GEO-OPEN-HACK-2024: Big Geospatial Data Hackathon with Open Infrastructure and Tools

The event is organised by the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in collaboration with Spatial Ecology. This hackathon delves into advanced cutting-edge open techniques, tools, and best practices for efficiently handling and processing vast amounts of geospatial data. Participants will gain hands-on experience in leveraging HPC resources and geo-tools for tasks such as geospatial data preprocessing, spatial modeling and analytics, and visualization.

Hackathon requirements

This is an advanced-level hackathon, ideal for early-career researchers, scientists, and professionals interested in unlocking the full potential of big geospatial data by harnessing the computational power of open HPC systems. Participants will leave with valuable insights and practical skills to tackle their geospatial challenges at scale.

The hackathon is aimed at individuals with masters or doctoral qualifications. It will provide them an opportunity to scale-up their own spatio-temporal modeling and data analysis projects. Hackathon participants should have intermediate bash and Python skills, basic ML-python knowledge, and a strong desire to learn command line tools for massive geo data processes. R users are also welcome if they feel comfortable with command line operations in bash and python environments. 

Basic concepts of GIS, such as familiarity with rasters/vectors, overlays, buffering etc, and basics of statistics, such as mean standard, deviation, residuals, as well as python and bash syntax will be assumed as given. We will share tips and tricks on massive data processing, and therefore a strong bash and Python base will be essential grasping nuanced concepts that can boost your geo-analysis.

A developer committee will evaluate the pre-registration assessment and select 25 applicants on one of the following criteria:

1. Applicant’s git repository (Github, Gitlab, Bitbucket) for an evaluation. The following will be assessed:
   • Use of Python code and bash (including GDAL) for txt and geo-data analysis. Laptop-executed scripts are sufficient, i.e. no need to demonstrate code for cluster processes.
   • Use of scikit-learn python (or similar library) for ML applications, in other words we want people that think in a multidimensional way.  
2. Any evidence of bash and Python used by advanced R programmers, e.g. Git repositories, coding samples or relevant course certificates etc. Moreover fundamentals of ML are also needed.
3. Completion of the “Geocomputation & Machine Learning for environmental applications” course and workshop organized by Spatial Ecology 

Registration information

• On-site registration fee 200 Euro 
• Online registration fee 50 Euro

This is a not-for-profit event, and registration fees serve only to cover hospitality costs (social events, lunches, coffee breaks, etc.). Accommodation and travel costs are the responsibility of the participants. 

Online participants will be able to ask questions and receive live assistance by a course instructor. However, troubleshooting will be limited due to logistical constraints. Lectures will be recorded and made available for asynchronous viewing, allowing participants in distant time zones to participate as well. Links to the recordings will be shared only with those who register as online attendees. 

To register, all participants must:

1. Complete the skills assessment and the pre-registration form here.  
2. Wait for our approval before proceeding with fee payment. 
3. Pay the registration fee.

You will be considered registered only when we have received your completed pre-registration form, and we have sent you a confirmation email, and the registration fee has been paid in full. 

The pre-registration form will be open until March 31. 2024.

Payment information: the payment options are explained here. Please wait first to receive the approval (see step 2 above). The deadline to pay the registration fees is until May 15. 2024.

Refund policy: A written request for registration cancellation must be e-mailed to the hackathon organizers. If registration cancellation is requested by April 30. 2024, the full registration fee will be refunded. If a cancellation request is submitted after April 30. 2024, we will retain 80% of the fees unless a candidate from the waiting list is able to replace the withdrawing candidate.

Visa requirements: On-site participants are responsible for ensuring they have the correct documentation to enter Austria. Please check your visa requirements and visa issuance waiting times, ensuring that you are able to travel to Austria on a Schengen visa in time for June 2024. Check here for countries that need a Schengen visa. Please note that the hackathon organizers are not authorized to assist with the VISA process beyond providing the Invitation Letter.

Acknowledgments