Space Solutions for Soil: DUET Team Earns Global Nomination in NASA Space Apps Challenge 2025

A team of students from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET), Gazipur, has secured a global nomination in the NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2025. The team, named “BlueDot,” developed an application titled "RootSource" to provide space-based, farmer-friendly agricultural support. The team members include RafiuZZaman Rafi, S. M. Mohaymenul Islam, Mohtamim Haque, Siam Sheikh, Nishan Das, and Abhijit Mondal. The project was mentored by Imran Fahad, founder of Inspiring Bangladesh.

In the national round, BlueDot utilized satellite data from NASA to build an accessible decision-support platform for farmers. Farmers around the world frequently suffer losses due to unpredictable weather patterns, crop diseases, debt burdens, and natural disasters. Although NASA satellites already monitor soil moisture, rainfall, vegetation health, and disaster conditions in real time, such data are typically inaccessible to farmers in a usable form. RootSource bridges this gap by translating complex scientific information into simplified, practical insights for farmers.

The system integrates data from multiple satellites, including NASA’s SMAP, GPM, MODIS, LANDSAT, GRACE, and POWER. These datasets are processed through an artificial intelligence–based advisory framework that helps farmers make timely, informed decisions rooted in scientific analysis rather than guesswork.

The DUET project earned this recognition from among more than 11,500 submissions spanning over 160 countries and regions. The NASA Space Apps Challenge in Bangladesh was conducted with the cooperation of the American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB), Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), and BASIS Students’ Forum. From the Dhaka regional round, BlueDot was selected as one of seven teams to advance to the global stage.

Bangladesh has a strong track record of achievements in the NASA Space Apps Challenge. In 2018, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology’s "Team Olik" won the global title in the “Best Use of Data” category for its Lunar VR Project. In 2021, “Team Mohakash,” representing Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and Technology (BAUET), became world champions in the “Best Mission Concept” category. In 2022, “Team Diamonds” won in the “Most Inspirational” category, and in 2023, “Team Voyagers” secured the global title in the “Best Storytelling” category.

DBTech/DSS/IK/OR