The MARTA Hackathon series is a yearlong strategic technology initiative led by MARTA, Sandbox ATL, Code for Atlanta, HackGT, and other community groups to help create the next great thing in ATL transit. The next stop is on Feb 24-25 in Tech Square. We’re glad you’ll be part of it!
This initiative seeks to forge stronger relationships between MARTA and the Atlanta technology community by challenging participants to create prototypes that achieve one or both of these two main objectives:
- To increase ridership on MARTA
- To improve the rider experience on MARTA
Focus
Smart City + Internet of Things is our focus.
This time around, MARTA will showcase data collected via sensors within the system, specifically on-time data for trains and buses and parking data. Our partners with the City of Atlanta's Smart City initiative will share progress made with the North Avenue smart corridor demonstration project and assets being assembled for it, including some exciting data sets.
PROJECTS
- Organizing Your Teams and Ideas Now
Want to get a head start on pitching and formulating your ideas? You can post your concepts on this Google Spreadsheet.
- MARTA Sponsored Challenges
Challenge #1: Use IoT to help MARTA riders to find the point of interests around stations and help them navigate our stations and get to their final destinations after they disembark the trains.
Challenge #2: Use IoT to help MARTA to track spaces available at our parking lots and integrate the information into our app and send customers notification when the lot is full or almost full.
- Attendee Open Pitches
You will have the opportunity to pitch your own idea/challenges at the hackathon! All pitches must meet the challenge criteria of the hackathon:
- To increase ridership on MARTA. How do we get more people riding MARTA, both bus and train?
- To improve the rider experience on MARTA. How do we make riding MARTA something that everyone looks forward to?
Use this document to start formulating your pitches now!
- Team Rules
- A maximum team size of 6 people.
- Teams must make a best effort to open-source their code. Any popular open source license may be used.
INSPIRATION
- Official MARTA mobile app (iOS & Android)
- MARTA.io
- ATLtransit.org
- MARTA Guide
- MARTA Menu
- OneBusAway
Did you see the recap of October’s #MARTAhack? Click the image!
Section II: Schedule & Driving Directions
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM Registration
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM Dinner service begins
6:00 PM - 6:05 PM Kickoff: Scott Henderson, Sandbox ATL
6:05 PM - 6:10 PM Welcome: Keith Parker and Rukiya Thomas, MARTA
6:10 PM - 6:15 PM Schedule Overview: Luigi Montanez, Code for Atlanta
6:15 PM - 6:30 PM Smart City + MARTA Data Briefing
6:30 PM - 6:40 PM Key Stakeholder Challenge Presentations
6:40 PM - 8:00 PM Idea Pitches + Team Formation
8:00 PM - 11:30 PM Evening Work Block
11:30 PM - Midnight Late Night Snack
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25
Midnight - 8:00 AM Quiet Hours (teams can work through night)
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Breakfast Service Begins
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Morning Work Block
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM Quick Pitch Team Progress Reports
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch Service Begins
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM Final Work Block
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM Show & Tell Setup + Afternoon Snack
4:15 PM - 6:00 PM Show & Tell Presentations + Judging
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM Judge Deliberation + Batch #1 Project Updates/Demos
6:30 PM - 7:00 PM Award Ceremony + What's Next
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM Clean-up and Go Home
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
The Garage is the official home of the MARTA Hackathon
Address: 848 Spring St NW, Atlanta, GA 30308
(Enter street level off of Abercrombie. Turn right off Spring St at Tiff’s Treats/LA Fitness)
Step-by-Step Driving Directions
We highly recommend you use MARTA. If you need to drive, you can park in the Centergy Parking Deck located adjacent to The Garage.
Section III: Judging & Prizes
JUDGING
A panel of judges selected by MARTA will evaluate teams during the Science Fair / Show & Tell during Saturday afternoon. Each team will set up a station around The Garage where judges and fellow attendees can learn more about each project.
The judging criteria are:
- Impact: Does this project have the potential to make a positive change to transportation in metro Atlanta? Does it address an important problem?
- Viability: Would this project actually be used in the real world? Is it set up to be successful?
- Creativity: Does the project address a real-world problem in a smart, innovative way? Or do similar initiatives already exist?
- Execution: Given the constraints of the hackathon, how did the team execute in the time allotted? How technically impressive is their work?
The judges will award first place, second place, and third place.
PRIZES
To fuel your efforts, take a pause to envision the moment when you are crowned with glory. Feel the pride rise in your heart and the excitement build for that moment when you step up to the #MARTAhack Prize Vault to claim your bounty. Prize Vault selections will be reveal in the final week leading into the event.
We do know everyone gets a sweet Feb 24-25 edition
MARTA Hackathon t-shirt!
FYI: The hoodie and t-shirt reveal will be THE most anticipated event of the Atlanta fashion scene’s Spring Season.
Thanks to our community partners!
A3C Hip Hop Festival
Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)
Atlanta Regional Commission
Atlanta Tech Village
ATLeaders - Transit
Center for Civic Innovation
ChooseATL
Code for Atlanta
Conveyal
Digital Good Times
DragonCon TV
General Assembly
Georgia Tech Transportation Systems Engineering
Goodie Nation
HackGT
Hypepotamus
MARTA Army
Midtown ATL
Sandbox ATL
Square on Fifth (SQ5)
Startup Atlanta
Strongbox West
Switchyards Downtown Club
Tech Talent South
TechSquare Lab
TechSquareATL.com
Section I: Focus & Projects
