WIREDGOV

Budding innovators and entrepreneurs are being asked to contribute ideas that could revolutionise transportation in Britain, with a £25,000 prize fund available to help develop the best entries.

The GeoVation Challenge, run by mapping agency Ordnance Survey, is seeking ideas on how the use of geographic data could make travel more environmentally sustainable and improve public transport services.

Dr Chris Parker, one of the initiative’s organisers, says: “There are huge and exciting opportunities for geography to be harnessed to help us all travel in a smarter, more sustainable way, whilst the government data releases we’ve seen over the past year means there is now a real opportunity for people to use that information to make a contribution to improving public services.”

Since January a range of datasets have been made available for free commercial reuse by public bodies. Those include a raft of central government information through Data.gov.uk, including routing and timetabling information from the Department for Transport; mapping via Ordnance Survey’s OS OpenData portal; and a host data collected by local authorities. Most recently Transport for London also released some data, including live traffic jam information.

Dr Parker adds: “Transportation is something which has clear geographic foundation. Everything from in-car satnavs to projects like the London Cycle Hire scheme are underpinned by an understanding of location. Both have changed the way people travel.”

Possible ideas include simple, local solutions such as the use of geography to bring together potential lift-share partners based on their location, interests and availability of public transport, thereby helping to reduce congestion and carbon emissions.

Or ideas could be more technologically advanced, such as the Sentience Project, which Ordnance Survey took part in during 2008. Sentience used GPS and digital map technology to enable to car to automatically accelerate and brake in the most economically way possible using foreknowledge of the road layout.

“The exciting thing is that we really don’t know what people might come up with, but we’re certainly keen to hear any and all ideas, whether its refining an existing innovation or something brand new.

“If we think about the satnav revolution of the last 10 years, there really is an opportunity for geography to revolutionise the way we travel.”

As well as Ordnance Survey, the challenge is being supported by the Ideas in Transit Project, Business in the Community and the National Business Travel Network (NBTN).

Ideas in Transit is a five-year project, funded by the Technology Strategy Board, the Department for Transport and EPSRC, that applies “bottom-up” innovation to the transport challenges faced by individuals and society.

Richard Kemp-Harper, Lead Technologist for Transport at the Technology Strategy Board says: “Ideas in Transit has shown the importance of individuals using technology to solve their own transport problems and helping others in the process. The transport GeoVation Challenge is an opportunity to make the most of recent Government data releases and turn some great ideas into better transport.”

NBTN promotes workplace travel planning as a cost-effective way for businesses to reduce carbon emissions and benefit staff.

Heather McInroy, Programme Director at NBTN, says: “We are delighted to support the transport GeoVation Challenge. Whilst travel and transport are key to businesses and central to our way of life there are clearly significant environmental impacts.  This is a great opportunity for people to put forward their innovative ideas of using geographical data to help reduce those impacts whilst improving the overall experience.

The best entries will be invited to further develop their ideas at a GeoVation Camp before going on to pitch head to head for funding at a “Dragons’ Den” style showcase next year. 

To enter the GeoVation Challenge, visit http://www.geovation.org.uk/, and the latest news is also available through Twitter at @GeoVation.

This GeoVation Challenge runs from 28 September–26 November.

Head of Corporate Communications - Rob Andrews

Email: rob.andrews@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2265

Senior Communications & PR Officer - Paul Beauchamp

Email: paul.beauchamp@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2568

Press Office fax: (+44) 023 8030 5295