WASHINGTON –The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced seven finalist and two honorable mention collegiate teams of the 2024 FAA Data Challenge. In its second year, the contest focuses on the use of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and advanced analytics to explore aviation-related problems and opportunities. 

Finalist teams will present their unique concepts at an in-person forum with senior FAA officials in early 2025. They will compete for cash prizes totaling $100,000.

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

The 2024 FAA Data Challenge finalist teams are:

University of North Dakota
Sentiment and Pattern Evaluation of ATC Keywords
Advisor: Dr. Ryan Guthridge

Oregon State University 
Reachability-Based PRA for Unmanned Aerial Systems
Advisor: Prof. Steven Weber

University of Texas
Air Traffic Transcripts Keyword Extraction
Advisor: Prof. John-Paul Clarke

Binghamton University 
Flight Decisions based on Weather Prediction
Advisor: Dr. Sang Won Yoon

University of North Texas
Weathering the Sky: GNNs for UAV Micro Forecasts
Advisor: Dr. Kamesh Namuduri

Texas A&M University 
First Well-to-Wake Emissions Minimizing Algorithm
Advisor: Prof. Mobile Benedict

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
SkyTwin A Digital Twin of the NAS for Air Traffic
Advisor: Prof. Omar Ochoa 

The 2024 FAA Data Challenge honorable mention teams are:

University of Texas
Aviation Clean Supply Chain Software Tools
Advisor: Prof. Sara Lundqvist

Kingsborough Community College
Aviation Efficiency Surveillance
Advisor: Prof. Michael Danza

The FAA invited U.S.-based college and university students to use data to identify challenges and propose innovative solutions to further enable the agency’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 Sustainable Aviation; and Assist with the Rapidly Evolving New and Novel Uses of the NAS.

Finalist teams will submit technical papers and present to the competition Steering Committee.

More information on competition details is available online at www.herox.com/FAADataChallenge2024.