Four teams, three days of work, and a common goal: to seek technological solutions to urban challenges. The first edition of 'Hackea Avilés', jointly organised by the Avilés Island of Innovation Science and Technology Park and the University of Oviedo, concluded on 25 October at the La Curtidora Business Centre with the selection of MapAvilés as the winning project.
The proposal, developed by the Arco Digital team, which includes Omar Quiles García, Camila More Norte, Román Pichurin, and Albert Díaz, presents a platform that combines a civic application with a municipal digital twin. This tool aims to gather and highlight the cultural, social, and commercial offerings of the municipality, facilitating access to useful information and encouraging community participation.
The project was chosen by a jury composed of representatives from the Avilés City Council and the academic institution. During the announcement, Manuel Campa, the councillor for Urban and Economic Development, particularly valued the utility of incorporating information about activities, ticketing, and movement flows within the city, as well as data of direct interest for municipal management, such as the availability of vacant premises or land.
One of the significant milestones of this event was the academic collaboration. Over three days, students from the University of Oviedo and various vocational training programmes worked closely in multidisciplinary teams to develop concrete proposals addressing the challenges presented by the Avilés City Council and the University of Oviedo.
Alongside MapAvilés, three other initiatives reached the final phase: Avilés Silver, a smart device designed to enhance the daily lives of elderly individuals, promote their autonomy, and combat unwanted loneliness; Origins, a tourism proposal that revives the figure of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and his connection to Florida to develop new experiences based on historical accuracy; and A Tiempu, a mobility application that integrates various modes of transport using data and predictive models to anticipate delays and optimise travel.
The prize will allow the members of Arco Digital to attend the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, one of the world's leading forums on urban innovation, technology, and smart cities. There, they will have the opportunity to learn firsthand about the solutions that are setting the global pace in addressing urban challenges.
With the success of this inaugural edition, the Avilés Island of Innovation Science and Technology Park and the University of Oviedo are consolidating a new tool to bring applied innovation closer to young people, demonstrating that collaboration among different educational profiles is effective in exploring responses to the real needs of the city.
