Codathon: CodingMatters
Code something that matters
Update: February 25, 2021
The venue is a codathon, all online.
Are you a problem solver, a techie, an innovator, someone who is super creative? Great, because if you have some technology skills, the Township has a fun opportunity to challenge you and maybe, you can even win a prize.
The Township of Langley invites you to help solve some of the biggest challenges that face our community. We want you to be ambitious, innovative, and set no limits to your imagination. If you know what code, loops, API, and CRUD means, then chances are, you're really going to like this.
We have identified five diverse themes that cover some of the many unique and interesting challenges that face us as a community and invite you or your team to join the fun and show us your clever ideas.
The themes that are detailed below are meant to provide a focus, not a limit. Dive further into one of the themes below and pitch your great idea. All we ask is that what you make will run on Microsoft Azure and be seriously awesome.
This event is being organized by The Township of Langley and sponsored by Microsoft.
Please carefully read the Challenge Rules before entering.
Register for the Codathon (registration is closed for this event)
Codathon Schedule
To give you lots of time, our codathon is structured into two distinct rounds:
Round 1 (January 14, 2021 - January 31, 2021)
- Submit an idea and high-level proposal (using our template) on how you will make it become a reality.
- A 5 to 10-slide presentation of your proposed Project produced using the template available for download from the resources section on the Challenge website. The presentation can be provided in PowerPoint or PDF format.
- Up to 50 competitors (or teams) may be shortlisted and progress to Round 2. These shortlisted competitors will be notified on February 5, 2021.
Round 2 (February 6, 2021 to February 18)
- Make those ideas become a reality! As one of up to 50 competitors (or teams), you will work on the project that you submitted resulting in a function prototype.
- Your functional prototype will run on Microsoft Azure.
- You will be provided a fixed amount of Microsoft Azure credits to develop your prototype.
- During this Round and depending on your idea, support from expert mentors may also be available. More information on mentors will be provided to the competitors at the beginning of Round 2.
- We encourage you to check our resources for more useful tools and inspiration.
- Deliverables for this round are:
- A 5 to 10-slide presentation describing your completed Project produced using the template available for download from the resources section on the Challenge website. The presentation can be provided in PowerPoint or PDF format.
- A link to a functional prototype that is developed using Microsoft Azure.
- The Second Round may also include a (virtual) oral presentation describing the project and demonstrating the functioning prototype delivered by the Participants. The organizer will schedule the oral presentation with the Participants.
The codathon winners will be announced in conjunction with the Intelligent Communities Forum on February 24, 2021.
If you’re excited, think you have a clever idea, and are ready to code something great, register for the Codathon.
Themes
We have identified the following five diverse themes that cover some of the many unique and interesting challenges that face us as a community and invite you (or your team) to join the fun and show us your clever ideas:
| Climate, Environment & Natural Resources |
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Environmental sustainability is part of the Township of Langley’s core values. The Township has an abundance of beautiful, natural areas and parks that provide benefits to our community members and wildlife alike. Climate change poses serious risks to people, businesses, and our natural resources. By creating a Climate Action Strategy, the Township is taking steps today to address climate change and to better ensure a cleaner, greener Langley for future generations. What can be done to engage our community by better connecting them with our natural environment - that equally increases awareness about why we need to conserve these important resources? Seed idea: Langley's climate history data and changes |
| Farms and Food |
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The Township of Langley's rich history connected to agricultural lands is a part of our community's identity and economy. While the majority of farmland parcels in the Township today are small in size (less than 10 acres), it encourages intensive, sustainable, and small-scale operations, as well as direct farm-to-market operations. Farmers are looking for new ways and opportunities to keep their farms profitable and our food network healthy by exploring agri-tourism initiatives, technology solutions, and niche markets. What can be done to better connect our local farm businesses with residents and other businesses to help increase a ‘buy local’ movement? Seed idea: Farm Portal/App. Provide a platform for local farmers to market their products. |
| Culture, Inclusion & Community Pride |
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The Township of Langley is considered to be the birthplace of British Columbia. It is situated on the traditional lands of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui, and Semiahmoo First Nations. Our rich natural and cultural heritage defines our identity and contributes to the quality of life that our residents value. The First Nations on whose lands we live, work, and play are tireless in their efforts to provide a better world for future generations. Others from around the world have come here to make Langley their home. Working together, we share respect and responsibility for the land and for a livable, healthy, and happy community. Seed idea: Build an interactive online tool for community members near and far to share their stories, experiences and memories of the Township of Langley as a means to bolster our archives and oral history projects. |
| Civic Engagement |
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Meaningful public engagement is an important part of increasing greater community involvement and understanding. In 2016, the Township of Langley endorsed both a Public Engagement Charter and a Public Engagement Strategy for Planning and Development. The Charter commits to ensure meaningful community consultation that contributes to the best possible quality of life for current & future residents. As more people choose to make the Township their home, it is important that we all work together to shape the future. What kinds of tools can be put in place to assist in measuring social sentiment related to specific topics that our Township Mayor and Council are considering? Seed idea: An App to connect isolated and vulnerable seniors (maybe a pilot care home) to volunteers. Or, an App to help share COVID information with youth. |
| Transparency |
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With a population projected to double by 2040, the Township of Langley has embarked on a number of initiatives and strategies to improve our community and the place that 140,000+ people today call home. Meeting the sociocultural, economic, and environmental needs of our growing community requires forward-thinking efforts for residents today and tomorrow. Creating trust and transparency is integral to open, inclusive, and consultative community involvement and is vital to the success of these and other initiatives and strategies. What can be done to increase transparency around the delivery of these initiatives and strategies so that residents are better included and informed about what's underway in our community? Seed idea: Dash board that helps show progress across active strategies and initiatives. |
All require that all submitted prototypes run on Microsoft Azure and be seriously awesome.
Prizes
The CodingMatters team would like to thank all of those who registered and submitted prototypes for our event. The ideas were amazing!
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 CodingMatters Codathon are as follows:
First Place ($2500): “ePetition” submitted by Dane (Langley)
This prototype aims to improve public engagement through an ‘upvote’ tool that allows citizens to vote on things they are passionate about. The proposed tool also establishes a mechanism to only permit a 1 citizen, 1 vote to eliminate the possibility of individuals voting multiple times.
Second Place ($1000): “krbn” submitted by Oke (Airdrie)
This prototype aims to improve public education around climate change through an online calculator that allows individuals to gain a better understanding of what their personal impact is from a carbon footprint perspective. The data collected through the app would also be made available to government to help inform ongoing policy development.
Third Place ($500): “Freshly Produce” submitted by Jameson (Port Coquitlam) and Jacob (Port Coquitlam)
This team submitted a prototype that aims to connect farmers directly with consumers. This prototype also aims to address the problem of food waste through a discounting function that allows farmers the means to sell near-expiry food at a discount.
Resources
We know you’re smart and innovative, and probably don’t need any help, but just in case, here are some resources to jump-start your creativity and support you through the codathon:
- Open Source at Microsoft - Sample projects, tools, services, guides on contributing.
- Open source at GitHub - Free whitepapers on how to work collaboratively on an open source project.
Data Sets
Templates
Challenge Rules
As much as we don’t want to stifle your creativity and limit your imagination, need some rules. Read the Codathon Challenge Rules.