The Soundscape Meter Project
About the Soundscape Meters
Although many critical conservation initiatives currently exist that focus on issues such as carbon emissions, outdated infrastructure, water quality, and sustainable food industries, sound is not often considered as a sense that could provide insight into the quality of an ecosystem’s health. Additionally, sound pollution is not explicitly addressed in existing campus sustainability goals at the University of Michigan, where this Soundscape Meters project is piloted. The Soundscape Meters address our sonic impact by enhancing awareness of the region’s acoustic ecology and connecting this work to the ongoing commitment to catalyzing transformative change across the university and beyond.
This is a live webpage that is frequently updated with real-time data on the decibel levels of each meter. Check back regularly to see the latest trends in the local soundscapes!
The Soundscape Meters Project is generously funded by the University of Michigan Planet Blue Student Innovation Fund and the Student Sustainability Coalition. Our core partner is Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. Project design and direction by Alexis C. Lamb. Meter engineering and software development by Maev Dunlap. Design and website development by Alfredo Cabrera. Ecological research by the University of Michigan Sustainability Cultural Organizers, led by Clara Gamalski, with special support from Naomi Wolfe.
Soundscape
Meter No. 1
What other sounds might you hear around these Soundscape Meters?
Who creates those sounds?
The decibel level of a space only tells us part of the story. In order to deepen our understanding of the soundscape, we must also learn about the ecology of that given location. Who else coexists in these spaces with us? What birds, bugs, animals, trees, and plants live here? How does the ecology of this environment change throughout the year?
Below is a sample list of beings that you may also encounter (and potentially hear!) near these Soundscape Meters: