Data challenge throws up ready-made climate solutions for the public

An online tool for optimising the location and use of remote working hubs has won first prize in a data challenge requiring entrants to harness freely-available data in enabling effective climate action.

The interactive map — myRWH — uses artificial intelligence to help end users find the most appropriate hubs based on their desired parameters, thereby availing of a working environment closer to home, and potentially reducing traffic pressure and vehicle emissions.

A team led by researcher Alireza Dehghani of UCD CeADAR Centre, which works on applied AI, won the top prize of €5,000.

Through the Open Data Climate Action Challenge seven participating projects developed tools, analyses, dashboards and applications that use open data to drive and support climate action.

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Any notion that imminent climate breakdown is cause for giving in to doom was dispelled by the finalists who revealed on Wednesday what can be done by individuals prompted by availability of open data, which can have an immediate and measurable impact.

A second prize of €3,000 was awarded to a team at Knight Frank property consultants who developed a cycling infrastructure optimisation tool. It identifies where cycle lanes should be provided, what junctions should be made more cycle friendly and where bike hire schemes should be located in Dublin.

Third place with a €2,000 prize was awarded to iADAPT based in Trinity College which developed a climate adaptation game aimed at students. In short, you are mayor of Dublin in 2045 with a set budget; what adaptation measures would you pursue to protect the city from the inevitable consequences of climate disruption such as severe flooding. Participants get an immediate indication of what works and what goes over budget.

The aim of the game is to encourage public participation in planning, especially in relation to adaptation infrastructure, explained Prof Anna Davies.

The challenge was launched in April. Shortlisted projects were given two months to develop tools, dashboards, analyses and applications which address the climate crisis in some shape or form. The outcomes can be accessed online and used — many have live data inputs.

Other shortlisted entries were:

A “go zero waste app” designed by Gozerowaste to support waste reduction and local shopping by encouraging small actions such as using refill stations and bulk purchasing of loose goods. It is populated with open data relevant to Dublin and comes with gamification and prizes for meeting 30 challenges.

A nature based solutions interactive map, using nature and biodiversity to help address potential climate change effects such as flooding, developed by postgraduate researchers in UCD.

A dashboard to identify invasive tree species in Ireland and their proximity to native woodlands developed by a team from the University of Galway now working with DXC Technology.

A “Dublin carbon calculator” developed by Salesforce and Bluewave Technology which allows citizens to view the carbon footprint for their local area and explore how taking specific measures can help Dublin contribute to Ireland’s 2030 carbon reduction target.

Speaking at the online event climate scientist Prof John Sweeney underlined the critical importance of the right data to inform the right choices in tackling climate breakdown. Open data available to all enabled the best decisions, especially in pursuing adaptive action, he said.

There were obvious examples from the past where hasty decisions were taken based on limited data or small sample size, notably with the Challenger spacecraft disaster in 1986 when temperature issues with rubber seals were dismissed as a risk, and in relation to the world’s ozone hole which was not detected when it should have been.

In contrast he said open data enabled climate modelling at a global scale “and gives decision makers a more informed field of knowledge” in deciding how to respond to weather extremes exacerbated by climate breakdown.

Likewise open data stretched to the limits had enhanced “attribution science”, looking at individual events and the likelihood that they were made worse by climate change, contrasted with the “absence of human messing around in the atmosphere”.

The challenge was organised by Smart Dublin; Dublin CARO, Codema, Derilinx and the climate action officers of Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin County Councils. The showcase was part of Dublin Climate Action Week.

Meanwhile Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has announced the winner of the “Food Challenge”, under Science Future Ireland’s Future Innovator Prize programme, and awarded €2 million in funding to the Leaf No Waste team.

It is developing novel solutions with the potential to address food waste by combining plant fortification with sustainable compostable packaging to enhance the shelf life of fresh produce.

The team is led by Lorraine Foley of TU Dublin along with core team members Prof Jesus Frias Celayeta of TUD and Dr Lael Walsh and Dr Shivani Pathania of Teagasc. Its “societal impact champion” is Stephen McCormack of McCormack Family Farms.

It is developing novel solutions that have the potential to address food waste by combining plant fortification with sustainable compostable packaging to enhance the shelf life of fresh produce.

Mr Harris added: “This clever solution to reducing food waste could not only have significant influence across STEM research but across all aspects of society as we work together to meet our sustainability goals and protecting our planet for future generations.”

Principal investigator Lorraine Foley said: “This award presents a great opportunity for Leaf No Waste to find pathways to reduce food loss and identify the best use of alternative plastic packaging that will benefit growers, retailers and consumers alike.

“It will also enable food producers to move away from single-use plastic packaging in favour of more sustainable methods, uniquely positioning the Irish agriculture sector as a global leader in sustainable food production.”

Despite consumer demand for more sustainable and compostable packaging, its use can cause premature food spoilage and increase food waste.

To address this problem, it worked on a solution by combining a silicon plant biostimulant and compostable plastic packaging design. The team plan to develop approaches that use silicon-based fortification for a range of Irish crops in combination with compostable plastic packaging selection - and design to optimise the shelf life of products while minimising food spoilage and waste.

Preliminary field trials suggest for certain products, food waste risks could be reduced by as much as 50 per cent in an environmentally sustainable manner. It plans to build on these findings and create relatable solutions for growers and retailers transitioning to a more sustainable future in food production.