Two fourth-year Geospatial Engineering students from the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), Arnold Omoja and Julia Hamala, have won an award at the Continental GAIAthon Innovation Challenge in Ghana.
The two emerged second in the Digital Platforms and Interactive Applications category of the recently concluded GAIAthon competition.
They received a prize of Ksh 193,244 (USD 1500) for their achievement.
The duo impressed judges with their project, ‘Green Map Nairobi’, a mobile and web-based platform that processes and visualizes Earth Observation (EO) and Internet of Things (IoT) data.
Their project, dubbed ‘Green Map Nairobi’, provided an interactive application that maps green spaces, sustainable businesses, and cultural sites in Nairobi County to improve public awareness and promote urban sustainability.
The award ceremony took place in Accra, Ghana, and was attended by Omoja, Clifford Okembo, Project Coordinator and lecturer in the Department of Physics, Earth and Environmental Sciences at TUK.
Organized annually by the Edenway Foundation, GAIAthon brings together university students from across Africa to showcase innovative solutions that leverage digital technologies for sustainability.
The competition is designed to nurture creativity, strengthen digital stewardship, and promote the use of EO and IoT technologies in addressing environmental and community challenges.
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TUK Students Win GAIAthon Innovation Challenge
The duo came out on top after competing against seven other student groups from fields like mechanical and electrical engineering, geospatial science, mathematics, physics, and environmental studies.
Each team presented digital solutions to real-world problems during the university-level competition, where the winning teams earned the chance to represent Kenya at the GAIAthon ’25 Awards.
At TUK, three finalist teams showcased unique innovation tracks:
- IoT-Enabled Smart Systems: One team built a working prototype using low-cost IoT sensors to collect and analyse real-time environmental data, addressing challenges in climate, agriculture, and energy.
- Digital Platforms and Interactive Applications: This group developed a mobile/web platform for processing and visualising Earth Observation (EO) and IoT data, enhancing decision-making and community engagement.
- Geospatial Intelligence and Policy Innovation: The third team leveraged satellite data to produce maps, models, and reports for environmental monitoring and policy formulation.
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About GAIAthon ’25 Awards
GAIAthon, organised by the Edenway Foundation, is an annual innovation challenge that taps into the potential of university students across Africa.
The initiative promotes digital stewardship for sustainability, with a strong focus on Earth Observation (EO) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
Launched in May 2024 under the theme “Empowering Innovation through Digital Literacy”, GAIAthon provides a platform for young innovators to showcase tech-driven solutions to pressing environmental and developmental challenges facing the continent.
The programme is aligned with the African Union Commission’s Agenda 2063, seeking to advance digital literacy, strengthen environmental stewardship, and equip African youth with the skills and mindset needed to address 21st-century challenges.
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