RELEASE 04-28-2023: University Teams Selected as 2023 FAA Data Challenge Finalists

Hampton, Va. — Washington, DC – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced ten finalist university teams of the 2023 FAA Data Challenge. Finalist teams will present their unique concepts using Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) and advanced analytics to explore aviation-related problems and opportunities at an in-person forum at the MITRE Campus in McLean, Virginia, June 21-22, 2023. University teams will compete for the top cash prize of $25,000.

The 2023 FAA Data Challenge finalist teams are:

Duke University
An Optimization of Airport Surface Congestion to Minimize Taxi Times
Advisor: Dr. Mark Borsuk

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
AI-Based Weather Simulation
Advisor: Dr. Chris Johnson

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Expanding the Capabilities of the NAS through AI: A White Box for the Airspace Ecosystem
Advisor: Prof. Omar Ochoa

George Mason University
Proposal for a Modernized Flight Risk Assessment Tool for General Aviation Pre-Flight Planning
Advisor: Dr. Isaac Gang

Georgia Institute of Technology
A Deep Learning Approach Using Social Media Data to Estimate Ground Risk of UAS in Urban Areas
Advisor: Dr. Dimitri Mavris

The Cooper Union
Safety with Numbers: A Data-Driven Approach to Mitigate Aviation Accidents
Advisor: Prof. Masoud Masoumi

University of Miami
Machine Learning for Dynamic Scheduling of Air Taxis
Advisor: Dr. Nurcin Celik

University of North Dakota
LAGOM: A Balanced Approach to Real-Time Flight Safety Analysis
Advisors: Profs. Ryan Guthridge and Brandon Wild

University of Southern California
Probabilistic Learning and Optimization for Real-Time Flight Management with Safety and Environmental Constraints
Advisor: Dr. Roger Ghanem

University of Southern California
Artificial Intelligence to Expedite Data Analysis on Runway Incursions and Excursions
Advisor: Prof. Najmedin Meshkati

United States-based college and university students were invited to use data to identify challenges and propose innovative solutions to enable FAA’s mission to provide the world’s safest and most efficient aerospace system. Proposals addressed one of four categories: Improve Aviation Safety; Improve Operational Efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS); Contribute to the Drive for Sustainable Aviation; and Assist with the Rapidly Evolving New and Novel Uses of the NAS.

“The FAA Data Challenge strives to reach those who will become tomorrow’s transportation leaders. We want to build a pipeline of talent interested in applying their analytical skills to explore creative and unique solutions,” said FAA’s Deputy Chief Data Officer Marseta Dill.

Finalist teams will submit technical papers and present their proposed technical approach and how they plan to leverage data to address current and future aviation problems to the competition Steering Committee. Team presentations will be livestreamed during the two-day culminating Forum in June 2023.

Competition and Forum details are available on the Challenge website, https://faadatachallenge.nianet.org.

The FAA Data Challenge is sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Chief Data Office (CDO) and managed by the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA).

For more information about FAA Information & Technology Services, please visit
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/afn/offices/ait.

For more information about the National Institute of Aerospace, please visit https://www.nianet.org.