Our Participation
Our participation in the “Coding Copernicus” hackathon was an exciting and enriching experience. Right upon our arrival, we had our first opportunities to interact with other participants in an open and stimulating atmosphere. The hackathon then began with a presentation of the various challenges by representatives from the institutions providing the tasks and data:
- TRANSPORT - More than just gray (Federal Highway Research Institute - BASt)
- GREEN CITIES – Hack for urban green islands (Federal Environment Agency – UBA)
We also received an introduction to data access on CODE-DE, the central platform for Copernicus data in Germany.
The whole team, Photo: ©DLR 2025
The theoretical introduction was followed by an interactive get-to-know-you session, which helped identify other participants and foster an open atmosphere. This was followed by targeted team-building activities that took into account our individual skills in the areas of geoinformatics, artificial intelligence, the CODE-DE workstation, and programming. Our team consisted of a total of five people: the two of us, plus three other participants from RWTH Aachen University. They are pursuing master’s degrees in computer science but have no specific prior knowledge in the field of geoinformation. So we complemented each other very well.
The Challenge: Using Roadside Areas for Green Energy
We chose the topic “How can roadside areas be used to generate green energy?” and started coding at 2:00 p.m. after lunch. Our goal was to develop a user interface that identifies and visualizes areas along highways that could potentially be used for photovoltaic systems.
To do this, we obtained the necessary data:
- Federal Highway Network ( BASt: BISStra/ASB)
- NRW Solar Cadastre
- CORINE Land Cover
- Terrain Slope (DGM)
We selected the A4 highway between Cologne and Aachen as our study area. We processed the data using QGIS and conducted our analysis through programming. We then used the processed data to identify specific criteria for locating potential sites:
- Minimum contiguous area of 100 m²
- CORINE Land Cover classification: arable land or natural grassland
- Solar energy efficiency: at least 85% based on the slope of the ground
By combining and analyzing this data, we were able to identify suitable sites. While the calculations ran overnight, the food provided kept us energized throughout the process.
Final Phase and Presentation
The following day, we continued working intensively on our project until 2:00 p.m. A significant portion of that time was spent preparing our final presentation—an effort that should not be underestimated. Afterward, all teams presented their results in short pitches. Our team was represented by Michael, Rebekka, and Leona.
Our Success
Out of a total of six teams, we took second place and received €1,000 in prize money. But the competition wasn’t the only focus: The hackathon also offered an excellent opportunity for networking—both with other participants and with representatives from the institutions that had provided the challenges. In addition, we were able to meet potential employers and make valuable contacts for the future. Overall, the Copernicus Hackathon was an inspiring experience that enriched us both professionally and personally.
