Big Earth Hacks

Spring Quarter 2023

Wildland Fire Challenge and Companion Course

REGISTER NOW!

The 2023 Wildland Fire Challenge begins Spring Quarter.

Join us on Saturday, April 8, 10:30 am in the Geocorner (320-105) for some inspiration from former CAL FIRE chief, David Shew, some pizza and refreshments, workshops from Planet & Mathworks, and some free swag!

Check out the recently added Project Ideas (more to come)

Challenges/Focus Areas

This year’s Big Earth hackathon is focused on addressing the multi-faceted, highly critical and challenging topic of wildland fires. We have identified three focus areas, described below, that are particularly important and have potential for innovative data-driven solutions. Teams can define projects in any of these areas, or at the intersection of one or more areas.

Equity/Fairness

Wildland fires affect many different segments of the population. Impacts range from injuries, or even death, to property loss or damage, from dislocation to temporary or long-term health impacts, both directly or indirectly. In this focus area, you are challenged to find which groups are affected by the risk, occurrence and recovery from wildland fires and to what extent. You may extend your study by looking at what strategies/policies could be put in place to promote equity and fairness.

Prediction/Analysis

In recent years, wildland fires have become both more prevalent and more devastating. The fire season and fire regions are also shifting. In the meantime, more and more people live in the wildland-urban interface where the risk of fires is higher. In this focus area, you are asked to consider related questions, such as: which communities, areas, and structures in California are at greatest risk of wildfires now and in the future; what are the health impacts of smoke, both near and far-field; and what is the efficiency of existing evacuation routes and response efforts?

Mitigation

Current mitigation strategies for wildland fires include controlled burns, public safety power shutoffs, removing fuel in at-risk areas, and others. In this focus area, you are asked to shed light on which are the most effective and efficient mitigation efforts for wildland fire risk. Are traditional efforts effective or are there better alternatives available? Another way of formulating this quest: can you advise on what mitigation strategies can give communities, or California as a whole the “best bang for the buck”?