Welcome to the NASA Space Apps Challenge!

Join the world's largest hackathon, an international event where teams from around the globe work together to solve challenges using NASA's open data.

About the Challenge

SAR (synthetic aperture radar) is a powerful tool for studying our planet and is used to investigate Earth processes—from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions to ice sheet changes and forest cover. Your challenge is to bring complex SAR data down to Earth by creating innovative artwork that highlights the unique perspective of SAR sensors. Create a digital art piece (image, video, 3D model, etc.) based on SAR imagery and related products—a work of SARt!

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Our Team

Meet the SARtists

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"Our team consists of 4 passionate GeoInformatics students from Stellenbosch University. We share a keen interest in Remote Sensing, Cartography, Disaster Mitigation, Archaeology, Space exploration and so much more. All these interests converge in the field of GeoInformatics and GIS."

As a diverse group of Geo-Informatics students at Stellenbosch University we are looking forward to creating a work of SARt.

Team Members

  • Zander Lourens
  • Tiaan Henrico
  • Dashlin Naidoo
  • Justin de Villiers

    • Our Submission

    Submision Image: The Dragon of the East

    SARt Map

    In the vivid tapestry presented by the image, the radiant urban sprawl emerges as a beacon of heaven on Earth. The dazzling lights and intricate network of streets symbolize opportunity, innovation, and an ever-evolving dynamism, offering its denizens an electrifying rhythm of life filled with promise and allure. This urban utopia starkly contrasts the rural and farming areas which appear like patches of desolation, almost hellish in their isolation. These darkened lands, bereft of the glow of progress, depict a life of relentless toil and unyielding monotony. For the individual, the city becomes a sanctuary of dreams and aspirations, elevating their mindset and nurturing their happiness. Conversely, the rural expanse, with its endless cycle of sowing and reaping, may weigh heavily on one's soul, limiting their horizons and dampening their spirits.

    Submision Video

    To the left is a visual trip through time, focusing on our area of interest, but with an eye on the temporal nature of change. A look through time. The timelapse portrays SAR data from 2018 to the most recent available data (late 2023) This 'dynamic' perspective reveals additional information which is not apparent at first glance in our work of SARt. This information includes, but is not limited to:

  • the rapid increase in crop circle irrigation activity
  • the highly fluctuating water levels of the local source
  • the dynamic distribution of activity within the urban district and its surrounding area
    • By utilising synthetic aperture radar for spatial analysis previously hidden details become prominent and connections clear

    Sources

  • https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/2023/
  • https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/
  • https://www.sentinel-hub.com/explore/eobrowser/
  • https://earth.google.com/

    • Contact Us

    @spaceappsmaties

    @spaceappsmaties

    @dash_naidoo

    @dash_naidoo

    linkedn

    /justin-de-villiers-zr1jd