Science - February 28, 2011
Alterra scores with mega-barn app
Alterra wins the Dutch broadcasting company VPRO's App in a Day competition. The Wageningen team's app looks for a suitable location for a mega-barn.
The five-member Alterra team wanted to know what was still possible in which locations in the Netherlands. They took the case of having to find a location for a mega-barn. In the app, the user can see what would be the best places to build a mega-barn in the Netherlands based on geographical data and a Public Acceptance Factor that the team thought up themselves. The Wageningen app eventually won first prize, with a highly favourable jury report: 'They were thoroughly prepared and were able to produce an application that worked pretty well. Could you use this idea for nuclear power plants too?'
Team member Inge la Riviere: 'The app is not yet robust - that would be impossible after only one day's work. But this approach could be used to let the general public have a say in spatial plans.'