Would you like to start protecting and saving lives by creating safer and more resilient disaster management processes with technology?

Hackathon events organized by Akbank LAB with different themes every year are being held in the field of disaster technologies this year in cooperation with Akbank LAB and imece. “Akbank Hackathon: DisasterTech” started online on October 14 and completed at Istanbul Sabancı Center on October 22. In this event where innovation meets impact, participants, in teams of 3-5 people, developed solutions on critical issues focusing on disaster warning systems, disaster preparedness, humanitarian aid and recovery within 1 week.

🟥 “Akbank Hackathon: DisasterTech” focuses on technology that can be implemented as a disaster-focused product or as part of the value chain supporting disaster early warning, preparedness, prevention, mitigation, assistance, response or recovery.

Disasters cause many social problems in the context of migration, education, health, economy, security and social relations. On the other hand, the disasters and emergencies we face with the climate crisis are also increasing, and developing and expanding the solutions brought by technology is gaining importance day by day.

The February 6 earthquakes caused great destruction and more than 50 thousand deaths in 11 provinces of Turkey; It affected 14 million people. When the regional economy and other parameters are evaluated together, it directly affected approximately 10% of the Turkish economy. Immediately after the earthquakes, especially technology experts started to prepare many new platforms and infrastructures. Communities coming together through various online platforms have worked together to create mechanisms that will play a functional role in search and rescue and post-disaster reconstruction processes.

For exactly these reasons, we invite you to participate in Akbank Hackathon: DisasterTech. The event offers the opportunity to be part of a collective effort where diverse minds will come together to shape the direction of future disaster technology. Let’s act together to contribute to a safer, more resilient and inclusive society by using technology as a catalyst for positive change.

🟥 “Akbank Hackathon: DisasterTech” was an event where, in addition to the cooperation between Akbank and imece, many partner institutions and organizations came together and contributed to solutions.

What happened?

  • Approximately 500 people who wanted to participate in the “Akbank Hackathon: DisasterTech” event applied by forming 176 teams! After the initial evaluation, 33 teams participated in the event and 10 teams presented in front of the jury.

  • During the event, teams developed their software ideas and made presentations by developing them from scratch.

  • During this process, our mentors accompanied the teams to answer questions.

  • After the presentations, the first 3 teams selected by the jury received awards of 100.000 TL, 60.000 TL ve 40.000 TL respectively.

What Did We Focus On?

Can we reduce the negative effects of disasters and shape disaster management with technology?

With Akbank Hackathon: DisasterTech, we encouraged innovative ideas to solve pre-disaster, moment and post-disaster needs with technology without any limitations, with the theme of disaster technologies. Solutions have been produced in many fields such as energy, agriculture, food, drone/robotics, using a wide range of technologies, from mobile applications to artificial intelligence, from big data to web3. The solutions produced were developed from scratch during the Hackathon and were presented at the MVP stage. Products and software were developed by focusing on areas such as pre-disaster risk reduction, preparedness processes, immediate disaster response and post-disaster reconstruction.

Winning Teams

Team 1: Phargen-Z

Ecza Dolabı, is an application designed with a user-friendly interface. It brings together patients and pharmacists directly or through medication requests, enabling pharmacists to deliver needed medications to patients in the correct quantities and in a coordinated manner. This approach aims to solve drug waste, health problems caused by misuse, and system problems related to a single person.

Team 2: City Guard

Sense Earth project consists of two steps.

Step 1: It is a system that analyzes whether strategically important and heavily used buildings have been demolished or not. This system is equipped with solar-powered and satellite internet-connected sensor modules mounted on the exteriors of buildings.

Step 2: A system solution was designed that detects people entering and exiting the building with sensors using iBeacon technology placed at the entrance of the building. This system operates independently of the GSM/Internet/Electricity infrastructure and communicates with the communication network established in Stage 1.

Team 3: Terappim

A mobile application has been developed to alleviate the need for physical therapy in disaster areas and reduce the workload of healthcare professionals. This mobile application, called Terappim, allows physiotherapists to create a patient-specific exercise program from movements in the movement library. The patient will perform the exercises under supervision using pose estimation technology and the outputs of the pose estimation technology are presented to the physiotherapist as a report.

Awards

Partners

Do you want to know who is doing what in the ecosystem?

In cooperation with Akbank LAB and imece, we created a constantly updated ecosystem map on disaster technologies. Disaster Technologies Turkey Ecosystem Map categorizes technological products developed for disaster management and preparedness processes and helps users discover disaster types, management and services. With this resource, which we aim to help us be better prepared for disasters, you can discover the power of technology to increase the safety and resilience of society.

How can you review the map?

You can consider the disaster management stages:

  • Prevention and Risk Reduction: Includes risk analysis, infrastructure strengthening and other measures to reduce the effects of disasters.

  • Preparation : It is the phase of being prepared for disasters, creating emergency plans and stocking equipment.

  • Intervention and Response: Includes technologies used to provide a rapid and effective response in case of disaster.

  • Communication and Networking: It covers the communication tools used to inform people and share disaster information.

  • Recovery and Reconstruction: Provides technology-supported recovery solutions to accelerate the post-disaster recovery process.

You can also filter the map by disaster types, stages and technologies. You can open the relevant cards to get more information about the category and usage of each technological product or service.

We will continue to add newly developed technological products and services by constantly updating the Disaster Technologies Turkey Ecosystem Map. We make an open call to you to ensure that all stakeholders and actors are made visible at this early stage and to strengthen the ecosystem together. We welcome your suggestions and contributions! You can send us the information on the map that you think should be changed or the products that you would like to suggest to be added. Contact address: merhaba@refiturkiye.com

You can review the map here

Akbank Hackathon: Areas where we will produce solutions with DisasterTech

Problems and Needs in the Field

Immediate Response Needs

Focus

Response and Response → Addressing immediate and concrete needs during a disaster.

Scope

It may include technological solutions in areas such as rapid search and rescue operations, damage assessment and debris response systems, emergency medical aid and emergency shelter provision to the affected population, preventing hazardous material threats and possible epidemics in the disaster area.

Effect

Protect lives by helping to keep emergency response efforts moving in the right direction.

Resource Allocation

Focus

Response and Response → Improving the distribution of vital resources during disasters.

Scope

It may include technological solutions to ensure the effective and efficient distribution of food, water, and medical supplies in affected areas.

Effect

Minimize problems by ensuring that resources are delivered to those in need on time and correctly.

Field Coordination

Focus

Communication and Communications → Facilitating communication between teams in the field and communities in disaster areas.

Scope

It may include technological solutions to increase the reliability, clarity and speed of communications in diverse and challenging field conditions that lack internet and electricity access.

Effect

Increase the impact of efforts by strengthening coordination and information sharing.

Improvement

Focus

Recovery and Restructuring → Improving the social and psychological conditions of those in the disaster area by reducing the effects of the disaster.

Scope

It may include technological solutions that support the mood of people in disaster areas and daily life activities such as business, education and economy in the region.

Etki

Help shape post-disaster regulations and finalize medium and long-term studies.

Problems and Needs in the System

Information Accessibility and Accuracy

Focus

Communication and Communication → Ensuring accurate and accessible information distribution regarding disasters.

Scope

It may include platforms, applications or other technological solutions that facilitate the sharing of verified, clear and accessible information.

Effect

Minimize misinformation and ensure all stakeholders have the data they need to make informed decisions.

Virtual Support Networks

Focus

Recovery and Restructuring & Prevention and Risk Reduction → Creating digital platforms for support during and after disasters, and implementing these structures and enabling them to work before disasters.

Scope

It may include technological solutions that facilitate resource sharing, communication and governance for those affected by the disaster and those supporting the disaster area.

Effect

Ensure proper use of human resources and re-development of the sense of community through support mechanisms.

Financial Support and Transparency

Focus

Recovery & Reconstruction & Prevention & Risk Reduction → Facilitate transparent and accessible financial support mechanisms for disasters.

Scope

It may include technological solutions that make it easier to collect, manage and distribute financial aid and resources.

Effect

Ensure that financial support reaches those in need in a transparent and timely manner.

Adaptation of New Technologies

Focus

Intervention and Response & Prevention and Risk Reduction → Facilitating the use of new developing technologies, especially Web3 and artificial intelligence, for disasters.

Scope

Uncovering solutions that can be developed in areas such as search and rescue, meeting local needs correctly, material supply, coordination or funds and donations with tools such as block chain, digital assets and artificial intelligence, carrying out studies that are compatible with regulations and easy to use in times of disaster, and taking action in this direction before the disaster. It may include technological solutions such as raising awareness.

Effect

Streamline disaster management processes using new technologies.

Continuous Preparation

Focus

Preparedness & Prevention and Risk Reduction → Establishing systems focused on being ready for disasters from the first minute and having an action plan from the first minute.

Scope

Building the disaster approach model on risk management may include technological solutions for predicting possible dangers, providing support in line with the skills and competencies of individuals and institutions, and creating budget and strategy plans.

Effect

Contribute to the development of solutions that can be compatible under all conditions, without waiting for the moment of disaster.

Akbank Hackathon

DisasterTech Hackathon at a Glance

What Opportunities Can Technology Offer Against Disaster Risk?

Frequently Asked Questions

Until when can we submit applications?

Applications continued to be accepted until October 1, 2023.

Who can apply?

Anyone, especially university students and young professionals, who have a disaster-focused product idea, who have a solution idea on topics such as disaster early warning, preparation, prevention, mitigation, assistance, intervention or improvement, and who can develop these works using technology, can apply by forming a team. .

What are your criteria when evaluating applications?

Evaluation and selection of teams applying for the event; The conclusion was taken by taking into account the compatibility of the ideas and justifications expressed in the motivation section of the application with the focal points, their relationship with the issue, their impact potential, the competence of the relevant team and their areas of expertise.

What technologies can we use?

While developing their ideas, the teams used all Web2, Web2.5 and Web3 infrastructures without any restrictions.

Where can we follow the announcements?

There will be channels where announcements are shared.

Application Deadline: October 1, 2023