After having been postponed due to the confinement before the Covid-19, last Thursday 24 September the XVII edition of Databeers was held by videoconference, in the framework of the Hackaton Copernicus Malaga. The event could also be followed by streaming via Youtube, maintaining the open and free character of the community meetings, which started in Malaga five years ago. This new format aroused the interest of the audience, with more than a hundred people registered and a wide repercussion on social networks.

A new format with many advantages

Held in the context of the Hackaton Copernicus Malaga, this edition of Databeers focused on the projects and applications based on open data and services from the European Earth Observation Programme Copernicus.

There were five talks, all of them of short duration, informative tone and close to pecha-kucha format, given by prestigious national and international experts. A tasting of different varieties of beer was interspersed with these talks. San Miguel, a brand that has supported Databeers Málaga since 2018, brought the beers to the homes of those attending the event.

The event began with a presentation by María Sánchez, coordinator of the Initiative, who highlighted that this edition meant a great challenge in terms of organisation, given the need to carry out the event safely, but without losing its essence "through a screen, beer and networking included, differentiating us from the many webinars held nowadays". Although - commented Sánchez - the screen limits the interaction and experience that takes place in a bar, the virtual format opens up new possibilities, and made it possible to have speakers from different geographical locations and to connect many people beyond Malaga.

5 interesting talks on applications of Copernicus data

The opening speaker for this Databeers Málaga Copernicus special was Kevin Ramírez, Copernicus coordinator at Climate-KIC, who showed the potential of the initiative and its data as a tool to support a sustainable future. He was followed by Felipe Fernández, head of the Information Technology and Supercomputing Group at IHCantabria, who shared the results of the ApliCop project, designed to identify the actors in Copernicus Spain and to promote their collaboration and innovation through projects with data, some of which we have already covered in this article.

In this sense, from GMV Aerospace and Defence S.A.U., Jesús Ortuño and Julia Yagüe presented their work with remote data for sustainable forest management, while Juan Arévalo Torres, director of the Malaga-based company Randbee Consultants, focused on the way in which content and stories can be constructed, through storytelling and different visualisation techniques, to make the data attractive and understandable for citizens.

The event was closed by Sonia Castro, coordinator of open data at the public entity Red.es, who explained to those present the role of the Aporta Initiative in promoting interaction and citizen participation in the generation, use and reuse of open data. During her presentation, she toured the different sections of datos.gob.es, highlighting its usefulness for users who want both to locate new datasets and to identify use cases and keep up to date with all the new developments in the open data ecosystem in Spain. She also highlighted the guides we offer users and the interaction channels through which they can send us their requests and suggestions.

As usual, the event was recorded thanks to the collaboration of David Bueno (CEMI Málaga) and is available through the Databeers Málaga Youtube channel. Recordings of the talks and presentations used will soon be shared via www.databeersmlg.com. In this space you can find a lot of material, from this and other events, whose license allows its use and reuse. It is a good way to generate knowledge beyond the face-to-face events and the local environment.

After postponing the Databeers Málaga, scheduled for April in the framework of the Hackathon Copernicus Málaga, due to the confinement before the Covid-19, both events have a new date of realization:

• The XVII Databeers Málaga will take place on September 24th from 20 hours and will be held by videoconference.
• On the other hand, the hackathon will start on September 18th, also online, and will last until October 1st.

Databeers Malaga addresses the opportunities of Copernicus data

Given the context, the new edition of Databeers Málaga will be focused on talks about data visualization projects and applications with open data and services around the Copernicus lines of action.

The Copernicus project collects and stores data about the planet, through satellites in space and technologies such as measurement systems on land, sea and air. Copernicus offers this data in open format for use and reuse.

The Aporta Initiative, among the participants of the event

On this occasion there will be five talks, all of them of short duration, informative tone and format close to pecha-kucha. Almost all of them will show projects and applications around Copernicus' lines of action, atmospheric monitoring, marine environmental monitoring, land monitoring, climate change, emergency management and security.

The speakers will be the following:

• Kevin Ramirez, Copernicus coordinator at Climate-KIC, will open the event by showing its potential as a tool to support a sustainable future.
• Felipe Fernández, head of the Information Technology and Supercomputing Group of IHCantabria, will bring us closer to the Copernicus Spain network through a project designed to identify its actors and generate network (ApliCop).
• Juan Arevalo Torres, director of the company Randbee Consultants, will give a talk on "Storytelling with Copernicus data and services".
• Julia Yagüe, Member of the Remote Sensing and Platform Services Division of GMV Aerospace and Defence S.A.U., will show us the potential of remote data for sustainable forest management.
• Sonia Castro, Coordinator of open data in the public entity Red.es, will give a tour of datos.gob.es, highlighting those contents of most interest to the target audience of the meeting. It will be highlighted how to find data and practical applications of them; where to locate materials of interest for those who are entering into the development of digital content solutions, as well as the latest developments that from the Aporta Initiative are being carried out.

All this is coordinated by María Sánchez, who has already told us about the advantages of this type of event in this interview.

Digital format without losing the essence

Databeers Málaga has opted for the online format to facilitate the participation of speakers from different backgrounds and their follow-up in a secure way by the participants. "During the summer we held a virtual tasting, with talks also on data, by the hand of San Miguel, one of our sponsors", says Maria Sanchez, "and the experience was successful”. She explains how, despite the distance, the event did not lose the essence of the Databeers community, "including interaction with the speakers over beers, but this time at home”.

Trusting in the response of the community and considering that it can be, in addition, of interest for the own assistants to the hackathon, Databeers Malaga has decided for it to be launched online, recovering to the speakers foreseen for April and with the same approach that then.

How can you participate?

Registration is, as always, free of charge. For this event, it is essential to register previously online before September 18th, both in the Meetup space of the event, where you can also see the complete program, and through the form.

As has been the case in previous events, it will be recorded and the videos will be offered openly, together with the talks’ presentations, through the online space, www.databeersmlg.com, where there is already a large amount of material, whose license also allows its use and reuse. The aim is to generate knowledge beyond the face-to-face events and the local environment.

About Databeers Málaga and collaborators

Databeers Málaga is a community dedicated to organizing events, informative talks and networking around big data, data analysis and visualization applied to different disciplines. Since it started at the end of 2015, there have already been sixteen editions, so far face to face, which have brought together more than 2,200 participants. It is currently coordinated by María Sánchez (@cibermarikiya), professor and researcher in Journalism at the University of Málaga and technician in Innovation at the International of Andalucía, and has the collaboration of the photographer Koke Pérez, Diario Sur, the Municipal Center of Informatics of the Málaga City Council and Cervezas San Miguel. The beer brand, as part of its commitment to economic and social development of the Malaga province, supports Databeers Malaga since the beginning of 2018.

Geospatial data users have a new appointment to make in their diaries. The Copernicus Hackathon Malaga will take place from 18 September to 2 October 2020, virtually.

What is Copernicus Hackathon Málaga?

The Copernicus Hackathons are events for creating innovative digital applications and finding solutions to real world challenges, using data from Copernicus and Galileo, European Earth Observation and GPS positioning programmes, respectively. They focus on the organisation of several work teams to jointly develop new concepts and innovate in the use of existing data with practical applications for citizens and businesses.

In the specific case of Copernicus Hackathon Málaga, the thematic focus is on the current challenges of this city. Malaga and its metropolitan area represent a clear example to follow of Smart City applications, which combine green solutions to address the effects of the climate crisis. This is why it has recently been recognised as 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism. As a coastal city, one of its main lines of action is sustainable blue growth. In this sense, applications based on Copernicus can be useful tools for improving urban management, business opportunities and citizen involvement.

Copernicus Hackathon Málaga will focus on developing digital content solutions, with particular attention to the climate crisis and its effects on society, the economy and the environment in the Mediterranean, and through three specific challenges:

• Digital content for Green and Smart Cities
• Digital Content for Sustainable and Intelligent Tourism
• Digital Content for Sustainable Blue Growth

The results of the Hackathon will serve a wide audience of users at the level of public administration, businesses and citizens.

It is worth noting that a new edition of Databeers Málaga will take place within the framework of this event, you can find more information about it in this article.

Who is it aimed at?

The event will bring together developers, entrepreneurs and experts with the aim of creating new applications based on data and services from Copernicus, the European Earth Observation Programme.

Participants will have the opportunity to work with thematic experts in remote sensing and entrepreneurship to develop a practical programming experience that responds to societal challenges such as the climate crisis and sustainable development through the innovative use of new technologies.

What does the winning team get?

The presentation and award ceremony will take place on the 2nd of October at the National Digital Content Pole of Malaga City Council l.

The winning team will have access to the Copernicus Accelerator Programme, a 12-month accompaniment programme for young entrepreneurs that includes coaching, boot camps, online training and access to networks. The collaborators of the Malaga edition will offer other prizes, including a place in the co-working space of the DigitaPolo l and mentoring for 6 months.

What do you have to do to participate?

In order to participate it is necessary to fill in the registration form on the event's website: copernicus.adabyron.uma.es, where you can also find more information about this event.

The registration period is open until 10 September.

Who is organising it?

Copernicus Hackathon Málaga is organised by the European Topic Centre of the University of Málaga (ETC-UMA), together with the Strategic Chair of Geotechnological Resources for Economy and Society, and is part of the Copernicus Hackathon Programme, funded by the European Commission.

The event also has the collaboration of the National Digital Content Pole of Malaga City Council, the companies Randbee Consultants, Cartometrics and GMV, as well as the support of Climate-KIC, SpaceTec Partners and the European Association of Remote Sensing Companies (EARSC).

The new school year has already begun. While students are gradually returning to schools, companies and organizations are also recovering their activity. The last quarter of the year is chosen by a large number of organizations to launch events that help us to better understand the universe of open data, bringing us success stories and giving us the opportunity to discuss the future challenges.

In datos.gob.es we have compiled some of these events:

• On September 14, the Tech.Party 2019 is held at the Nave de Madrid. This event brings together more than 30 technological communities with the objective of “sharing knowledge and stimulating critical thinking”. Conferences and workshops will address issues such as blockchain technology, data analysis, artificial intelligence, hacktivism or technological recycling.

• Ten days later, on September 24, the #GIGAPP2019 Workshop: Civic applications and open data to supervise the power will be organized by Medialab Prado. This event will introduce recent Ibero-American experiences related to data opening for public accountability. Attendees will have the opportunity to share and discuss impressions with the creators of these tools.

• Meanwhile, the IV International Congress of Transparency will take place in Malaga from September 30 to October 2. The event will be structured in plenary sessions and seminars. Each seminar will act as a working group where different subjects will be discussed, including active advertising, open data and citizen participation.

• Cáceres will host, from October 23 to 25, the X Iberian Conference on Spatial Data Infrastructures (JIIDE 2019). Under the slogan "Local IDEs, bringing digital information to citizens", technical sessions, workshops and round tables will be held to share and publicize the Inspire Directive and the various activities carried out by local IDEs. Open data and e-administration will also be discussed.

• The Barcelona City Council has launched a new edition of the Barcelona Dades Obertes Challenge, a contest aimed at promoting knowledge and the use of open data in the educational centres of Barcelona. In addition, a new edition of the World Data Viz Challenge Barcelona_Kobe is also expected for the coming months.

• Two of the big conferences that every year close the autumn events season will also take place in the Catalan capital. We are talking about the IoT Solution world Congress and the Smart City Expo 2019. The first one will take place in October 29-31 and it will address blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, e-health and other issues where open data can have a great role. For its part, the Smart City Expo 2019 will be held from November 19 to 21. It will be a mandatory meeting for those interested in cities based on data, 5G and the future of connectivity.

All these events highlight the interest in data and open data in the business and social ecosystem. An interest that continues to grow year by year, with new editions of events already held and the incorporation of new appointments to the agenda, so that all those interested in the subject can continue learning.

Have data ever helped you understand something a little better? Do you use data analysis in your daily practice? Have you ever built a project based on data? Are you obsessed with data at any level? Do you like beer?

These are some of the questions posed by DataBeers organizers. If you have answered yes to most of them, you may want to know a little more about this non-profit initiative.

DataBeers was born in Madrid in 2014, by Giovanna Miritello, Daniel Villatoro and Marcelo Soria. Its aim was to create different event, more dynamic, simple and entertaining, away from the coldness of traditional conferences where speakers expose their vision of the theme in long expositions to a reactive audience. And for that, they thought that the best idea was to combine small talks - between 4 and 6 speakers which speech do not last more than an hour in total (7 minutes each) - with networking in a relaxed atmosphere accompanied by beers.

The success of the format was immediate. Proof of this, since 2014 they have not stopped growing, reaching thirty cities/regions in 10 countries: Barcelona, ​​Alicante, Castilla y León, Euskadi, Valencia, London, Buenos Aires, Medellín, Venice, Copenhagen, Manila ... These are just some of the regions where branches have been installed. They work through a federated model, where each city has its own team of volunteers, although all have to respect common rules:

• Do not talk about code: talks are aimed at all kinds of audiences, not just technological experts.
• Use direct messages: the speeches have to be direct, and it is recommended to follow the Pecha-Kucha method (20 slides shown for 20 seconds each). The speakers can share a paper, an idea, a problem solved by data, a visualization, etc.
• Promote networking: the objective is to create an atmosphere that favours the exchange of opinions. In this atmosphere, some collaborations may even arise.

In their talks they have had more than 300 attendees, which shows the interest that exists to know more about the data universe. Even some companies such as Airbus or BBVA have been interested in the format. The themes are quite diverse, with general events, and others more specific.

For example, Databeers Málaga, one of the most active communities, founded at the end of 2015 and driven by María Sánchez, has organized, with support from the City of Málaga, ITRS Group and San Miguel, events focused on specific topics such as data for sustainable and smart cities (on the occasion of the conference Greencities 2019), Data, Sound and Music Industry or Open Data.

The next appointment is on July 2 at 7:30 pm at Balneario Baños del Carmen, as part of the activities around the European Data and Computational Journalism Conference that is held at the University of Malaga. Therefore, on this occasion, the central theme will be data journalism and informative visualizations. As always, the activity is free and open to any interested person.

In short, it is a great platform to share data-based stories, promote the exchange of knowledge and encourage the creation of new data communities.

An increasing number of administrations are driving open data and its reuse through contests and hackathons. An example is Malaga City, which has just presented its I Open Data Reuse Contest.

The Data Portal of Malaga City has more than 1,800 available resources, grouped into 800 data sets, which follow the NTI classification. All of them have been published under a free use license, so that any citizen can analyse, reuse and redistribute data to generate a higher economic and social value.

With the aim of enhancing its use and boosting the generation of applications and value-added services, the city council has announced this contest, which has 4 categories:

• Best application for mobile devices
• Best web application
• Best chatbot
• Best analysis of historical data

This contest is one of the actions that the City Council is going to carry out in the framework of the II Open Administration Week, which will take place from March 11 to 17, 2019. The open Administration Week seeks to bring Public Administrations closer to the citizenship.

The call is open to any natural or legal person - except public administrations and those who have participated directly or indirectly in the call -. You only need a project that responds to any of the previous categories and meet the following requirements:

1. The project must be original, that is, not submitted to any other contest.
2. In addition, you must use at least one of the 800 data sets published in the Open Data Portal of Malaga City. The data set could be combined with other open or private data sources.

To help participants, a list has been created on YouTube with videos of interest. These videos show how to obtain information through an API or how to perform an analysis with Carto or Powerpivot.

Those interested in participating can submit their proposal until March 4, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. through this online form.

The winners will receive a cash prize of 500 euros per category. In addition, they will see how their work is promoted in the different official channels of the Malaga City Council and in the next DataBeers event, which will be held on March 27 during the GreenCities 2019 conference.

For more information, you can read the contest rules here.