The second edition of the AEC Hackathon x GATE concluded on Sunday, leaving a remarkable impression with its dynamic atmosphere of collaboration and innovation.
The event, held at the GATE Institute, brought together participants from diverse disciplines, including architects, engineers, software developers, urban planners, and data scientists, all united by a shared goal of addressing real-world challenges in the built environment.
Over the course of more than 48 hours, seven innovative projects were developed, demonstrating the participants’ ability to merge their varied expertise into impactful solutions. These projects addressed critical issues in urban planning, digital tools for professionals, and real-time urban data applications.
Among the standout projects was iArchitect, a voice-enabled chatbot software designed to streamline information for architects, urban planners, and end-users. This project was awarded Best Overall Project, reflecting its potential to simplify workflows and enhance collaboration within the architecture and construction sectors.
The Parking Wizards team tackled the pressing issue of parking shortages in Sofia’s Lozenets district, developing a Parking Index to optimize parking management. Their solution earned the Best Mashup award for its innovative integration of urban data and practical applications.
Another notable project, FindSpot, sought to alleviate parking difficulties in Sofia through an intuitive platform that connects drivers with available parking spaces. Its user-centric approach was recognized with the Best Hack for Humans award.
The ChangeMakers team received the Best Solves a Big Problem award for their software, designed to assess and mitigate the impact of earthquakes in urban areas, underscoring the importance of disaster resilience in city planning.
The multidisciplinary composition of the teams proved to be a cornerstone of the event’s success. By combining skills and perspectives from various fields, participants were able to produce solutions that were not only innovative but also practical and grounded in real-world applicability.
The event was further enriched by insightful lectures delivered by industry leaders, offering participants inspiration and knowledge. Topics ranged from practical BIM implementation strategies to leveraging 3D web graphics for digital transformation in the AEC industry.
The jury, comprising of the experts – Teemu Lehtinen, CEO of KIRAHub, Aske Strandberg, Project Manager at Coor, who represented the AEC Hackathon organization and Ivan Goychev, Deputy Mayor of Sofia for Digitalization. Deputy Mayor Goychev emphasized the significance of the collaborative spirit demonstrated throughout the hackathon. In his remarks, Goychev stated, “The municipality of Sofia needs you. We need to work together to solve real issues for the citizens of the city.”
“You looked into complex but also simple problems, viable problems that actually challenge you as a city, but also you as citizens in a city. It was very pleasant for the jury to see how you collaborate and how you tackle some of these issues”, noted Aske Strandberg.
The AEC Hackathon x GATE Vol. 2 concluded with a celebration of all participants, whose dedication and creativity underscored the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration in shaping the future of the built environment.