NASA is launching its third global Space App challenge

NASA and other space agencies are preparing for the third annual International Space Apps Challenge on 12 and 13 April 2014. This year, participants will develop mobile applications, software, hardware, data visualization and platform solutions for coastal flooding.

NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan said: “Solutions developed through this challenge could have many potential impacts, this includes helping coastal businesses determine whether they are currently at risk from coastal inundation, and whether they will be impacted in the future by sea level rise and coastal erosion."

The new tools could help residents and communities in coastal areas determine if they are at risk, but also help specialists use the gathered data to measure the effects of coastal erosion and compare the results to satellite data and models.

The two day Space Apps Challenge event will be hosted at almost 100 locations worldwide. 200 different data sources will be made available to the developers.