2013 Premier’s Awards for Open Data

The 2013 Premier's Awards for Open Data ceremony was held on Tuesday 3 December 2013 at The Cube, Science and Engineering Centre, Gardens Point Campus, Queensland University of Technology.

The awards program recognised and celebrated the innovative use of publicly released Queensland Government data to improve service delivery for Queenslanders. The program was underpinned by the government's objective of the Open Data Initiative to:

encourage people, companies, researchers and non-government organisations to develop innovative solutions to Queenslanders' problems
help make government more transparent and accountable.

The program also promoted data visualisations, application development and other unique treatments of government open data.

Award categories

Prize money to the value of $5000 was awarded in each of the following categories to the entries that demonstrated the most innovative use of, and real outcomes from, public data:

Public transport—delivers real improvements to customer experience.
Improved service delivery—delivers improved social services to Queenslanders.
Growing and developing Queensland’s future—delivers real economic benefits to Queenslanders.
Open—wildcard category.

Award winners and finalists

Public transport

Winner—Yan Sun for Brisbane Bus and Train

Brisbane Bus and Train is an award-winning Windows phone application. The intention of this application is to improve the data accuracy, add new trip planner features and enable interaction between passengers and TransLink.

Finalist—Skedgo Pty Ltd for TripGo

TripGo is a trip planner that shows all your door-to-door transport options in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. It compares transport modes to show the most efficient, cost-effective and quickest options.

Finalist—Smart Transport Research Centre, QUT, for Bus Hailer App

The Bus Hailer app is designed to alleviate the problem of missing a bus or train. Using real-time bus location data, the app alerts the user when they should leave to walk to their stop, tracks the progress of the bus, and alerts the user when they need to get off at their destination.

Finalist—Urban Informatics Research Lab for Augment—Augmented Bus Stop Identifier

Augment is a mobile application that improves the bus travel experience. Using TransLink data, and augmented reality, Augment makes it easier to locate bus stops and plan your journey.

Improved service delivery

Winner—Queensland Council of Social Service for Queensland Community Services Map

The Queensland Community Services Map helps those working in the health and community services sector find the right services for their clients. It is based on data drawn from the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and organised into regions using geospatial data from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines. This application is a searchable, interactive map of community services from across the state.

Finalist—Rachael Mulliss for Re-inventing Neighbourhood Watch

The Re-inventing Neighbourhood Watch project revolves around the creation of iOS and Android smartphone applications, as well as an additional website interface. These services allow citizens convenient mobile access to a variety of data, including crime statistics, live feeds from emergency services, interactive social hashtags and community news publications.

Finalist—Community Information Support Services Ltd for Access My Community

Access My Community is a fast and effective solution for those who face the challenge of finding information about what is happening in their local neighbourhood. Dataset information is taken and created into a powerful and accessible online resource. This allows the public to be more involved and find the assistance they need within their local community.

Finalist—Data Master Pty Ltd for Greentape Solutions

Inspired by the recent regulatory reform to the Nature Conservation Act for Protective Plants, the Greentape Solutions app runs on a location aware device that expedites the collection of field data to assist government in the management of threatened plants. The app allows users to efficiently record and submit digital data in a format suitable to realise the benefits noted in the government ‘greentape’ reduction strategy.

Growing and developing Queensland’s future

Winner—Rachael Mulliss for AgriHUB: Focus on Agriculture in Queensland

The AgriHUB project is based on information gathered from the Queensland Government’s recent land audit. A simple, interactive mapping tool is the centre of the project, and vast amounts of documentation are knitted together in an interactive and immersive style. This web application will empower the industry to generate and discuss more informed, sustainable business and environmental decisions, while assisting with the Queensland Government’s action plan to double industry output by 2040.

Finalist—QUT for Visualisation System for Water, Geological and Environmental Resources Data

The software system (GVS) enables data organisation, importation, integration and display via 2D and 3D visualisation of a wide range of natural system data. The software has a wide capability and is scalable from local areas to regional catchments and geological basins.

Finalist—BKG Solutions Pty Ltd for Marine Zones South East Queensland

The Marine Zones app shows recreational fishermen where they aren’t allowed to fish offshore, covering the Great Barrier Reef and the area around Moreton Bay. Typically these areas are marine parks that have some form of regulation applicable to them. The app provides an alarm when the user is close to, or in, a particular marine park.

Finalist—Scott de Jonge for Access Map

Access Map is an application to provide users with contextual accessibility information based on location. The accessibility information is based on government and council data, user ratings and comments, and through elevation and distance APIs. Through the collection of wide-ranging data, Access Map produces real-world information for people with physical, cognitive and sensory disabilities. Access Map creates a digital community using existing services and provides a comprehensive guide to accessibility.

Open

Winner—Robert Crago for School Zones

School Zones is an app that grew out of frustration with driving around Queensland and seeing speed restriction signs outside schools, not always knowing whether a speed adjustment was required.

Finalist—GRIDSTONE / RIPE Intelligence for EmergencyAUS

EmergencyAUS aims to increase the distribution of coordinated intelligence across Queensland to improve decision making during fire, flood, storm, rescue, hazmat, cyclone, health, tsunami and earthquake emergencies.

Finalist—Object Consulting for cxParks

cxParks is a powerful app that brings data together in an interactive experience for Brisbane residents and visitors. This tool promotes and preserves cultural heritage, stimulates local business as well as helping Queensland become the number one nature-based tourism destination in Australia. cxParks delivers spatial information allowing users to explore location, accessibility, services, photos and events at hundreds of local and national parks throughout the region.

Finalist—Yan Sun for Queensland Cars

Queensland Cars allows the public to browse and search statistics about vehicles, trailers and motorcycles registered in Queensland in a visualised format. For commercial users, the app will be useful in finding out the trends of various models over the years.

Microsoft Start-Up Accelerator Award

The Microsoft Start-Up Accelerator Award was awarded to the entry that developed the most innovative concept with the best start-up potential.
The prize included:

5 Nokia Lumia 920s
5 Asus VivTab tablets
a 4-month course at Founder Institute for the nominated team founder to attend from February 2014
a maximum of $60,000 worth of Windows Azure for a maximum period of 2 years.

Skip links and keyboard navigation

2013 Premier’s Awards for Open Data

Award categories