Answers to transport disruption sought

Volunteers to participate in a November hackathon about using technology to respond to public transport disruptions such as those on electric trains are invited by organisers the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Auckland Transport (AT).

Participants will be challenged to reimagine the public transport experience in the face of planned and unplanned disruption.

A hackathon is a 48-hour digital innovation event where people with diverse backgrounds and skills come together to brainstorm and collectively develop technology solutions, this one with a ‘Green Light’ theme held in Auckland on November 15-17.

“It could be our daily commute to work, school or a sporting event that’s affected,” NZTA chief information officer Derek Lyons says.

“It could be bad weather, a breakdown or a crash on the network that’s disrupting our journey. Whatever the cause, we still need to get where we want to go,” he says.

“Over 48 hours, we’re looking for 120 problem solvers, creatives, developers, analysts, behavioural experts, designers and people who want to make a difference to come together to generate new ways of improving the public transport experience.”

It will be the NZTA’s fourth hackathon, but the first in collaboration with AT.

“In the past year, 101 million trips were made on Auckland’s public transport network, and that will continue to grow,” AT digital and technology delivery group manager Chris Creighton says.

“Disruptions to buses, trains and ferries still catch us by surprise, and can leave us stranded, frustrated, and disconnected.”

Creighton says hackathons are an effective tool for public engagement on transport issues.

“We’re looking for fresh, creative customer-centric thinking. It’s a very powerful and exciting experience to bring together people from diverse backgrounds to explore and co-design the future of transport.”

Concepts developed at previous hackathons have progressed into their own start-ups, collaborations with the NZTA, and one winning concept was sold by the team to a third party that will pilot and execute the solution in the parking industry.

Visit nzta.govt.nz

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