City to award $30K in app-making contest

news@dailylobo.com

The city of Albuquerque is hosting a $30,000 app design contest.
At an Aug. 24 press conference, city of Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry announced the beginning of the ABQ Data competition, a city of Albuquerque app-development contest aimed to improve Albuquerque community members’ and visitors’ experiences in Albuquerque. Eligible participants, including UNM students, can design an app using city datasets made available online.

The contest, which began Aug. 24 and ends Oct. 22, requires contestants to use at least one dataset from ABQ Data. Contest winners will be selected by a panel composed of technology experts and community members. The panel will determine the winning apps based on the most innovative mobile application for Albuquerque’s cultural resources, doing business in the city, and for outdoor fun and healthy living. Winners will be announced in November.

Berry said the competition is a way for community members to get involved with the city and write apps that relate to Albuquerque.

He said the apps will help Albuquerque citizens and visitors better enjoy the city and make information about the city more readily available.

“Technology is becoming the mechanism for getting answers, for getting results for maps, for suggestions, you name it,” he said. “Apps and smartphones are making lives a lot more efficient and a lot more enjoyable in a lot of ways.”

This summer, UNM and the city released the “Where’s My Bus” app, which allows users to track bus locations throughout Albuquerque.

As part of the release, UNM shuttles were equipped with GPS tracking units that allow buses to be tracked while en route.

Berry said the city wanted to encourage innovation and creativity among community members and that the contest will recognize talent within the community.

“We’re hoping to have a really exciting contest,” he said. “I’m excited … to see who’s got it going on with their app writing and be able to come forward with the most exciting apps. So let’s get out there and have some fun.”