These are the Challenges | World Data League

Finals

Biodiversity

A Science global study revealed a strong effect of humans on daily patterns of wildlife activity. Animals are seeking nocturnal refuge increasing their nocturnality by an average factor of 1.36 due to human presence. That sums to an already substantial proportion of nocturnal global biodiversity, with 30% of all vertebrates and more than 60% of all invertebrates, according to LUCIA.

However, even during the night, there are big challenges to the species. By changing the night behavior of organisms, Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is a major threat to global biodiversity. One of the most affected species is bats, but they are not the only ones. According to LUCIA, ALAN kills 6.8 million nocturnal insects every night.

How can we make public lighting more accommodating to natural wildlife without disregarding pedestrians and road users?

Semi-Finals

Safety

Women's safety has been a global issue for a long time now. Reports of aggression and violence against women and girls all around the globe are shocking and propelling to a due change.

UN Women reports that in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, more than 90% of women have already experienced violence when accessing public transport, while in Maputo, Mozambique, nearly 70% of girls experienced it in public spaces.

According to WorldBank, during the COVID-19 lockdown in Brazil, the probability of femicides more than doubled.

Gender violence in cities and specifically in public spaces is a public issue. How can we ensure a society where everyone in our communities feels safe in their daily routines?

STAGE 2

Transportation & Mobility

According to TomTom Traffic Index, in 2019, the top-10 most congested cities had an average 61,6% congestion level. That is a lot of time spent in traffic. Despite that, a global transition to public transportation or soft mobility - getting around under your own steam (cycling, walking, roller-skating, etc.) - is still slower than the planet wishes. A Eurostat study shows that In the European Union, in 2018, public transportation represented only 19% of inland passenger transport.

Public transportation and soft mobility are two solutions for increasingly crowded roads and a greener future. How can we make these systems more efficient and attractive? Could soft mobility get better results?

There are now 600 fleets of shared e-scooters in Europe across more than 300 urban areas in 26 countries, according to the ZAG Daily.

STAGE 2 CHALLENGES:

Optimization of public transport routes during road interruptions by Cascais Municipality

Winning solution
by Moons of Jupyter

Predicting the flow of people for public transportation improvements by Porto Digital and Porto Municipality

Winning solution
by Green@Ces

Optimization of soft-mobility drop-off points by Porto Digital and Porto Municipality

Winning solution
by GeoNEAS