Come 2015 and devotees would start thronging Nashik for the Kumbh Mela expected to attract a crowd of three crore. Needless to say technology will a vital role in managing the mammoth gathering. Hence, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) along with IIT-Bombay, IIT-Madras and other industry bodies is conducting a slew of workshops to select young professionals to develop innovative solutions to tackle the crowd, civic, crime, health, policing and other issues at the Kumbh to be held between August 15 and September 13.
KumbhaThon is brain storming workshop for which persons from across the world can apply. The third chapter will be held between January 24 and 27 at Nashik.
In the previous two chapters of KumbhaThons, MIT's associate professor Ramesh Raskar said an array of innovative solutions were received. For instance, cellphone tower data will be used to map flow of individuals, said Raskar. "We will track cell phone tower data to map flow of individuals and issue SMS alerts to persons to tell them which areas are to be avoided."
Pilgrims are wary of carrying cash or bank ATM cards in the Kumbh. A system of cashless transaction has thus been devised for the pilgrims. "We have prepared prepaid wristbands with bar codes which devotees can purchase. A shop keeper can scan them and deduct the amount," Raskar said.
Up to four lakh persons are treated at health camps in Kumbh. "An SMS will go off to those who are treated asking them if they are feeling worse or better. This will help us track epidemic break outs if any," Raskar said.
Lost and found formula in Bolloywood has its origins in such gatherings. "We want to get rid of those master plots," said Raskar. In the Kumbh held in Allahabad in 2013, two lakh children had gone missing. It had taken over a month to reunite them with their families. "We are using innovations to solve the problems of separated families. A mobile app called Milaap will serve as a lost and found platform," said Raskar.
About KumbhaThon
To participate in better managing of the Kumbh Mela, log on to www.Nashik2015.com. KumbhaThon is open for all engineering students, working professionals and also for anyone who is innovative. Solutions to problems of transportation, health issues, civic issues, crime and police, hotels and housing, language and translation, crowd management, security, pollution, fraud, advertising, social media, positioning, traffic and parking will be sought in the contest. The winners will undergo a month-long internship for next-Gen Kumbh projects.
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