Environmental Officials Launch Outdoor Recreation Mobile App Contest
Agencies make data public and will award developers unique prizes to create a free mobile app for outdoor enthusiasts
Get Outdoors Massachusetts Mobile Apps contest rules and information
BOSTON – January 12, 2012 – Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. today announced a contest that invites smart phone mobile application developers to create applications to help the public find outdoor recreation hot spots in Massachusetts.
The Get Outdoors Massachusetts Mobile Apps Contest is open to the public and seeks participation from application developers to create mobile apps that feature Massachusetts outdoor and natural resources. The contest begins today, the submission deadline is March 30, and registration is free. Entrants will compete for prizes including the opportunity to showcase their work to local technology executives. EEA will announce the winners on April 18.
"Massachusetts is home to thousands of acres of outdoor recreation spaces and these technologies will ensure a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts can access and enjoy them," said Secretary Sullivan. "We are looking forward to seeing what the development community can create to help the public connect with the Commonwealth's premiere fishing, hiking, swimming, boating, and agricultural tourism destinations."
EEA's Departments of Agricultural Resources (DAR), Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and Fish and Game (DFG) have published geospatial data for developers to create a mobile app designed to map public lands, state parks, farms, public water and land access points, rinks, pools, and other outdoor venues for outdoor recreation.
"Massachusetts has a long history of innovation and creativity and it is great to see the EEA fully embracing all our creative economy has to offer. Together with our local talent, I have no doubt we will generate an amazing app for the outdoor enthusiast," said Creative Economy Industry Director Helena Fruscio. "This is a terrific example of how government can act as a catalyst for innovation with a call to citizens and entrepreneurs to address civic issues."
EEA will feature the winning applications on its website and during a media event to be held on April 18. Entrants will compete for a package of prizes including a chance to join wildlife biologists on a bald eagle banding expedition or a black bear survey, a local farm bed and breakfast weekend stay, and a weeklong stay in a yurt (a cabin-like structure) at one of three prime state outdoor camping destinations. The top prize winner will win a year-long MBTA subway-bus LinkPass. The winning developers will have the opportunity to sell their winning apps after offering them free to the public for a year.
"Start-ups are the jobs growth engine for our economy and a "first customer" is often the difference between success and failure," said Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC) President and CEO Tom Hopcroft. "With over 400 mobile and 100 big data/analytics companies and new entrants every day, EEA's crowd sourced approach achieves the dual purposes of tapping the best technology talent to help deliver EEA services and creating that essential bridge that could help local entrepreneurs access a new market."
A panel of judges, including local technology executives, will award five prize packages. Judges will award prizes to the top submissions that rank highest in four categories of criteria, which include most appealing, most original, best use of data, and most accessible. The submission that receives the highest overall score across all four categories of criteria will receive the top prize. All winning entrants will receive a 2012 Massachusetts ParksPass providing free year-long access to all state parks, and a 2013 Massachusetts Agricultural Calendar.
"Massachusetts is a treasure chest of farms open to the public for tours ranging from vineyards and maple sugar shacks to cranberry bogs and pumpkin patches," said DAR Commissioner Scott Soares. "A mobile application will help visitors and residents find fun agricultural destinations around the state."
"Our 450,000 acres of parks and outdoor facilities make Massachusetts a special place to live and visit. Our hope is the developer community will help more people to access these unique places that bring communities together, encourage healthy activities and preserve our natural resources," said DCR Commissioner Edward M. Lambert, Jr.
"For anglers, hunters, boaters, and wildlife enthusiasts, our public outdoor spaces are prime destinations and we're looking forward to seeing the results from the development community in their effort to use new technologies to make these spaces more accessible," said DFG Commissioner Mary Griffin.
EEA's contest is held in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and MassTLC.
Also today, the MBTA and the City of Boston announced the MBTA + Boston Bikes Developer Challenge. The MBTA + Boston Bikes Developers Challenge calls on local software developers to create innovative applications and visualizations that show the power of Boston's transportation options. In particular, the challenge calls on developers to highlight connections brought together by the combination of MBTA and New Balance Hubway systems. The challenge has two components; each offering prizes including both a one year MBTA CharlieCard LinkPass, a one year Hubway Membership, and passes to area food truck festivals. The prize for the Bikes, Lunch & T challenge will be a free pass to area food truck festivals. For more information on the MBTA's latest challenge, visit http://mbta.com/rider_tools/developers/default.asp?id=23648.
###
Follow Secretary Sullivan on Twitter — View videos on You Tube — View downloadable photographs on Flickr
Visit our website — Visit the Energy Smarts blog — Visit The Great Outdoors blog