CongestionHack FAQs
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) are looking for an innovative way to tackle the problem of congestion on our roads by running a hackathon. CongestionHack will bring together industry, innovators, entrepreneurs, students and TfNSW staff to pitch ideas and build proof of concepts to dramatically improve congestion in and around Sydney. As Sydney's population grows it continues to put greater demands on our transport networks and infrastructure, leading to congestion. If not managed correctly, congestion can have severe economic, social and environmental impacts. While congestion cannot be eliminated, it can be managed effectively.
Below are the impacts regarding congestion in Sydney:
- Road congestion is a major source of frustration and cost to the public and to businesses.
- The direct impacts of congestion on travellers include delays, unreasonably long journey times, and time lost as people adjust their behaviour to reflect journey time unreliability.
- The annual cost of Sydney’s congestion has been estimated at $6.1 billion
- Congestion stops people accessing jobs across the city that take too long to get to
- Stops businesses getting the employees they need, reducing market competition
- Increases greenhouse gas emissions and has wider economic, social and environmental impacts
Sydney is the most congested city in Australasia, with a higher level of congestion than larger cities including New York, Toronto, and Philadelphia.
Congestion happens when demand for road space approaches road capacity. There are many causes of congestion. Recurrent congestion tends to be caused by long-term issues such as population and economic growth and cultural attitudes to car use. Non-recurrent congestion tends to be caused by temporary phenomena such as crashes or breakdowns blocking roads. Austroads’ analysis found that Sydney’s congestion is overwhelmingly recurrent in nature.
Causes of congestion in the analysis concluded:
- 88% was recurrent
- 10% was due to incidents
- 1% was due to weather
- 1% was due to Maintenance/Special events
Please note that this Hackathon is focused primarily on road congestion as a distinct issue, although we recognise that congestion on the rail network can also affect customers’ and their use of roads.
CongestionHack is not a traditional Innovation Challenge but rather an opportunity for teams to explore different ways of tackling congestion and present it to Transport for NSW executives and other industry experts. Winning teams will be eligible for prizes. The total prize pool is up to $15,000.
In addition to prize money, Transport for NSW have the option of providing further support for the development of your concept or product. This could include promotion or marketing through the TfNSW footprint across NSW.
There are two Categories, Open for members of the public and Internal for those teams with a least one member from the wider Transport for NSW cluster. Each of the two categories will be awarded a first prize of $5000 and a potential runner up prize of $2000. All amounts are inclusive of GST.
In addition to prize money, Transport for NSW have the option of providing further support for the development of your concept or product. This could include promotion or marketing through the TfNSW footprint across NSW.
The CongestionHack expressions of interest opened late 2017.
Registrations opened on Monday 22th January and can be accessed via Eventbrite.
The expression of interest was to ensure we are able to notify you when the official registrations open. Registrations opened on Monday 22th January and can be accessed via Eventbrite.
CongestionHack will be held from Friday the 23 March through to Sunday 25 March 2018.
You will need to register a team of between 3 and 6 people. Only team registrations will be accepted.
There are 60 tickets available.
CongestionHack will be run over the weekend as below:
Friday 23rd March:
- 6:00 PM – CongestionHack Opens.
- 9:00 PM – Venue closes but teams are able to continue working offsite.
Saturday 24th March
- 9:00 AM – Day 2 begins, teams continue working on their ideas.
- 12:00 PM – Team bio and project information must be completed.
- 9:00 PM – Venue closes but teams are able to continue working offsite.
Sunday 25th March
- 9:00 AM – Day 3 begins, teams continue working on their ideas
- 2:00 - 3:30 PM – Teams present their projects in 3 minute pitches to a panel of judges
- 4:00 PM – Judging is completed and winners are announced.
- 5:00 PM – Event closes
There are limited spaces available for Open (public) entries and TfNSW cluster (internal) entries. You will need to register a team of between 3 and 6 people. Only team registrations will be accepted.
You will need to register a team of between 3 and 6 people. Only team registrations will be accepted.
Prior to registering you will need to have formed a team with a minimum of 3 members and a maximum of 6. The best teams have a mix of skill sets.
There are two Categories, Open for members of the public and Internal for those teams with a least one member from the wider Transport for NSW cluster. Each team must have at least one member over the age of 18 and one parent/guardian per child in the team.
If you have at least one member that is a part of the Transport for NSW Cluster, your team belongs in the Internal category.
It is recommended that each team consist of a mix of the following types: hacker (developer), hustler (business development/growth hacker) and hipster (designer).
It is recommended that each team consist of a mix of the following types: hacker (developer), hustler (business development/growth hacker) and hipster (designer).
Please go to the Open Data Forum and join in the CongestionHack thread if you’re looking for team members.
You will need to contact OpenDataProgram@transport.nsw.gov.au.
You will need to demonstrate your proof of concept in addition to presenting your concept, also known as a demo.
Your pitch and demo should be no more than 3 minutes in length, be followed by a question and answer session from the judges (up to 2 minutes).
The CongestionHack will be held at the Hatchery at University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo Campus - Level 1, 632 Harris St, Ultimo NSW 2007.
Accessible entry to the UTS Hatchery can be found on Mary Ann Street.
There are two Categories, Open for members of the public and Internal for those teams with a least one member from the wider Transport for NSW cluster. Each category will be awarded a first prize of $5000 and a potential runner up prize of $2000. All amounts are GST inclusive.
Choose the best one and select that for your entry. Only one entry per team will be accepted. You will only be able to compete in one team at the Hackathon weekend.
The challenges are outlined on the challenges page.
Applicants will be judged on their pitch for the proof of concept. The judging panel will be looking for innovative solutions that focus on meeting the CongestionHacks problem definitions.
Anyone who is up for the challenge. We are looking for innovative thinkers with a disruptive mindset, who are keen to not only improve, but change the way we can manage congestion.
Participants can come from a variety of skill sets and backgrounds. Individuals with coding, design, innovation and/or business skills are highly encouraged to participate.
Yes! Staff and their immediate families of TfNSW, Roads and Maritime Services, Sydney Trains and NSW Trains are also eligible to compete.
There is no age limit as long as you ensure that at least one of your team members is a parent or guardian and is present at all times. In the registration process, you must provide your parent/guardian’s name, mobile number and email address which will be displayed on your ticket and checked at entry.
Please ask any questions on the Open Data Forum - there is a thread dedicated to the CongestionHack.
If you are successful in winning a prize, TfNSW requires to be invoiced by an ABN registered business. The prize amounts are all inclusive of GST.
Yes! All members of your team must be available to be in Sydney throughout the whole weekend from Friday the 23rd of March - Sunday the 25th of March.
- Have a chat to our mentors. We’re all here to help and make sure you get the most out of your weekend, and many of us have competed in hackathons in the past.
- Try not to be a perfectionist. (We know it’s hard. We’re perfectionists.) You want to get something up and running for the demo on Sunday evening, even if it’s not perfect.
- Talk to other teams and be generous where you can. We’ve seen teams lending each other coders and designers where there’s been a skill gap, and it’s great to see.
- Sleep, eat, hydrate, take breaks! And do take some alone-time if you need to recharge away from people.
- If you’re feeling stressed, uncomfortable, or in need of assistance, come chat to one of our organisers. It’s really important to us that CongestionHack remains a safe, creative, and welcoming space for all participants.
Yes! You can research, plan and prepare before the weekend as this may be time consuming on the day. Think about what you’re interested in doing in the weeks leading up to CongestionHack, and see if you can find some of the datasets you’ll need.
Technology
- Laptop
- Mouse and mousepad
- Adaptors and power cables
- Headphones
- Portable scanner, spare batteries, SD card
- SD card reader
- USB thumb drives, external hard drives
- Tablet and charger
- Phone and charger
- Drawing tablet and stylus
- USB hub
- Power boards
Non-Technology
A hackathon can be great fun, but it can also be an intense and stressful weekend at times. Bring what you need to stay productive and comfortable.
- Comfortable clothing
- Music or podcasts
- Any data you’ve downloaded for the event, or notes you’ve made
- Your favourite snacks and drinks (we’ll provide main meals)
- A water bottle
- Glasses, if you need them for reading screens
- Pen, paper, post-its, notebook, coloured markers, your stationery drawer
- Business cards
- Any medication you may need
- Your wallet and keys
- Identification or Proof of Age card
Please remember to label all your belongings so we can return them to you if you leave them behind.
We’ll be taking care of your food while you’re at CongestionHack, so all you need to bring are any snacks you want.
If you have any special dietary needs, let us know on the sign-up/registration form (or contact us, if you forgot to when you registered) and we’ll do our best to take care of you. Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available, but we do need to know numbers so we can make sure there is enough for everyone.
Friday: Dinner
Saturday: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Sunday: Breakfast, lunch
The organisers will have endeavored to accommodate a wide range of dietary requirements. If you have severe allergies or important dietary requirements, make sure that you have provided that information at registration.
CongestionHack may be recorded in video, audio and photographic form. By attending, you acknowledge and accept that you may be the subject of such recording. We will seek to accommodate any specific wish not to be recorded, but cannot guarantee you will not be recorded in some form.
Yes! There will be free WiFi at CongestionHack.Details for how you can connect to the WiFi will be provided on the day.
Your WiFi usage, including content downloads, may be monitored as part of general venue security, so please use the access provided with respect and avoid any illegal behaviour.
Please make sure the laptops or computers you bring can connect via WiFi, or that you bring a WiFi dongle. Hardwired connections are not available.
@datatfnsw — Twitter Account
#CongestionHack
Twitter will be the primary social media platform that will be used and monitored throughout the event. We welcome questions, comments, mentions, and cat GIFs to @datatfnsw.
Yes, we welcome any entry that is related to the overall theme of solving traffic congestion.