We are pleased to announce that the winner of Hexagon Geospatial’s 2019 M.App Madness for Academia Contest is Karl Chastko from the University of Toronto.
The competition called for students around the world to use the Hexagon Smart M.App platform to create a Feature Analyzer view that was aesthetically pleasing and creative. Feature Analyzer, part of M.App Analyzer Suite, lets you use point, polygon, and linear-based data to quickly create and deploy a wide array of interactive maps, or Smart M.Apps.
Each student was allowed to choose a theme for their Smart M.App. Karl’s theme was so impressive that it led to him winning the grand prize, 500 USD.
Take a look at the following Q&A where Karl shares some details about himself, as well as his experience with the Smart M.App Platform.
Q: Let’s start by getting to know you a little bit. Where are you from?
I currently live in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, but I’m originally from Shoal Lake, Manitoba, Canada.
Q: Where did you attend school, and what did you study? Why did you choose this subject?
In 2017, I completed my Honors Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Sciences with a minor in GIS. I decided to study earth and environmental sciences because of my interests in earth system sciences.
Q: Where are you currently in your career?
I am currently completing my MSc in Geography at the University of Toronto. My thesis research is focused on developing accurate air pollution models from volunteered geographic information and satellite imagery using machine learning and spatial statistics.
What are some of your favorite things to do during your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and traveling.
Where did your interest in geospatial/mapping/information services come from?
I have to credit my former professors at McMaster University for sparking my interest in the geospatial industry. Dr. Darren Scott, Patrick Deluca, and other staff at the School of Geography and Earth Sciences are excellent professors that work hard to show students the power of GIS and how it can be applied in different domains.
Q: Now, let’s talk about the Feature Analyzer Smart M.App you created. What is your Smart M.App called, and what problem does your Smart M.App address?
The Smart M.App is called Toronto Robberies Explorer. My Smart M.App brings tabular data to life by allowing users to visually explore the data and identify spatial-temporal patterns of robberies throughout the city of Toronto.
Q: In what other ways might you use the Smart M.App platform and M.App Analyzer Suite again in the future for different data?
The Hexagon Smart M.App platform is a great tool for conducting descriptive and diagnostic analytics of spatial and temporal data. The easy-to-configure charts make it easy for users to quickly gain insight from their data and share it with others. These features make it a great tool for creating public-facing interactive dashboards.
We would like to congratulate Karl again for winning the 2019 M.App Madness for Academia Contest. Learn more about Karl’s Smart M.App by trying out the Toronto Robberies Explorer demo.
