When passion meets innovation, incredible things happen. That’s exactly what drove Merxhan, a Senior Machine Learning Engineer at GT, to take on the NASA Space Apps Challenge - one of the world’s largest hackathons. What started as an idea quickly turned into a game-changing wildfire prevention app, leveraging NASA’s satellite data to predict and mitigate disasters - an urgent issue in North Macedonia and beyond.
Competing against thousands of teams globally, Merxhan and his team didn’t just participate - they won their country’s competition and went on to become global nominees, presenting their project at the Kennedy Space Center. Their solution caught the attention of national leaders, and today, they’re working to bring it to life on a real-world scale.
How did they turn an idea into something that could save lives and protect ecosystems? What challenges did they face on the global stage? And what advice does Merxhan have for aspiring engineers looking to make an impact?
Let’s dive into this inspiring journey 🚀
Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to a career in data science and machine learning?
I have a Master's Degree in Intelligent Systems & Advanced AI, with a research focus on intelligent document processing, graph models, and practical AI applications. Currently, I work as a Senior Machine Learning Engineer at GT, focusing on advanced recommender systems.
My passion for data science stems from my fascination with data’s transformative potential. I love tackling complex challenges and building AI-driven solutions that make a tangible impact.
For me, data always holds the key to better ideas, and my career in machine learning is about unlocking those insights to create meaningful outcomes.
Q: What inspired you to participate in the NASA Space Apps Challenge?
I have always been fascinated by space and its endless possibilities. For years, I’ve been an avid reader of space-related books and actively participated in local space exploration organizations.
The NASA Space Apps Challenge was the perfect opportunity to merge my passion for space and AI. It allowed me to tackle real-world challenges and develop creative solutions that could make a difference.
Q: Your team was announced as global nominees! How did that feel?
It was an incredible moment for us! Being selected as winners among 36 teams in our country was already an achievement, but the global nomination took it to another level.
The next day, we immediately started brainstorming ways to enhance and refine our app. We focused on adding new features, integrating more advanced AI components, and ensuring our solution was as innovative and impactful as possible. The experience pushed us to elevate our work and showcase our full potential on a global level.
Q: Can you share more about your project and the problem it solves?
Our project is a web-based app designed to tackle the critical problem of wildfires by providing real-time monitoring and predictive analysis to help prevent them. The app leverages satellite image data sourced from NASA APIs to generate precise, AI-driven reports for firefighter stations, enabling them to respond quickly and effectively.
🔹 Real-time monitoring – Our app analyzes satellite imagery to detect and track wildfires.
🔹 AI-powered predictions – It assesses weather conditions, climate patterns, and terrain to predict fire spread and assess potential damage. By incorporating the latest advancements in Generative AI, we enhanced the accuracy and reliability of these predictions.
🔹 Emergency alerts – A notification system warns residents in affected areas, ensuring timely evacuation and safety.
🔹 Community-driven solutions – The app enables people to share ideas and support initiatives related to wildfire prevention and management.
Q: What inspired you to choose wildfire prevention as your challenge?
The inspiration came from the devastating impact of wildfires in my home country, North Macedonia, and the wider Balkan region. Especially during the summer months, wildfires become a critical issue, causing significant damage to both nature and communities.
What motivated me the most was seeing the challenges we face in managing these disasters effectively, often due to a lack of modern technological solutions.
I wanted to leverage my expertise in AI and data-driven approaches to address this issue and create a tool that could help prevent wildfires, improve response times, and ultimately minimize their impact. This personal connection to the problem made it a meaningful.
Q: What was it like presenting your app at the Kennedy Space Center?
A dream come true, not just for me personally but for our entire team! Standing in such an iconic place, surrounded by people who share a passion for innovation and space, was an unforgettable experience.
The atmosphere among the global nominees was electric. It was incredible to meet so many talented individuals from around the world, each bringing unique ideas and perspectives to tackle global challenges. We felt a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose, which made the experience even more special.
It was a proud moment to showcase our hard work and innovation. Being recognized on such a prestigious platform was both humbling and motivating, inspiring us to keep pushing boundaries and making an impact through technology.
Q: Competing on a global stage is tough. What set your team apart?
We were a small team of just three people, but each of us brought unique expertise -whether it was AI development, data analysis, or technical problem-solving - and we worked seamlessly together to deliver a fully functional solution.
What made us stand out was our real-world impact. Wildfires are a global issue, and there’s still no widely adopted AI-driven solution to combat them effectively.
Our app combined multiple components, from real-time monitoring using NASA satellite data to AI-driven predictions, and we didn’t stop there. We ensured everything worked together smoothly and deployed the app successfully, demonstrating its real-world application.
This combination of teamwork, technical execution, and a meaningful goal helped us succeed on such a competitive global stage.
Q: What’s next? Are you planning to develop the app further?
Yes! We’ve already presented our project to President Stevo Pendarovski of North Macedonia. His full support has been incredibly encouraging, and we’re now actively working with the Center for Crisis Management to push the app forward and explore its implementation on a larger scale.
One of the strengths of our app is its scalability. While we’ve focused initially on addressing wildfire challenges in North Macedonia, the solution is designed to be easily adaptable for other countries facing similar issues. This opens up opportunities for international collaboration and implementation, which we’re excited to explore in the future. By partnering with local and global organizations, we believe this app can make a significant impact in mitigating the devastating effects of wildfires worldwide.
Q: How can other data scientists and engineers find opportunities like NASA’s Space Apps Challenge?
I recommend checking out:
🔹 Devpost – A great platform for global hackathons.
🔹 Hackathon.com – Find competitions worldwide.
🔹 GitHub, LinkedIn, and Reddit (r/MachineLearning) – Great for staying updated on AI and hackathons.
🔹 For domain-specific interests, keep an eye on organizations like SpaceX or the European Space Agency.
Local universities and meetups often promote similar events too!
Hackathons are a great way to apply skills, learn, and collaborate on meaningful projects!
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring hackathon participants?
✔ Start with a strong passion for solving real-world problems and be open to learning.
✔ Build a strong, diverse team – A mix of technical, creative, and strategic skills is key.
✔ Don’t shy away from integrating latest technologies like AI or data-driven tools to enhance your solutions, even though you may not be the expert.
✔ Collaboration and clear communication are the key to success, so make sure everyone on the team contributes effectively.
Finally, remember that hackathons are as much about the journey as the outcome—embrace the experience, learn from others, and don’t be afraid to think big! 🚀
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