Tech solutions for social problems

About 150 urban researchers, designers, architects and techies got-together on Saturday at a pre-idea workshop ‘Smart City- Internet of Thing’ conducted under the aegis of Hyderabad Software Enterprise Association (HYSEA) on a wide array of issues such as traffic density, waste management, water management, smart transportation systems, pedestrianisation and other urban problems.

The workshop was aimed to provide awareness on the issues to focus on before developing solutions for urban problems which would be showcased at the Metropolis Congress.

Five best entries out of 40 teams would be chosen after the 36-hour Hackathon that would start at 9 am on October 5 and conclude the following day. The best five entries would get an audience with international delegates and be given an incubation opportunity by the Government of Telangana.

Ramesh has always been associated with innovation. He is instrumental in organising workshops and create a start-up ecosystem in Hyderabad. A strong believer in ‘out-of-the-box’ ideas, he is making sure that the participants get the right atmosphere and the required hardware to work.

Ramesh teaches at the IIT-Hyderabad and believes that innovative ideas alone can bring in a change and entrepreneurship alone would take forward a generation that for long was stuck with the idea of a ‘safe job’.

Ramesh says, “The required hardware was provided. We bring in devices like ARDrone, quadcopter, Leap Motion, Rasberrr Pi, Arduino, Sensors, Beaglebone, 3D printers for people to build smart city ideas. The kits were given to the participants to create solutions apart from talks on the issues that plague Hyderabad city. The idea is to extract viable solutions to city’s problems.”

Sensors for mobile applications and basic electronics were provided to the participants. They were assisted by six active Hackathon groups in the city. Ramesh says that the sensors would be helpful from backend applications to all the way for a frontend mobile application. In all, 21 urban problems were identified. So how was the response to the challenge?

“The response was good and many have come up with ideas on water management, traffic management and roads. Five innovative ideas would be chosen on October 5 after the Pre- Hackathon and presented to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.”

He adds, “The facilitators were able to answer critical questions on what defines a smart city. The participants would be working during the weekend and head for hardware to bring these solutions to life. I am sure we would be able to provide good concrete solutions to urban problems.”

The teams behind the best five ideas would be showcasing their solutions at the XI Metropolis World Congress 2014 and the theme is ‘Smart Cities & Cities for All’.