Events

YVR Smart Airport

Insightful Lens: Enhancing Infrastructure & Building Health

HACKATHON 2024

YVR is rethinking what digital transformation means for an airport and engaging the community is integral to innovation and momentum for YVR.

Located on Sea Island (Musqueam Territory), YVR is part of an expansive community with real world problems that need solving. With that, YVR is inviting students from Lower Mainland colleges and universities to solve a maintenance related challenge at the airport requiring innovative thinking and collaboration.

Who:

YVR’s Innovation Hub and Maintenance Team, in partnership with Schneider and Ainsworth.
Open to all Lower Mainland college and university students.
Sponsored by BCIT, Northeastern University and SFU.

What:

A student Hackathon aimed at solving real-world industry challenges.
Student teams of 4-8 will each solve one or more problem statements and can expect to present their findings to a panel of judges, representing both industry and academia.
A light breakfast and lunch will be provided (vegan and dairy free options available).
An awards ceremony, with special guests and speaking remarks, will wrap up the event.
First place will receive a $5,000 cash prize, $3,000 for second place, and third and fourth places will receive $1000 each.
YVR will capture the Hackathon through video and photos and will share these with media and community partners. YVR, BCIT, SFU and Northeastern University will all amplify content from the event on their channels, which students are encouraged to share!

Teams, Free Agents and Matchmaking:

Don’t have a Team? Don’t worry, we can find you the perfect match.
- Register for the Hackathon as a “Free Agent” and follow the instructions in your confirmation email.
Have a Team but still looking for more members with key skills?
- Register your Team and follow instructions in your confirmation email to explore Free Agents.
You have a Team and are not interested in adding anymore members?
- Register for the Hackathon and follow the instructions in your confirmation email.
Have questions about teams and registration?
Submit your query here.

When:

Registration closes April 4 midnight.
Event April 5-12.
Students will come to YVR on Friday April 5 for kick-off and assignment information.
For the duration of the Hackathon students may work at YVR or at home.
Friday April 12 will be fine tuning, presentations and awards at YVR.

Location:

Vancouver International Airport
East Concourse (far east of terminal) by US check in
3211 Grant McConachie Way Richmond, BC V7B OA4

Make sure you coordinate with your teams and register asap as it’s first come first served!

Requirements to participate:

Submissions of interest are welcomed from Lower Mainland college and university students from the following disciplines:

Business
Computer Science
Data Analytics
Energy

Pre-registration information:

Student groups of 4-8 are asked to register through the registration page.
Each student group will be asked to respond to one or more problem statements and present their findings to a panel of judges at the end of the Hackathon on April 12.
Problem statements, background information and event details will be provided during the kick-off session on April 5.

Additional information will be provided to registered participants.

About YVR

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is a diverse global hub that connects people, cargo, data, and ideas and serves as a platform for our community to come together and thrive. We are motivated by supporting regional economic development and making a positive difference in the lives of British Columbians. We do this with a focus on serving our passengers, partners, workers, and community through digital modernization, climate leadership, reconciliation, and financial sustainability.

YVR’s Digital Twin

YVR’s Digital Twin is exactly what it sounds like — a virtual, real-time interactive representation of YVR’s terminal and airfield, as well as Sea Island and Musqueam lands. YVR’s Twin is the digital learning ground for the Innovation Hub and is constantly evolving to help our airport and community meet the demands of an ever-changing world.

2023 YVR Smart Airport Hackathon

In 2023 the BCIT Centre for Internet of Things collaborated with the YVR Innovation Hub in hosting the first annual YVR Smart Airport Hackathon.

Eight teams with more than 50 students from BCIT, UBC and SFU were tasked with utilizing technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), in solving maintenance-related challenges at YVR airport. Each competing team chose from one of three problems to solve:

Automating facility standards at YVR airport
Making an efficient and healthy building
Managing the airport’s hygiene and cleanliness

Three BCIT teams comprised of students from the School of Computing and Academic Studies and the School of Business + Media successfully won first, second, and third places after presenting their innovative solutions to a panel of judges representing industry and academia. The first-place team received a $5,000 cash prize, with $3,000 for second place and third and fourth places received $1,000 each.