Thrive or survive: how can we adapt for the future?
What will Australia in 2050 look like?
Go to Challenge | 38 teams have entered this challenge.
Team Name:
Octagon.io
Team Members:
Watergy
Project Info
Team Name
Octagon.io
Team Members
8 members with unpublished profiles.
Project Description
Australia’s hot and dry climate, makes resources such as fresh water a valuable commodity. This issue is combined with the problem of the extensive resources required to connect remote and regional communities to accessible power. With the aim to reach sustainable targets by the end of 2050 - 100% in renewable energy sources and 33% in recyclable waters and water savings - it is becoming ever important that we encourage individuals and households to become more aware of their sustainable impact.
We, Octagon.io, propose an application which enables individuals to access and visualise key data identifying their sustainable impact, how others are performing across the country and suggestions on what more they can do to contribute. By having access to such a vast array of data, we envision Australia to develop self-sustaining and environmentally conscious communities by 2050.
Data Story
Watergy draws external data such as weather forecasts, rainfall and energy usage from a server. Government raw data is connected and fetched using REST APIs and cleaned using the Open Refine Tool. The data will be stored, analysed and fed back from website access/mobile devices on GCP (Google Cloud Platform). Data pulled from GCP will be processed by ChartJS for in-app viewing.
Team DataSets
Rebate rules
Description of Use Potentially, the energy / water planning planning suggestions app could incorporate coded rules to suggest energy rebates depending on the data collected in the initial survey to the user.
BOM data on cloud coverage
Description of Use Weather data, and how overcast it is can be used to notify users of how much percent capacity their solar panels are being used to inform users they may be saving less energy that day, and make suggestions for the user to reduce their energy usage.
Annual data on energy consumption of the Australian states
Description of Use Provide users with information about australian energy statistics by fuel type. Users can view current solar energy usage and be suggested on
Estimation of energy usage per day
Description of Use This can be used to benchmark the users own usage against other people within their region which will be used to provide energy usage advice
CSIRO Climate Projections for Australia:
Description of Use This data can be used to show people how their region will be impacted by climate change in terms of climate and weather.
Real-time Water - Major Storage Monitoring (SEED data)
Description of Use This data can be used to supplement the dam level data for residents across the state of NSW.
Greater Sydney Water Supply (SEED data)
Description of Use The data on rainfall, temperature and level can be used to supplement Greater Sydney’s dam level data, and incorporates river data which could be relevant for rural residents. This data can be used to inform rural users of the quality of their water supply, and offer suggestions for alternative supplies as needed (e.g. rainwater tanks).
Water NSW: Greater Sydney’s Dam Levels
Description of Use Used to display the local dam levels and rainfall levels around the dam for a user, and to formulate an action item for the user to follow based on the dam level/rainfall in the past. For example, if the dam level is below 30%, then the app will generate suggestions for the user to reduce their water consumption.
Water storage levels across the whole of Australia (Bureau of Meteorology)
Description of Use This can be used to compare water storage levels across the states and capital cities along with individual storages along with water level changes across previous years/months/weeks/days. This will increase user awareness of the limited supply of water and be used to customise suggestions for water use when dams/reservoirs/weirs in their local area are running low on storage.
Water Usage Data (Bureau of Statistics)
Description of Use Used to compare an individual’s water consumption to average state levels, so users can see whether they are above or below average in water consumption for their state.
Bureau of Meteorology Weather Forecast by region
Description of Use Rainfall forecast can be used to inform users to draw more from their rainwater tanks in preparation for the coming rain, to maximise rainwater collection.
Bureau of Meteorology Rainfall Data for Sydney 2019 (and previous years back to 1858)
Description of Use Used to generate visuals for daily and monthly rainfall forecast in our proof of concept. In the future app, it can be used as a benchmark to compare the current rainfall in specific regions to previous years, so users can see how the rainfall in their region has changed over the years. Historical data can be used as additional data for rainfall forecast in the coming month, as well as to inform users of whether they should install rainwater tanks depending on the historical rainfall in their region.
Challenge Entries
Optimise energy and water resource planning
Optimise energy and water resource planning
Go to Challenge | 32 teams have entered this challenge.
🌟 The three C’s of innovation – combination, collaboration, and chance.
How can we combine and use environmental data to gain new insights into New South Wales and tell a story of our diverse landscape?
Go to Challenge | 14 teams have entered this challenge.
🌟 Pedestrian and Air Quality Sensor Data
How might we improve users’ experience of their city by using data from pedestrian and vehicle counters and/or air quality sensors?
Go to Challenge | 15 teams have entered this challenge.
Innovative ways to be efficient with water
Innovative ideas about water efficiency. Climate change means that we will have more unpredictable weather. Some of Australia is in drought and some areas have plenty of water. That changes each year. Water efficiency was a focus around the millennium drought. We want new, innovative and untapped ideas on ways to be efficient with water use. These ideas could include how we use water, how we can save water, how we waste water, how everyone can make a difference in using water wisely, water rules and ideas on saving water for the future.
Go to Challenge | 26 teams have entered this challenge.
🌟 Improving cost of living outcomes by using rules as code
Improve the NSW Government’s Cost of Living initiatives by designing a service using a coded rules engine.
Go to Challenge | 5 teams have entered this challenge.
Water – From source to tap.
Ideas to engage upper primary and lower secondary school students (with advantages for community learning) in learning about the water cycle (source to tap). We want them to understand where water comes from (sources), the different types of water (drinking, recycled, classes of water), how and why it is treated (health), how we move it (infrastructure) and how we use it (drinking, cooking, commercially, fires, toilets, sanitation, washing, in the home). The ideas should highlight why water is so important for our survival. Ideas should be fun, interactive and educational. The engagement should be relevant to the Australian School Curriculum, adaptable to water organisations and schools around Australia and sustainable.
Go to Challenge | 19 teams have entered this challenge.
Australia@Sea: what is our future relationship with the ocean environment?
Our oceans are vital to the world’s economy and provide services for all Australians including food security, industries, tourism, and well-being.
Go to Challenge | 17 teams have entered this challenge.
🌟 Improving the customer experience of government services
How can government data be used to improve the experience of citizens interacting with government?
Go to Challenge | 24 teams have entered this challenge.