Open Data Days Karlsruhe - with open data for more sustainability
Can hackers counter challenges with solutions? Can the intelligent use of data ensure greater justice? And can a computer program slow down global warming? Yes, yes, and yes, says Dr. Andreas Kugel, spokesman for the OK Lab Karlsruhe. “At a local level, we have already used open data to support the Environment Agency in drawing up the climate protection concept. And initiated playful competitions to measure the individual ecological footprint.”
On 1. and March 2, 2024, all interested parties are invited to TRIANGEL on Kronenplatz in Karlsruhe for Open Data Day under the motto “Supporting the sustainability goals with open data”. The joint event organized by OK Lab Karlsruhe, Cyberforum e.V. | technika, City of Karlsruhe, karlsruhe.digital, Impact Hub Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, CycleSense, ZUKUNFTSBILDER KA, CycleSense will take place on March 1 from 5 to 9 p.m. and on March 2 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Registration is possible online.
Visions for a more sustainable urban society
“We want to bring different people together on these days,” says Kugel. Passionate hackers and hackers are just as welcome as IT experts and technical amateurs with a soft spot for sustainable urban development. The aim is to develop data-based visions for a more sustainable urban society. The program includes working with the data provided as well as workshops on data analysis using publicly accessible programs.
“By evaluating data sensibly, you can find out a lot about the local energy mix and optimize carbon footprints,” says Kugel. Data could also ensure greater fairness and equal opportunities in education. “If you know which sections of the population live where, you can support and promote certain areas in a more targeted way,” Kugel continues.
Images of the future: Ideas for a Karlsruhe of the future
In Baden-Württemberg, however, the release of data is currently still somewhat “confusing”, says Kugel. Other federal states are already more liberal in this respect, which is why the OK Lab wants to draw attention to the added social value of processing publicly accessible data with regular events. A practical example of the high utility value of publicly accessible data is Kugel’s area-wide sensor networks for the early detection of forest fires. “The sensors can smell a fire early on and raise the alarm,” says Kugel. “Because when you see the fire from above, it’s already too late.”
“Images of the future” is the name of a workshop on Open Data Day that looks at the future of Karlsruhe: “What could Karlsruhe look like in the future?” is the central question. Positive images of a city’s future can motivate people to take action, according to the reasoning behind the vision workshop. Participants will develop tools for private individuals, organizations and investors to visualize their vision of Karlsruhe as easily as possible: With open data and AI tools.
Open knowledge and citizen science
Incidentally, the “OK” in OK Labs stands for Open Knowledge. Open Knowledge International, an organization founded in 2004 to promote greater transparency and citizen participation, says it has been committed to the dissemination of open data. Under the umbrella of the German branch of the Open Knowledge Foundation, numerous OK Labs have now been founded in Germany under the motto “Code for Germany”. Volunteers develop projects to better explain and visualize complex issues.
The projects of the regional OK Labs are also referred to as “Citizen Science”. So is Open Data Day only for hackers or IT professionals? Not at all! It is based on the Wikipedia definition and aims to use creative methods to improve things that are not yet working so well. This requires good ideas, and not just from the programming and data corner.
Regardless of age and technical skills – everyone can take part in Open Data Day, whether you are a novice or an expert.
Not usual at a hackathon, but perhaps still a good idea: if you only have a little time, you will find what you are looking for in the “hands-on” information on data-related topics. Duration maximum 1 hour each. Just come along and take part, provided there are still places available. With a free registration, your place is secured. Click here for the overview.