Global Transport Hackathon takes off
dubai — With the aim of advancing transport sector towards sustainability, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Youth for Public Transport (Y4PT) Foundation, opened the second Y4PT Global Transport Hackathon Dubai 2018 on Friday.
The second edition of the world’s first-ever global transport hackathon in the framework of the Mena region’s top sustainable transport event is being held with the support of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), at the Youth Hub in Emirates Towers Dubai.
During the three-day hackathon, 70 students from over 30 countries are coming together to form teams and contest for unveiling the world’s best ground-breaking transport solutions.
Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, chairman UITP Mena transport congress and exhibition committee, executive board of directors, RTA Dubai, said: “This is a competition of the youth who love science and technology. This contest will also help us to know the needs of the youth as they are the future.
“These 70 people will be divided in teams and they will work on building innovative apps that will focus on a realistic solution to people’s issues. For example, one of the ideas we got was that people want just one card to be used in all public transport means and this has been
This is a competition of the youth who love science and technology. This will also help us to know the needs of the youth as they are the future.” Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, chairman UITP Mena transport congress and exhibition committee
implemented here. When we conclude the hackathon, we are hoping to have a huge pool of ideas.”
Alessandra, co-founder and executive director of Y4PT, said: “We have many programmers coming from different cities, all of whom are winners at the local hackathons. They will now form new groups to build up on ideas. Each team will explain their project through a flip chart and we will ask them to choose the project they like the most and then he or she can join that team. We will form the team following their interest. Each team will have a maximum of four to five people.
Talking about the aim of the hackathon, she said: “From this we expect new projects for Dubai to have integrated mobility and ideas on how to make customers happier. Our theme is sustainable mobility and a healthy lifestyle. Therefore all the projects will try to improve the way in which people live in big cities.
The teams will work on their projects today and they will present their projects on Sunday.