The Hackathon focused on:
– Alternative transport methods to vehicles that may reduce pollution and carbon emissions, as well as ease the daily traffic congestions.
– Increasing the confidence of societal institutions at the research production level, in particular applied researches in relation to transportation.
– Setting up targets for a more sustainable commuting system for Bahrain.
The University of Bahrain and several private firms and governmental entities reviewed, at the university campus in Sakhir, the opportunities available to implement smart cities in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Over 70 professors and representatives of 10 different vocational entities participated in the “Hackathon” and discussed the means of developing transport, public health, and life quality to achieve services of smart cities. The event focuses on measuring and setting targets for more sustainable commuting and on undertaking actions to promote the increase of sustainable commuting practices in Bahrain.
The participants in the Hackathon discussed major challenges encountered in the development of smart cities, in addition to the applicable solutions that may assist in the realization of such cities. The projects were carried out for three weeks by virtue of 12 teams that consisted of university and institutional researchers. A panel of judges selected the best three projects that may be utilized to achieve smart cities. The Hackathon ran for two days and was supported by Zain as the platinum sponsor in which a number of governmental entities took part: WEA, Informatics and e-government, Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, ALBA and Microsoft.
