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Dear List Members, As part of my PhD research, I have developed a mobile application for the in-situ assessment of environmental soundscapes. This application enables and encourages public participation in order to shed light on the perception of the sound you encounter in your daily life. The characteristics found in sound can easily be measured but it is the subjective experiences that we are aiming to quantify and places this experimental method at the discretion of you, the participant. The proliferation of mobile devices in recent years had led to an increase in the extent of research being carried out often exploiting the various sensors on the device particularly microphones and GPS capabilities. Think About Sound is a novel tool which shifts the traditional paradigm of environmental soundscape assessment allowing users to view and audition crowd-sourced material via the accompanying interactive online map. Crowdsourcing has enormous potential to create rich and diverse data sets, where both qualitative and quantitative descriptions of environmental surroundings can be gathered in a flexible and non-invasive way. The application allows for the collection and assessment of environmental soundscapes using the provided set of response questions and exploiting the native audio recording application on a GPS-enabled smart phone. This PhD research focuses on gaining a better understanding on the perception of environmental noise/soundscapes and what emotions they evoke as well as the interplay between the listener, the situation, and the noise itself. In other words, in what circumstances does the listener become aware of the soundscape which envelops them? For example, the sound of construction work may not be apparent during a socialising but when working, it may be considered a foreground event evoking a different response. Participatory sensing offers a number of advantages over traditional sensor networks which can entail in deploying a large number of static wireless sensor devices collecting data at a pre-determined location. This can often be costly and the coverage will be limited to the locations of the sensors. With participatory sensing, costs are virtually minimal and the mobility of network carriers allows for greater coverage across much larger areas. Furthermore, the widespread availability of software development tools and means for deployment of software through online stores i.e. iTunes and Google Play can further enhance the experience from the public. By including people in the sensing loop, it is now possible to design applications which can inherently improve the day to day lives of individuals and communities. If you would like to download and contribute, then please go to http://www.thinkaboutsound.co.uk where you can view the online map and find links to download the application. All feedback is most welcome and please pass this information on to any other interested parties. Kind Regards,
Adam Craig BSc (Hons), BA (Hons) Ph.D Research Student | School of Engineering and Built Environment T: +44 (0)141 331 8329 | E:
Adam.Craig@xxxxxxxxx Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, Scotland, United Kingdom Glasgow Caledonian University is a registered Scottish charity, number SC021474 |