Halifax Port Authority, PSA Halifax, COVE and DeepSense are hosting the third Ocean Data Challenge. This free event will kicked off at the PIER on Monday, May 2nd with presentations from experts, you can watch the recording here. Participants submit their video presentation on Monday, May 16th by 11:59pmADT to info@deepsense.ca ,  and the winners are announced on Friday, May 20th.

Recently PSA Halifax acquired the Fairview Cove container terminal, and now owns both Fairview Cove and the Atlantic Hub container terminals in Halifax, making our port unified like few others. 

This Data Challenge invites participants to imagine new ways to drive port efficiency and sustainability, and to help us better understand and communicate the benefits of being a single container terminal operator port. We are inviting students at post-secondary institutions across Atlantic Canada to use ocean data to examine how we can drive urban port sustainability. 

This Challenge allows you to work at your own pace to explore ways to learn about ocean data, meet others with the same interests and bring together unique skills to create a team (or work solo). This is a fantastic way to show off your design, programming or other talents. Not to mention more than $2,000 in prizes!

The challenge is broken down into three Challenge Streams: On the Water, Around the Water and On the Terminal.  Individuals and teams will be asked to choose one stream and provide interdisciplinary ideas for helping understand the benefits of being a single container terminal operator port. Each stream can be used to explore different types of data, for example: : “On the Water” can explore how we can better understand vessel movement or optimization, “On the Terminal” can include train and truck activity, and “Around the Water” can include movement of containers, trucks and train.

Challenge Stream #1 Theme: On the Water

How will the change to a single terminal operator port impact vessel operations? How can we optimize vessel operations with a single terminal operator?

Challenge Stream #2 Theme: On the Terminal

What efficiencies can be realized on terminals? What new opportunities are created through having one terminal operator, one rail operator and one union?

Challenge Stream #3 Theme: Around the Water

What opportunities do we see as a result of being a single operator port? How do we optimize truck movements? What new opportunities might arise from a consolidation of container terminal operations? How can our city and port grow harmoniously? 

Who should participate? 

The best ideas come from interdisciplinary teams, so we invite those studying Computer Science, Engineering, Biology, Sustainability, Business, or any other programs!  As long as participants are students who are registered full or part-time at an Atlantic Canada post-secondary educational institution or graduated from one of those institutions in the past 12-months.  You can go solo, or work with a team of up to five people. Please ensure you read the Official Rules below.

The Rules 

• Competitors must own rights or have written permission from the owner for all software demonstrated in the competition. 
• Your submission could be as simple as just a single really insightful bar chart. Or maybe you will use machine learning to build a prediction. Surprise us! Judging will be based on the potential for impact, originality, and creativity. 
• Competitors can work solo or on teams of up to 5 members.
• Competitors are not allowed to submit projects containing confidential information 
• Required to use one source of public data, noting the source of the data in the presentation or within infographic, visual or slides
• Must be a current part-time or full-time student of an academic institution in Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador) or have graduated from one of these institutions in the past 12 months.

Expected Outcome and Submissions 

• All teams will be required to submit their entry as a recording of up to a 3-minute presentation 
• The presentation can be of a diagram, a technology solution, an analysis of data,  or something else, as long as it is a solution to one of the Challenge Stream questions outlined above.
• Your tangible outcome or solution will vary based on your skill, background, area of expertise and team. It is expected you will have created a prototype of some kind that could range from a technology solution, a visualization, or an overall plan to address some of the questions outlined in the Challenge Streams.
• All teams must provide a summary of their solution, link of recording and any associated materials by 11:59 pm ADT on Monday, May 16, 2022 to info@deepsense.ca to be part of the judging.

Schedule (all times are in Atlantic Time)

Monday, May 2nd at 4 pm: The challenge kicks off! Learn how being a One Port City makes Halifax a more efficient and sustainable port. The session will be live streamed and also recorded and shared within 24 hours with all those who were not able to attend.

Monday, May 16th at 11:59pm: Team concept submissions must be emailed to info@deepsense.ca with “Challenge submission form *TEAM NAME*” in the subject line to be eligible for presentation.  Judges will review all submissions over the following three business days.

Friday, May 20, 2022 by 4 pm:  Participants will be contacted with the results!

Judging and Prizes

Judging will be done offline. Judges will have 2 days to review the submissions and will then come together to decide on winners. Projects will be judged on presentation, creativity and, of course, the prototype (ranges from a technology solution, a visualization, or an overall plan).  Note there are separate prizes for top design and top technical design.

• First prize: $750
• Second prize: $500
• Top Creative Design: $500
• Judges Choice: $500