The first data visualisation hackathon in Estonia will be held in May

According to Annika Brauer, head of Department of Business Technology at Statistics Estonia, the data visualisation hackathon will provide a unique opportunity to create visualisations of data for the producer of national statistics and thereby influence the decisions of the Estonian government institutions, entrepreneurs and individuals who use statistics. “In the conditions of overabundant information it is important to stand out and tell your story in a distinct and understandable manner. We expect from the hackathon new and interesting ideas how to visualise data stories that are important to Estonian people. So-called front-end solutions, animated codes, moving pictures and videos, or anything that bring data alive can be used,” Brauer said.

Statistics Estonia has formulated initial tasks with data tables for the event. “The team has to choose which data to use from multiple layers and filters. Data can be downloaded or used in Excel; an API connection to the database can also be used, but not required. If the team cannot find a suitable task for visualisation, they can come up with their own ideas,” Brauer noted.

According to Merit Vislapu, project manager for Garage48, the suggested participants in the hackathon are front-end developers, designers and data visualisation specialists, data analysts and scientists. “You can participate with the whole team or form a team from people from different areas of activity on the spot. As usual, at the beginning of the event, more individual participants can be recruited for the team,” told Vislapu.

At the end of the event, the jury will select the best who will receive prizes: 3,000 for the winning team and 1,000 euros for the next two. More information about the event is available on Garage48 website and Facebook.

Statistics Estonia is a government agency. Its main task is to provide objective information on the economic, demographic, social and environmental situation and trends in Estonia. The goal of Statistics Estonia is to become by 2022 the most effective and innovative producer of reliable and user-friendly statistics in Europe.

Garage48 series got started back in April 2010 as an initiative of Estonian start-up enterprises –Pipedrive, Fortumo, Weekdone, Mooncascade and Taxify. Garage48 hackathon series was initiated to boost a local start-up scene by bringing the Silicon Valley attitude to Eastern Europe as well as to other developing markets.