal flooding challenge was developed by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and it is based on federal cross-agency data.
The International Space Apps Challenge will take place April 12-13 in cities around the world. The full list of locations is available here.
Challenge themes include Technology in Space, Human Space Flight, Robotics, Earth Watch and Asteroids. More than 200 data sources, including data services, data sets and tools, will be available to participants.
“The International Space Apps Challenge is one of the U.S. commitments to the Open Government Partnership to explore new ways that open space data can help the planet and further space exploration,” said Deborah Diaz, deputy CIO of NASA.
Other challenge collaborators include the White House Office of the Science and Technology Policy, the European Space Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Met Office.
