SDG3
NCKU’s Geo-AI Team Wins Highway Bureau Award, Partners for AI Health Navigation
The inaugural Data Innovation Application Competition, organized by the Highway Bureau, MOTC, held its final round and award ceremony on April 26. The team “Geo-AI Clean Air Route”, led by Professor Chih-Da Wu from the Department of Geomatics at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), in collaboration with the Department of Atmospheric Environment of the Ministry of Environment, stood out among 125 teams and 467 participants nationwide, winning the First Prize - Excellence Award in the Social Group category along with a cash prize of NT$150,000.
The competition, themed “New Highway Thinking, Data Innovation for the Future,” encouraged participating teams to apply open data provided by the Highway Bureau and integrate it with policies related to smart transportation, regulatory services, and green highways to propose creative and practical solutions. The NCKU team developed the “Geo-AI Clean Air Route” system utilizing Geographic Artificial Intelligence (Geo-AI) technology. This system integrates PM2.5 air pollutant data to provide recommended routes with the lowest air pollution exposure for activities such as commuting, exercising, and for sensitive and vulnerable groups. With a user-friendly web app interface, the system allows real-time comparison of different routes based on distance and PM2.5 exposure levels, helping users select healthier travel routes and improving overall road usage experiences and public health outcomes.
In addition to their outstanding performance in the Highway Bureau competition, under the guidance of Professor Wu, the team also participated in the first Best AI Awards organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2025. With their project titled “Smart Navigation for a Healthier Path: Development of an Innovative Geo-AI Health Navigation System,” they stood out among 1,253 teams from 36 countries worldwide, successfully advancing to the finals and winning Honorable Mention in the AI Application - Student Category, along with a NT$50,000 cash prize.
Professor Wu’s team has published 26 international journal papers on air pollution simulation technologies and continues to improve their database and algorithm accuracy. Looking ahead, the team plans to actively collaborate with sports platforms, health applications, as well as government agencies including the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Transportation and Communications, to promote the adoption of smart health navigation services, realizing a human-centered vision of smart transportation. The team will continue to focus on the integration of AI and geographic information systems (GIS) to advance smart and healthy living solutions, contributing to the development of smart transportation and healthy cities in Taiwan.
The competition, themed “New Highway Thinking, Data Innovation for the Future,” encouraged participating teams to apply open data provided by the Highway Bureau and integrate it with policies related to smart transportation, regulatory services, and green highways to propose creative and practical solutions. The NCKU team developed the “Geo-AI Clean Air Route” system utilizing Geographic Artificial Intelligence (Geo-AI) technology. This system integrates PM2.5 air pollutant data to provide recommended routes with the lowest air pollution exposure for activities such as commuting, exercising, and for sensitive and vulnerable groups. With a user-friendly web app interface, the system allows real-time comparison of different routes based on distance and PM2.5 exposure levels, helping users select healthier travel routes and improving overall road usage experiences and public health outcomes.
In addition to their outstanding performance in the Highway Bureau competition, under the guidance of Professor Wu, the team also participated in the first Best AI Awards organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2025. With their project titled “Smart Navigation for a Healthier Path: Development of an Innovative Geo-AI Health Navigation System,” they stood out among 1,253 teams from 36 countries worldwide, successfully advancing to the finals and winning Honorable Mention in the AI Application - Student Category, along with a NT$50,000 cash prize.
Professor Wu’s team has published 26 international journal papers on air pollution simulation technologies and continues to improve their database and algorithm accuracy. Looking ahead, the team plans to actively collaborate with sports platforms, health applications, as well as government agencies including the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Transportation and Communications, to promote the adoption of smart health navigation services, realizing a human-centered vision of smart transportation. The team will continue to focus on the integration of AI and geographic information systems (GIS) to advance smart and healthy living solutions, contributing to the development of smart transportation and healthy cities in Taiwan.
NCKU’s “Geo-AI Clean Air Route” Team Wins First Prize in the Social Category of the Highway Bureau, MOTC’s Inaugural Data Innovation Application Competition
Students mentored by Professor Chih-Da Wu received an Honorable Mention in the AI Application category of the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Best AI Awards
SDG3NCKU Professor Chung’s team has developed “NCKU Digital Pathology Imaging Platform” for practical application
View more
SDG3Continuing the fight against neurodegenerative disorder Nan-Shan Chang and his students were invited to ASBMB again
View more
