This past weekend we took part in HackTech 2025 – Tech vs Wildfires, one of Cyprus’s largest hackathons, bringing together more than 25 teams of developers, engineers, and researchers. According to the judges’ informal feedback, we finished in 4th place – a solid result given how strong the competition was.
At the hackathon, we presented a prototype of Cyprus Nature Data – a web platform that unifies Cyprus’s scattered environmental information into a single interactive 3D map. The platform integrates data from data.gov.cy, satellite layers, and other verified geospatial sources, enabling instant assessment of burned areas, land ownership, water availability, zoning status, and other critical parameters for post-wildfire recovery. Our goal is to make complex environmental data simple, transparent, and accessible to everyone – from volunteers to technical specialists.
Although we didn’t take a prize, the event was highly productive: we built a number of features that will soon be integrated into Reforest Network, and we made many valuable new connections and potential partnerships. The work continues – next steps include integration, testing, and expanding data coverage to help restore Cyprus’s nature even more effectively.