In recent years, the world has witnessed a significant rise in migration and displacement of people due to various factors, such as political turmoil, economic hardships, and environmental changes. To address these complex issues, innovative solutions are needed to understand the root causes and provide sustainable solutions. The GEOINT "Match Strike Challenge" Series aims to bring together data scientists, designers, and aspiring scientists to tackle the problem of human displacement using geospatial data and analysis.
In this article, we will delve into the objectives, structure, and criteria of the GEOINT Match Strike Challenge Series, focusing on the analysis of cause for human displacement. We will also discuss the importance of geospatial data in addressing real-world problems and the potential impact of such challenges on humanitarian efforts.
Understanding the Objective: Identifying the Root Causes of Human Displacement
The GEOINT Match Strike Challenge Series is designed to encourage participants to use their analytical skills and geospatial data to identify the root causes of human displacement in a specific country. By focusing on a single country, participants are expected to document the extent of migration, the reasons behind it, and provide evidence to support their hypothesis.
This challenge aims to bring attention to significant migration issues and help build a case for agencies and citizens to act. Additionally, it seeks to engage students in solving real-world problems and proposing solutions for lasting change.
The GEOINT Match Strike Challenge Series: Structure and Collaborators
The Match Strike Challenge Series is organized by the Wright Brothers Institute in Dayton, Ohio, the T-REX Innovation Center in St. Louis, Missouri, and in conjunction with Riverside Research. These organizations have partnered to bring real-world examples to a series of university challenges, focusing on the use of geospatial datasets to shed light on current world problems.
The series will culminate in a hackathon to be held in St. Louis, where competitors and colleagues can collaborate and explore potential solutions to the challenge. Local companies and government agencies working with GEOINT data will be present at the event, offering internship and other opportunities for students.
Analyzing the Criteria: Key Components of the Challenge
The GEOINT Match Strike Challenge Series specifies several criteria that participants must address in their submissions. These include:
- Defining the Extent of Human Migration
Using the provided datasets and any additional resources, participants must define the extent of human migration in the identified country over the last 15 years. The analysis should focus on major shifts in population rather than minor changes in location. Participants are encouraged to use various visual representations, such as graphs, charts, and geospatial representations, to illustrate the movement of people.
- Selecting and Justifying Data Sources
Participants must explain the meaningful information they gathered from their chosen databases and justify their selection of specific data and databases over other types of datasets. Reasons for exclusion of certain data sources may include outdated information or detected biases in reporting.
- Proposing a Hypothesis for Migration Movements
Based on the data analysis, participants must propose a hypothesis to explain the major human migration movements in the identified country and provide detailed support for their hypothesis.
Submission Requirements: Demonstrating Understanding and Analysis
The challenge submissions should include the following components:
- Display of Displaced Persons Over Time
Participants must create an app or website that visualizes the data on displaced persons, including their movement locations, the number of displaced persons, and the timeframe for the movements.
- Hypothesis of the Cause of Major Displacements
Submissions should include a written hypothesis explaining the cause of major displacement(s), along with GEOINT evidence to support the hypothesis.
- Evidence of the Root Cause
Participants must identify the deep root cause(s) of the migration and provide evidence, either narratively or visually, to support their findings.
- Database Use and Rationale
A list of the databases used and an explanation of why other databases with similar or the same information were not used must be provided.
- Extra Credit: Solution for Alleviating the Root Cause of Displacement
Participants can earn extra credit by proposing a solution for addressing the root cause of the displacement or suggesting intervention methods to ease the suffering of the afflicted populations based on their data and analysis.
The Importance of Geospatial Data in Addressing Real-World Problems
Geospatial data and analysis play a crucial role in understanding and addressing complex issues such as human displacement. By analyzing the movement of people, their reasons for migration, and the underlying causes, geospatial data can provide valuable insights to inform policy decisions and humanitarian interventions.
Furthermore, geospatial data analysis can help identify patterns and trends that may not be apparent through traditional data sources, enabling better-informed decision-making and more targeted solutions.
The Potential Impact of the GEOINT Match Strike Challenge Series
The GEOINT Match Strike Challenge Series has the potential to make a significant impact on humanitarian efforts by fostering a better understanding of the root causes of human displacement and providing actionable insights for agencies and citizens to act upon.
By encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and the application of geospatial data analysis, the challenge series can inspire innovative solutions to address human displacement and contribute to lasting change.
In conclusion, the GEOINT Match Strike Challenge Series offers a unique opportunity for data scientists, designers, and aspiring scientists to apply their skills to address a pressing global issue. By analyzing geospatial data and identifying the root causes of human displacement, participants can contribute to the development of effective and sustainable solutions to mitigate the impact of migration and improve the lives of displaced populations.