IIT Bombay-FOSSEE-GIS/OSHW, IITTNiF & ICFOSS present

Registration opens: April 29, 2024

Registration closes: July 25*, 2024

Hackathon start date : August 01, 2024, 2024* (tentative)

Result Declaration: To be announced

Introducing the Hackathon: Unlocking Innovation for a Better World

Welcome to the Open Source Hardware IoT GIS Hackathon!

Welcome to the National Level Open Hardware-IoT Geospatial Hackathon, a stage where innovation knows no boundaries. This premier event brings together visionaries, tech enthusiasts, and problem solvers from across the nation to harness the power of open hardware, the Internet of Things (IoT), and geospatial technology. Get ready to explore uncharted possibilities, collaborate on real-world challenges, and make a significant impact on our world.

Significance:

    In a world where technology shapes our daily lives, the significance of this hackathon cannot be overstated. Here, participants have the opportunity to redefine the boundaries of what's possible. By merging open source principles with cutting-edge technologies, we aim to:
  • Solve Real-World Problems: Tackle critical issues such as environmental sustainability, disaster management, precision agriculture, and more. Your solutions can change lives and protect our planet.
  • Foster Innovation: Innovation thrives when knowledge is shared openly. By promoting open source hardware and IoT, we empower you to push the boundaries of creativity and discovery.
  • Create Collaborative Communities: Through this hackathon, we build communities of like-minded individuals passionate about making a difference. Together, we can achieve more than any one of us can alone.
  • Empower Future Leaders: Whether you're a student, a professional, or an enthusiast, this hackathon is a launchpad for your ideas. It's a chance to develop your skills, showcase your talents, and make your mark on the world.

Join us on this extraordinary journey, where innovation knows no bounds. Together, let's turn ideas into actions and make a lasting impact on society and the environment. The Open Source Hardware IoT GIS Hackathon is your stage to shine, and the world is waiting to witness your brilliance.

Purpose

This hackathon is more than just a competition; it's a platform for innovators, creators, and visionaries to come together and pioneer solutions for a brighter future. Our purpose is to harness the power of open source hardware, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to address some of the world's most pressing challenges.

The FOSSEE project, IIT Bombay promotes the use of Free/ Libre Open Source Software in academia and Industry. The FOSSEE project  is funded through the National Mission on Education through ICT (NMEICT), Ministry of Education, Government of India. The FOSSEE-GIS team manages the overall coordination of the "IIT Bombay FOSSEE GIS Internship in Geospatial Dashboard Design and Implementation". 

Registration

Please click on the following button to register yourself for the Hackathon

Partners and Organisers

Main Organizer: IIT Bombay FOSSEE GIS & OSHW project (NMEICT, Ministry of Education, Government of India)  The IIT Bombay FOSSEE GIS & OSHW project teams are the main organizers of this National Level Geospatial IoT Hackathon 2024 (Edition 01). FOSSEE promotes the usage of Free/Libre Open Source Software in academia and industry and is funded through the National Mission on Education through ICT, Ministry of Education, Government of India.

Technical Partner:  The Rural Data Research and Analysis (RuDRA) Lab, IIT Bombay is India's first HPC-powered data center dedicated to Rural Development.

Organizing Partners: IITTNiF (NM-ICPS, DST, Government of India) & ICFOSS (Government of Kerala):   The IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation is the Technology Innovation Hub of IIT Tirupati specializing in Positioning and Precision Technologies, funded through the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical System (NM-ICPS), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. ICFOSS: The International Centre for Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS) is an autonomous organization set up by the Government of Kerala, India, and has the combined mandate of popularizing Free and Open Source Software for universal use; consolidating the early FOSS work done in Kerala; and networking with different nations, communities, and governments to collaboratively promote FOSS

Problem Statements

  1. Design and implement a system utilizing IoT sensors to track traffic flow, congestion levels, and parking availability in urban environments. Integrate this data with GIS to provide real-time maps
  2. Utilize IoT sensors and GIS for urban environmental monitoring, pinpointing pollution (air, water, noise, urban heat islands) hotspots.
  3. Create an IoT precision agriculture solution using soil and crop data with GIS for optimized irrigation, planning, and resource allocation, boosting agricultural productivity sustainably.
  4. Create an integrated system utilizing IoT devices to monitor natural disasters, merging IoT data with GIS to evaluate damage, identify vulnerable zones, and streamline rescue and relief operations.
  5.  Design and develop an IoT device using open hardware components such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi, equipped with sensors to monitor environmental parameters like temperature, humidity, air quality, and soil moisture. Integrate GPS module for geolocation data. Create a GIS application to visualize and analyze the collected data, allowing users to identify patterns and trends in environmental conditions over time and space.
  6.  Develop an open hardware-based IoT system for early detection and warning of natural disasters such as floods, landslides, or forest fires. Utilize sensors to monitor relevant environmental parameters like water levels, soil moisture, temperature, and humidity. Incorporate GPS for precise location tracking of potential disaster zones. Implement GIS techniques to create hazard maps and establish risk zones, enabling timely evacuation and emergency response planning.
  7. Create an IoT solution using open hardware for monitoring wildlife habitats and tracking endangered species. Develop sensor nodes to collect data on wildlife movements, habitat conditions, and environmental factors. Integrate GPS modules for accurate geospatial tracking of animals. Utilize GIS tools to analyze the collected data, identify critical habitats, and plan conservation efforts effectively to protect endangered species and preserve biodiversity.
  8. Design an IoT-based system using open hardware components to optimize waste management processes in urban areas. Develop sensors to monitor waste levels in bins and containers across the city. Implement GPS for location-based monitoring of waste collection routes. Utilize GIS techniques to create dynamic waste collection schedules, optimize route planning, and minimize operational costs while ensuring efficient waste disposal and recycling practices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Will the winners of the “National OpenHardware-IoT Geospatial Hackathon 2024” receive any refund or is there any prize/ award given?

Answer: As this is a national-level activity, supported through the FOSSEE project, National Mission on Education through ICT (NMEICT), the prospective winners shall be given ‘prizes/awards ONLY’, based on their performance, category-wise (themes). The winners shall also be eligible for applying to the coveted “IIT Bombay FOSSEE Geospatial + OpenHardware Internship & Summer Fellowship 2024”, and other flagship activities.

2. Is there any filtration before starting the hackathon?

Answer: Yes, there is a filtration process in place which shall review all the proposals before allowing the individual participant/ team(s) into the main phase of the “National Level OpenHardware-IoT based Geospatial Hackathon”. The aspirants must (i) register themselves/ their team, (ii). Upload their proposal, (iii). The core organizing committee (IIT Bombay FOSSEE GIS/OSHW + IITTNiF + ICFOSS) will evaluate the proposals, (iv). Accepted proposals shall be informed via email.

Note: The project proposals are reviewed by the core committee and shall ensure their alignment with the hackathon's theme and objectives.

3. Can we use any proprietary hardware for other components if the open source is not available for that item?

Answer: Participants are permitted to utilize proprietary hardware or components in the absence of open-source alternatives. This should not exceed 40%. However, they (participating team(s)/ individuals) must adhere to any licensing agreements or restrictions related to proprietary technologies. It is to be noted and essential that all designs and code submitted must adhere to the CC-BY-SA license requirements.

4. What are the judging criteria for project evaluation?

Answer: The judging criteria typically include factors such as novelty, methodology, innovation, technical implementation, usability, impact, and presentation (report) quality. Each project is evaluated based on these criteria to determine the winners.

Note: The project proposal and final submissions must adhere to the mandates laid by the “IIT Bombay FOSSEE GIS team” at all times. By participating in the “National Level OpenHardware-IoT based Geospatial Hackathon” the teams agree that the decision taken by the ‘Core Organizing Committee’ and/or the ‘IIT Bombay FOSSEE GIS & OSHW’ team(s) shall be final and non-appealable.

5. Is there a registration fee to participate in the hackathon?

Answer: NO! Participation in the “National Level OpenHardware-IoT based Geopstial Hackathon” is completely ‘FREE OF COST/ NO FEE”.

6. Is there any format for submitting reports and presentations?

Answer: YES! The report and presentation template shall be shared by the core committee during the ‘Orientation phase’.

7. How will the hackathon be conducted? Is it an online event or will there be physical venues?

Answer: The main phase of the “National Level OpenHardware-IoT based Geospatial Hackathon” will exclusively take place in ‘ONLINE MODE’ only.

Note: The ‘Grand Finale’ of the “National Level OpenHardware-IoT based Geospatial Hackathon” shall be conducted in offline mode. For the ‘Grand Finale’ only the teams shortlisted for the final stage/ round will be invited to participate.

8. What level of expertise in IoT and geospatial technologies is expected from participants?

Answer: Participants/ Team(s) with varying levels of expertise in IoT and geospatial technologies are welcome to participate. The hackathon shall serve as a platform for beginners, intermediate, and advanced-level participants, with lots of opportunities to learn and collaborate.

Note: The proposals for the “National Level OpenHardware-IoT based Geospatial Hackathon 2024” can be submitted under two broad categories,

(i). Purely ‘IoT’ based (OR)

(ii). A blend of GIS + IoT (Special prizes/ awards are to be given for this category)

9. Can participants use pre-existing IoT devices or hardware prototypes for their projects, or do they need to develop new solutions from scratch?

Answer: The participants/ participating team(s) are encouraged to develop their solutions/ prototypes from scratch. But, to spread awareness about “OpenSource Hardware-IoT’ and ‘GIS’ technologies in all domains, we encourage the students cutting across domains to give it a try. Hence, we do allow participants to use pre-existing IoT devices or hardware prototypes for their projects, as long as they meet the project requirements and objectives. All designs and code submitted must adhere to the CC-BY-SA license requirements.

Note: The decision of the ‘Core Organizing Committee’ of the National Level OpenHardware-IoT based Geospatial Hackathon, and/or the ‘IIT Bombay FOSSEE GIS & OSHW’ team(s) shall be final and non-appealable, in all circumstances.

10. Are there any specific industry sectors or use cases that the hackathon aims to address through the integration of IoT and geospatial technologies?

Answer: The ‘National Level OpenHardware-IoT based Geospatial Hackathon’ aims to promote an interdisciplinary approach in cracking solution(s) for the proposed ‘problem statements’ Even though the ‘core organizing committee’ doesn’t confine the scope to scope to specific industries or use cases, rather it encourages participants to ‘consider’ focusing on scenarios like smart cities, environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, transportation, healthcare, transport, logistics, weather forecast, rural development, green energy and sustainability, disaster management. etc. However, the exact focus areas may vary depending on the organizers' goals and themes.

11. Are there any opportunities for participants to contribute to open-source projects or initiatives as part of their hackathon submissions?

Answer: YES! participants may have opportunities to contribute to open-source projects or initiatives related to IoT and/or Geospatial (GIS) technologies as part of the “National Level OpenHardware-IoT based Geospatial Hackathon”. The ‘qualified submissions’ shall be published as open-source projects on the national project’s website. Collaboration with existing open-source communities shall/may be encouraged or facilitated by the ‘Core Organing Committee’.

12. How will the hackathon support participants who may be new to IoT or geospatial technologies and require additional guidance or resources?

Answer: The ‘Core Organizing Committee’ of the National Level OpenHardware-Iot based Geospatial Hackathon will conduct ‘focused’ workshops, mentoring sessions, orientation (state-wise), online resources such as the award-winning ‘SpokenTutorial’ on relevant technologies, etc.

Note: The main emphasis here is to ensure that the resources deployed work as a support system for participants to learn and enhance their (IoT, and GIS) skills throughout the event.

13. Will there be any post-hackathon support or mentorship opportunities for participants looking to further develop their projects?

Answer: YES! The winners, and even enthusiastic participants shall get a chance to apply for some of India’s most coveted internships, fellowships, product development, etc kind of opportunities. To know more about the initiatives of the “IIT Bombay FOSSEE GIS” team, please visit https://www.iitb.ac.in/event/iit-bombay-fossee-gis-activities-calendar-year-2024. There are interesting opportunities given by our organizing partner the “IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation” which is IIT Tirupati’s Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) specializes in ‘positioning and precision technologies’. Participants with good ideas and/or geospatial products nearing completion or in the advanced stage of development can explore possibilities for incubating themselves as start-up(s).

14. Can participants submit multiple projects, and if so, are there any limitations on the number of submissions per team?

Answer: YES! But make sure you the team leader is not the same person. There is ‘NO’ lamination on the number of teams.

Note: Institutions fielding more than (valid) 25 teams can assign a SPOC (Single Point of Contact - SPOC) for obtaining dedicated + direct support from the committee.

15. Are there any specific environmental or social impact considerations that participants should take into account when designing their projects?

Answer: YES! participants are encouraged to consider aligning their project proposal in line with the environmental and social impact while designing/ evolving their problem statement(s).

Note: Solutions that promote sustainability, resilience, inclusivity, and positive societal outcomes are often valued by the ‘Core Organizing/Evaluation Committee”. Please refer to “IIT Bombay FOSSEE GIS Mandates” on https://iot-gis-hackathon.fossee.in/ and the “United Nations Development Programme’s SDGs” on https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals.

16. Will the hackathon provide any resource(s) for participants to access geospatial datasets or learning materials?

Answer: YES! Please refer FAQ #12

17. How can participants stay updated on the latest announcements and developments related to the hackathon?

Answer: Please keep checking the official website of the “National Level OpenHardware-IoT based Geospatial Hackathon” website (URL: https://iot-gis-hackathon.fossee.in/) to get recent updates.

Note: All essential communications will be sent by the core committee through the following Email IDs. Please add them to your ‘contact list’.

(i).

(ii). ;

18. Are there any specific hardware or software platforms that participants are encouraged to use?

Answer: While participants are generally free to choose the hardware and software platforms that best suit their project requirements, organizers may recommend or provide access to specific platforms, tools, or technologies to facilitate project development and integration, based on their project proposal.

19. Are there any specific requirements for project documentation and presentation?

Answer: YES! participants are typically required to adhere to specific guidelines for project documentation/ report and presentation, per the template issued. Please refer FAQ #6.

20. Will there be any workshops or training sessions during the hackathon to help participants develop their technical skills?

Answer: YES! Please refer FAQ #12

21. Does the core organizing committee provide any ‘performance summary’ to a college that has registered with many teams?

Answer: YES! All the Universities/ Colleges/ Educational Institutions that have IQAC (NAAC/NIRF/NBA purposes) cells, and have registered with more than 25 teams can write to for the performance summary letter after the results are declared.

22. Will the participating Institutions be eligible for the ‘National Geospatial Awards’ organized by the IIT Bombay FOSSEE GIS team?

Answer: YES! All participating institutions can apply for the annual ‘National Geospatial Awards (2024)’ scheduled to be conducted on September 15, 2024. There are various categories, and event state-specific awards listed.

23. Can an Indian citizen studying at some foreign university apply for this hackathon?

Answer: YES! Indian Citizens pursuing their studies abroad can register. They shall get ‘e-certificates’ if they emerge as winners, but they (Indian students studying in foreign universities) won't be eligible for cash awards as transferring honoraria outside India is not allowed as per the policy laid by the funding agency/ prize sponsor.

24. Can a faculty/ research scholar/ staff participate in the hackathon?

Answer: YES! Students, Faculty, Research Scholars, Staff, and Project Staff from any UGC/ AICTE/ Institutes of National importance/ NMC/ NLB/ AIU/ Government of India or State Government recognized Institutions/ organization can participate in the “National Level OpenHardware-IoT based Geospatial Hackathon”.

25. Whom should we contact for any partnership related query?

Answer: For all partnership and sponsorship-related queries, please write to Mr. Mohamed Kasim Khan, National Coordinator - FOSSEE(GIS), IIT Bombay at . As we are in the process of identifying nodal agencies (DHE. DTE, Technical Univeristy, Skill Development Body, etc) in each state and union territory, the officers concerned can directly write to us.

Core Team & Contact Us

Prof. Kannan Moudgalya

Principal Investigator, FOSSEE, Spoken Tutorial, NVLI

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Prof. Pennan Chinnasamy

Co.P.I., FOSSEE & PiC, The Rural Data Research & Analysis (RuDRA) Lab, IIT Bombay

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Prof. Roshan Srivastav

Project Director, IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (NM-ICPS, DST)

Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati

Mr. Rajesh Kushalkar

Senior Manager, FOSSEE-Open Source Hardware (OSHW)

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Dr. Sunil T T

Director

ICFOSS

Dr. Srinivasan Ravindran

Program Head, FOSS Business Solutions

ICFOSS

Mr. Shafeek P M

Technical Coordinator - IoT

ICFOSS

Mr. Jayakumar K S

Manager, Incubation & FOSS Business Solutions

ICFOSS

Mr. Mohamed Kasim Khan

National Coordinator, FOSSEE-GIS & GIS-IoT Hackathon

National Mission on Education through ICT, Ministry of Education, Government of India

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Please write to us in case of any queries regarding the Hackathon at:

Email :contact-oshw[at]fossee[dot]in; contact-oshw[at]fossee[dot]in