The challenge was held from October 22nd to 25th, 2024, for the students of Aalto University, the University of Helsinki, Tampere University Community, and HAMK, and the winning team was Realitikka. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all participants!"
What is this about?
The 72h Traffic Challenge is a hackathon focused on urban development and transportation, where participants design solutions for real-world problems. The challenge is open to students from selected educational institutions, regardless of their field of study.
Why should you participate?
Come and experience one of the most exciting and challenging student competitions of the year, organized by a wide range of sponsors. Meet new people, challenge yourself, and learn a lot!
The winning team will go on a Liveable Cities excursion in Copenhagen in the spring of 2025!
View example from a previous year at: https://c.ramboll.com/fi/72h-transport-challenge-2023
Check out X, LinkedIn and Instagram #liikennehaaste and #HKIxTRE72H
Heikki Palomäki works as a Unit Manager in the Transport Systems Unit at the City of Helsinki. The Transport Systems Unit is responsible for preparing the transport policies and programmes, developing the transport system and evaluating transport impacts.
I look forward to open-minded and fresh ideas and interesting and inspiring discussions!
Ari Vandell serves as the Head of the Traffic System Planning Unit at the City of Tampere. The Traffic System Planning Unit is responsible for the overall traffic planning in the city, except for the planning of public transportation. His role includes leading a team of nearly 20 traffic experts. Ari Vandell is also actively involved in the practical work, guiding significant strategic traffic projects.
Over the years, various competition entries have provided fresh and innovative ideas that lay the groundwork for practical traffic planning. This time the expectations are even higher, as we concurrently brainstorm the development of the traffic systems of the country's two largest cities. I believe that such cross-pollination can elevate us to an entirely new level.
Pasi Rajala works as a Director of Strategic Urban Planning at the city of Helsinki. Our department of Strategic Urban Planning is responsible for the general level planning of land use and municipal engineering of the city.
I’m hoping to see new innovations and ideas for the development of the cities!
Juha-Pekka Häyrynen leads Nysse Traffic services -team coordinating planning and contracting of public transport services. Traffic services team does a lot co-operation with land use planning. Nysse is brand name for Tampere regional public transport authority. Nysse serves 420 000 inhabitants in 8 municipalities. In year 2023 Nysse carried over 50 million passengers with buses and trams. Juha-Pekka has over 15 years experience in the field of public transport planning and city planning.
Juha-Pekka sees 72h Transport Challenge as a great chance to get in touch with fresh ideas from younger planner generation and give them feedback how to turn ideas into reality.
Antti works as a Chief Architect in the Detail Planning at the City of Helsinki. I graduated as an architect from Helsinki University of Technology in 2008, and I have worked in the field of urban planning both in the private and public sector for nearly 20 years. As a planner in the city of Helsinki I do urban planning in various scales. I also have tasks related to work method development and education.
Students always have fresh and bold ideas on how to develop land use and traffic planning in a way, that the cites of the future are built exceedingly better and more balanced considering the various points of views. I look forward to the new ideas emerging from the competition!
Petri works as a traffic system expert at the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency. He is currently leading the necessity study for the Kvarken permanent connection and is involved in the creation of the investment program, as well as a few other traffic studies. He is also one of the liaisons for traffic system matters in Northern Ostrobothnia.
"I have a couple of decades of prior experience in traffic planning related to land use at different planning levels, so I'm very much looking forward to seeing new ideas for both traffic and land use solutions.
Sini is transport systems expert at Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency. ”My job includes among other things national and regional transport system work as well as supporting traffic system planning. In addition, I handle matters related to travel chains and land use planning, such as park and ride -facilities, node stops and preparing land use planning statements.
Participating in various competitions is something I am already familiar with through my own studies, but this time it is nice to also get a different perspective as a member of the jury. I am especially looking forward to what kind of creative solutions the competitors will develop for the assignment and the limited time frame.”
Jani Kariniemi Head of Digital in Fintraffic Road Limited, a Finnish traffic control and management service company owned by the government. My main responsibilities include digitalizing traffic management and leading smart traffic's digital transformation. Passionate about innovative concepts, the process of development, and the potential of real-time traffic data.
I previously worked in Nokia and Finnish health care sector ICT development for over 25 years. Outside work, I enjoy traveling with kids, badminton, and exploring new biking trails.
Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) is a joint local authority whose member municipalities include Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen, Kerava, Sipoo, Tuusula, Kirkkonummi and Siuntio. HSL’s tasks include, for example, preparing the Helsinki Region Transport System Plan (HLJ), planning and organizing public transport in the region, and improving its operating conditions.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the 10th Anniversary of the 72h Transport Challenge! In the past, the competition has only been held in one city at a time, so I am looking forward to seeing how combining the two urban regions brings a whole new approach to the challenge. I expect the competition entries to include both wild, “feet off the ground” ideas for the future, as well as small practical proposals that can be implemented immediately. I advise the competitors to rest and recharge their batteries properly before the competition. The competition is intense but also very rewarding. I wish there were something like this when I was a student!
I have spent the last five years focused on growing Telia's data business, Crowd Insights, where I have been deeply involved in developing new data-driven business opportunities. Currently, I work within Telia's Division X, which is dedicated to exploring and building new busineses, with a particular focus on leveraging technology and data in innovative ways across different industries. Previously, I have gained extensive experience in new business development and have held various roles in business development and sales.
I am really looking forward to seeing all the innovative ideas that will emerge during the competition.
I am a university teacher in Department of Built Environment at Aalto University. My work focuses on teaching. I am responsible for three courses for the Sustainable Communities subject. In addition, I teach and advise in a few other bachelor's and master's courses, supervise bachelor's theses and diploma theses, and participate in the implementation of the Transportation System Work continuing education program.
This competition is an excellent opportunity for everyone involved to utilize and refine their skills, bring their own vision to multidisciplinary cooperation and expand it together with others when developing new kinds of solutions.
Noora Eklöf works as a lecturer in the traffic engineering education program at Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK). The home of HAMK's traffic engineering is located in Riihimäki, nestled between Helsinki and Tampere. Our teaching is strongly oriented towards working life, with companies, the public, and the third sector playing an active role in designing and implementing the content of our education. Noora's teaching content includes, amongst others, route planning, environmental impacts of traffic and their mitigation, as well as project management.
"I have followed the 72-hour traffic challenge and the winning entries with great interest in previous years. To my delight, this year I will join the jury and observe the competition in person. I hope the upcoming works reflect their creators' hands-on approach, and they find creative ways to view traffic and mobility as part of the urban environment, contributing to the well-being of people and communities. The competition is undoubtedly a fantastic experience for the students, and I encourage them to participate with an open mind!"
I’m teaching and researching the fields of transport systems and futures studies, as well as in various positions in the university community at Tampere University. In addition to teaching on different course, I supervise theses and work as a teacher tutor. My own research interests include road safety, freight transport systems and the futures of transport systems. I am active in various networks and expert working groups, such as the Nordic Road Association, the expert group of the Finnish Crash Data Institute and the Transport System Working Group of Tampere City Region.
I hope that this competition will bring together different actors and students of versatile fields with different interests and aspiration to learn new things through intensive 72 hours of co-creation and development. I hope that participation will create a positive learning experience for everyone – both students and other actors involved.
Hello, I am the project manager for the 72-hour traffic challenge and a representative of Ramboll on the jury.
It has been a pleasure to organize the 72-hour traffic challenge for several years and to see the incredible development of both the students and the competition entries in a short period of time. It is also wonderful to be able to welcome many of those who participated in the challenge as colleagues here at Ramboll.
I am particularly looking forward to this year's 10th anniversary challenge. We have a larger organizing team than ever before, and everything is doubly bigger this year. The competition task delves into the development of Finland's largest urban areas, and students are offered a challenging and thrilling multi-layered problem to solve. It's sure to be an unforgettable 72 hours.
Below you will find the schedule of the 72h Transport Challenge. Please note that your group may also want to work on the competition work in the evenings on 22-24 Oct.
From 14:30 to 22:00, workspaces are reserved for teams at Ramboll's offices
Espoo: Ramboll's office, Itsehallintokuja 3
Tampere: Ramboll's office, Kansikatu 5 B
From 8:00 to 22:00, workspaces are reserved for teams at Ramboll's offices
Espoo: Ramboll's office, Itsehallintokuja 3
Tampere: Ramboll's office, Kansikatu 5 B
From 8:00 to 22:00, workspaces are reserved for teams at Ramboll's offices
Helsinki: The Even Square of the City Hall Lobby, Pohjoisesplanadi 11-13
Tampere: The Busstation Showroom, Hatanpään Valtatie 5-7
Meeting goals 25 p
Innovativeness and vision 20 p
Team work 10 p
Utilization of media 15 p
Feasibility 10 p
Report 10 p
Presentation 10 p
Competition organiser
Competition participants
Competition schedule
Competition entries
Panel of judges and evaluation
Participant's rights and obligations
Organiser's rights and obligations