Winners are announced.
Q: Does my solution have to utilize AI, a statistical model, or Machine Learning?
A: We welcome everyone to submit ideas, but the most highly graded submissions will include authentic working code that can increase the visibility of utility features in satellite imagery. Solutions DO NOT have to utilize any of the above-mentioned methods to be eligible for prizes.
Q: What are some examples of electric utilities currently using satellite imagery?
A: Satellite imagery has been applied to vegetation detection in transmission line corridors. As transmission corridors are relatively wide and fully cleared of vegetation, they are some of the easiest utility features to identify in satellite images. Our desire with this hackathon is to be able to see smaller features such as distribution lines.
Q: Where do I start?
A: One location for public satellite imagery is the NASA EOSDIS Worldview portal. The ‘Getting started’ page has more information about searching for and accessing data through the portal as well as links to video tutorials. Specifically, the MODIS surface reflectance data uses the visible light spectrum and might be a good place to start. More info can be found at the EarthData website. Radically unexpected ideas are welcome!
Q: Is there a specific satellite data set that participants need to use?
A: No. We will accept submissions using any publicly available data set. As part of your submission, please include information on which data set was used and how to access it. You should ensure that your results and submissions are replicable and verifiable. Because that’s how change at scale is made.
If your solution requires the use of materials (such as a dataset or code) that are not from Open Government Data, you are responsible for ensuring that your solution materials are available without restriction or, at a minimum, are also licensed as open source as defined by the Open Source Initiative. (We know smart folks don’t need to read this, but we HAD to say it.) Examples of appropriate licenses can be found here.
Creativity: Submissions that create new and usable information from satellite imagery will be graded highly. Graders are looking at the uniqueness of your idea in leveraging satellite data to provide actionable analysis in the context of the utility or gas pipeline industry. Ideas that blow us away with interesting solutions to real-world challenges are what we’re looking for (plus they will certainty bump your name up to the attention of our avid team of recruiters).
Impact: Each submission will be rated based on its proposed positive impact and economic viability. Graders will assess how effective your idea is in the detection of target features and how well your process is in executing your objective. This is because an impact at scale is what allows us to lead the next era of intelligent energy.
Completeness: Graders are looking for a well-defined idea/application in the electric utility and gas pipeline space. Data processing prototypes utilizing multiple spectra, clearly making utility features more visible, and polished solutions will receive high marks. Only ideas that are replicable or verifiable will be considered for top-tier prizes. True energy visionaries care about details!
Ideas that are plagiarized or use inputs that were not created by the team submitting an idea will be disqualified.
