From Hackathon to Impact: How NorthStar’s Project Addresses Flood Challenges with Space Data
- CASSINI Defence
Kacia Rutkoŭskaja
- 0
- 17 minutes read
The 8th Cassini Hackathon, held in Zoetermeer at the Dutch Innovation Factory from 22-24 November 2024, was a vibrant gathering of young professionals, innovators and experts. This event, initiated by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), brought together talented minds across 10 countries to create solutions for the future of defence and security using space data. NorthStar team stood out as the runner-up in the local competition in the Netherlands. Their project is a web app that helps people stay safe during floods by providing real-time alerts, location-based navigation, emergency support, and adaptive routing—all without requiring downloads.
Meet the NorthStar Team
The NorthStar team is made up of 8 talented individuals who all share a background in computer science:Abbas Hussain, Salaheldin Nounou, Marom Sverdlov, Divo Abimanyu, Yusef Ahmed, Yunsu Kim, Ayudh Haldar and Thomas Rosendaal. They were already friends before the hackathon, having studied together in Eindhoven. The team was formed in a rather casual way when Thomas Rosendaal saw an advertisement for the hackathon on social media. “I shared the idea with my friends, and we decided to join as a group,” says Thomas. Despite not having a detailed plan before the event, their combined skills and close collaboration helped them develop a standout project.
Their project, a web application called NorthStar, aims to help people navigate safely during natural disasters, specifically floods. “The idea was that the app would send notifications, similar to NL alerts, guiding users to safe routes and shelters,” explains Yusef Ahmed. The team used a combination of their computer science skills and entrepreneurial know-how to bring their vision to life.
About the Cassini Hackathon
The Cassini Hackathon is organised by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS). It’s a platform for students, researchers, and early-stage startups to create applications using space data. This year’s theme focused on EU Space for Defence and Security, with challenges such as enhancing defence through geospatial intelligence and improving navigation for security operations.
NorthStar Project
NorthStar’s project addresses the critical need for timely and accurate information during floods. Their application uses existing technologies like Google Maps and satellite data to help people avoid flooded roads and find safe shelters. “We combined technologies that people already use, like Google Maps, and added our unique feature: flood-prone area identification,” says Yusef. The team’s approach not only made the idea feasible but also highly impactful, as it can help save lives during natural disasters.
NorthStar offers a seamless, real-time solution for navigating flood zones:
- Instant Alerts: When a flood occurs, NL Alert notifications will include a link to our app. No downloads are required—users access the app directly via the web.
- Location-Based Guidance: After entering their location, users are informed of their safety status.
- If they are safe, they are advised to stay put.
- If in a danger zone, the app provides navigation to higher ground, ensuring swift action.
- Emergency Support: Users needing assistance can press a button to contact 112, sharing their real-time location with rescuers while connecting the call.
- Adaptive Routing: If roads are blocked or impassable, users can request alternate routes.
- Safety Resources: A built-in safety guide answers key questions before and during a flood.
Technology Highlights
- Mapping & Navigation: The app uses open-source tools like OSMNx and NetworkX to analyse road networks, coupled with Folium and Geopy Geocoder for real-time routing.
- Elevation Data: We leverage Copernicus’s Digital Elevation Model to guide users to safe heights, as seen in our MVP, which successfully navigated users in Maastricht from 16m to a safe elevation of 28m during a simulated flood.
- Web Framework: Built using Flask and Python for robust, scalable functionality.
Hackathon Experience
The hackathon wasn’t without its challenges, but the NorthStar team was determined to make the most of the experience. The team had a lot of brainstorming sessions and disagreements along the way, but they were able to merge the best aspects of their ideas to form their final concept. “Coming up with the idea was the hardest part,” adds Yusef. “Once we had it, everything else just fell into place.”
Despite not expecting to win, the team found themselves pleasantly surprised when they were announced as the runner-up. “We went there just for fun, not really expecting to win anything,” says Thomas. “But when they announced our name, it was a complete shock! We all jumped up and ran to collect the prize.”
The experience was a learning opportunity for all of them. “The hackathon taught us new skills, not just in using space data but in teamwork and pitching,” shares Divo Abimanyu. Yusef agrees, adding, “The pitch was crucial. I had experience giving speeches before, so I took the lead. Once we had our pitch ready, the experts really helped us refine it.”
From Hackathon Prototype to Real-World Solution: The Next Steps for NorthStar
Although their project was completed within the hackathon’s tight timeframe, the team is committed to continuing development. “We’ve been discussing continuing the project and seeing if it can actually work in the real world,” says Thomas. The team is considering pitching their idea to government organisations and investors. “We’re meeting weekly to improve the idea,” says Ayudh Haldar. “Now, we have the time to take it further and see how much potential it has.”
To bring NorthStar to life, the team aims to partner with governments using a SaaS model. This partnership will ensure continued development and maintenance of the code, integrating advanced tools from Copernicus to enhance safety outcomes. They invite readers to connect with them and follow their journey as they work towards turning their idea into a fully developed solution.
Tackling Real-World Challenges Through Engaging Hackathons
During the hackathon, the team explored how to use Copernicus data to address real-world challenges. As Thomas Rosendaal shared, “We used the EFAS example from the Copernicus system along with some external data. That was the main source of satellite data we used.” The team also worked with flood height data, which Ayudh Haldar explained was critical in determining safe areas: “By analysing flood levels from past events, we could pinpoint areas that are safe based on the peak flood height. This data came from Copernicus.” The hackathon opened the team’s eyes to the possibilities of space technology, with Thomas adding, “We didn’t even know this kind of data was accessible, let alone free. The hackathon really opened the door to this industry, and now we know it’s possible to enter it and solve problems using space technology.”
Initiatives like the Cassini Hackathon provide a great opportunity to bring talented students and creative minds on board to work on space solutions, even without prior experience or a background in space.
The 8th edition of the CASSINI Hackathon in the Netherlands was organised by the dotSPACE foundation in collaboration with Royal Haskoning. Key partners: NL Space Campus, Security Delta (HSD), The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Dutch Innovation Factory, Netherlands Space Office, Gemeente Zoetermeer, OPT/Net BV etc.
Opportunities for Students and Young Professionals
Hackathons are an excellent way to ignite fresh ideas and help participants develop innovative solutions using space data. In addition to this, there are various initiatives in the Netherlands* that offer students and young professionals opportunities to engage with and contribute to the space industry.
Space for Talent
Space for Talent is an initiative aimed at engaging MBO, HBO, and WO students in the rapidly growing space economy, recognizing the need for talent beyond just engineers and rocket scientists. In collaboration with SpaceNed, NL Space Campus, and the Netherlands Space Office (NSO), this initiative expands on the legacy of the #Moonshots campaign, offering diverse career opportunities in areas like industrialization, marketing, and commerce. Space for Talent invites students with ambition to explore the exciting and accessible future of space industry, where a wide range of skills are now essential for success.
SpaceSUITE
SpaceSUITE is an ERASMUS+ Blueprint project focused on developing innovative resources for education and training to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of skills in the growing space downstream sector. Grounded in the SPACE4GEO Skills Partnership and building on the success of EO4GEO, the project aims to empower a skilled workforce by identifying skill gaps and designing new curricula and training programmes for higher and vocational education. Through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the implementation of the Blueprint, SpaceSUITE works to address skills mismatches and ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of the EU space sector.
OneSpaceHub
OneSpaceHub (OSH), launched in 2023, aims to provide comprehensive support to space sector entrepreneurs through a two-year programme led by the NL Space Campus and backed by RVO’s One Single Hub initiative. The project focuses on enhancing the alignment, visibility, and accessibility of programmess covering critical stages of entrepreneurship, from education and ideation to pre-incubation and incubation.
LDE NL Space Campus Summer School
LDE NL Space Campus Summer School is designed for bachelor’s and master’s students, offering access to the Dutch space sector through behind-the-scenes visits to leading space companies and various workshops. Participants will explore space technologies and research activities at top institutions like Leiden, Delft, and Erasmus universities, as well as tour organizations such as ESA ESTEC, SRON, TNO, and Airbus Defence and Space. Beyond academics, the program emphasizes networking and skills development through team-building exercises, collaborative workshops, and interdisciplinary projects addressing real-world challenges in the space industry.
Career opportunities at Royal HaskoningDHV
Royal HaskoningDHV works on the most urgent challenges to enhance society, combining expertise, experience, and talented people to create positive change now and in the future. As an innovative, industry-leading engineering company, Royal HaskoningDHV fosters talent, diversity, and a supportive working environment where employees can grow and contribute to sustainable solutions. By offering opportunities for personal development and collaboration with experts in various fields, Royal HaskoningDHV enables employees to work on impactful projects that address pressing global issues. Visit job vacancy page of the RoyalHaskoning via the link https://www.royalhaskoningdhv.com/en/careers
…and more!
*The initiatives outlined above represent only a selection of highlights from our partners and are not a complete list of available options in the Netherlands.
Featured image: Author
