Deadline Approaching: Google’s $70K Geospatial Challenge Closes in 15 Days
Posted on November 6, 2023 3 minutes 616 words
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In a world swiftly transitioning towards immersive digital experiences, Google has thrown down the gauntlet with its Immersive Geospatial Challenge. This contest beckons creators and developers to step beyond conventional mapping paradigms, leveraging the newly launched Geospatial Creator and Photorealistic 3D Tiles to sculpt captivating augmented reality (AR) or 3D virtual experiences.
Launched at Google I/O 2023, these novel tools empower creators to anchor immersive experiences within high-resolution 3D imagery, unlocking a plethora of use cases spanning entertainment, commerce, local discovery, and more. For those looking to delve deeper into Geospatial Creator, our comprehensive article offers an in-depth exploration of its capabilities and impact on AR development.
Challenge Overview
Open to individuals above the legal age of majority in their country of residence, the challenge runs online until the deadline on November 21, 2023, at 7:45 am GMT+3. With a hefty prize pool of $70,000, participants are urged to harness either the Geospatial Creator for AR experiences in Adobe Aero or Unity, or Photorealistic 3D Tiles for crafting 3D virtual environments. The rewards are enticing: cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $6,500, a chance to interact with a Google employee, and the opportunity to have your work showcased on a Google-owned website.
Why Participate?
Apart from the tangible rewards, this challenge serves as a vibrant playground to experiment with Photorealistic 3D Tiles and Geospatial Creator, make connections within the Google Developer community, and potentially see your innovative project featured on a high-visibility platform.
Categories and Submission Requirements
The challenge encourages submissions under diverse categories including Entertainment & Events, Commerce, Travel & Local Discovery, Productivity & Business, and Sustainability. The aim is to either develop a location-based AR experience using Geospatial Creator in Adobe Aero or Unity, or a virtual immersive experience with Photorealistic 3D Tiles.
Participants are required to submit the open-source code (except for Adobe Aero-based AR experiences), a demo video of about three minutes, and a write-up pitching the project and explaining the utilization of Geospatial Creator or Photorealistic 3D Tiles.
Prizes Galore
The prize distribution is segmented based on categories, with each Best of Category winner bagging $6,500, a virtual coffee rendezvous with a Google team member, and the prospect of having their project promoted, subject to Google’s discretion. Additionally, there are five honorable mentions, each receiving $1,000, a virtual coffee with a Google team member, and potential project promotion.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated based on Functionality, Purpose, Content, User Experience, and Technical Execution, ensuring a holistic appraisal of each project’s merit and adherence to the challenge’s essence.
Tools and Resources
A plethora of resources are at disposal for the participants including comprehensive documentation, tutorial videos, demos, and inspiration from previous hackathon winners. Moreover, a dedicated Discord community has been set up for the challenge, providing a platform for interaction and support.
Conclusion
The Google’s Immersive Geospatial Challenge is more than just a competition; it’s a call for innovation in the realm of AR and 3D virtual experiences. Whether you are a seasoned developer or a creative enthusiast, this challenge presents a fertile ground to sow the seeds of your imagination and technical prowess.
Dive into the unknown, and who knows? Your creation might just redefine how we perceive the world around us. For those eager to embark on this journey and ready to harness the full potential of Google’s immersive technologies, detailed information about the challenge, including registration, resources, and submission guidelines, can be found on the official Immersive Geospatial Challenge website.
Embark on this creative odyssey, and you might find yourself not only at the forefront of geospatial innovation but also shaping the future of immersive digital experiences.
