Arduino Days Colombia 2025: Empowering Social Impact with Open Hardware and AI

The core of the event was a Hackathon focused on solving local challenges using Arduino, Seeed Studio sensors, and open tech, inspired by ten real problems in Colombia—each tied to one of the SDGs.

The solutions were not only creative but impactful:

• DeterFuga: A smart water leak detection system designed for rural areas, using a combination of sensors, real-time alerts, and intelligent processing. This project exemplified how even newcomers to hardware could contribute to tackling critical issues like water loss in rural systems. Check out the project: DeterFuga on Hackster.io

• Plataforma Colaborativa de Datos Ambientales: A collaborative platform that collects environmental data (such as air quality, noise, and UV levels), processes it with machine learning, and displays it on an accessible dashboard. This solution highlighted how IoT and machine learning can be used to monitor and visualize environmental conditions in real time. Learn more: Environmental Data Platform on Hackster.io

Participants formed multidisciplinary teams and developed working prototypes in just 20 hours. Each challenge included real data sources, making the problems tangible and the solutions impactful:

Challenge 1 – Smart Agriculture (SDG 2)

Problem: Over 36% of rural communities face poverty and joblessness. Inefficient irrigation impacts food security.
Data: 48% of Colombia’s rural population faces energy and food insecurity. (El País, 2025)

Challenge 2 – Air Quality Monitoring (SDG 3)

Problem: Cities like Bogotá and Medellín face critical air pollution.
Data: PM10 levels exceed 50 µg/m³. (IDEAM/JICA)

Challenge 3 – STEM Education Kit (SDG 4)

Problem: 27% of rural children don’t complete secondary education.
Data: Major educational gaps exist in rural areas. (Javeriana University, 2022)

Challenge 4 – Water Leak Detection (SDG 6)

Problem: Some regions lose 30% of water due to leaks.
Data: Up to 0.5 m³/hr is lost in aging systems. (DNP, 2023)

Challenge 5 – Solar Monitoring Systems (SDG 7)

Problem: Ineffective monitoring reduces the impact of solar energy.
Data: Only 12% of electricity comes from non-conventional renewables. (MinEnergy, 2023)

Challenge 6 – IoT Waste Management (SDG 11)

Problem: Urban recycling rates are below 20%.
Data: Bogotá only recycles 18% of its waste. (District Environment Secretariat)

Challenge 7 – Responsible Consumption Monitoring (SDG 12)

Problem: High levels of energy and water waste.
Data: 30% of urban water is wasted. (DANE, 2023)

Challenge 8 – Low-Cost Weather Station (SDG 13)

Problem: Rural areas lack local climate data.
Data: Fewer than 10% of communities have proper weather stations. (IDEAM)

Challenge 9 – Early Warning System (SDG 13)

Problem: Natural disasters cause major losses.
Data: Colombia loses $3.6 billion annually to climate events. (DNP, 2023)

Challenge 10 – Environmental Data Platform (SDG 17)

Problem: Poor data integration limits environmental response.
Data: Over 40% of cities lack integrated systems. (DNP, 2022)