What Happened?
Smart data researchers are using city acoustics to increase efficiency across a variety of sectors. The audio smart data sensors collect city information to better inform decision makers on how to improve operations.
Goal
The Ear-IT project was first launched as part of the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research. Recently the initiative has been monitoring and collecting audio data in Santander, Spain and running another similar operation known as Hobnet in Genevea. These experiments aim to improve the lives of residents by identifying important needs and disparities in the community with acoustic sensing in smart cities and smart building. The researchers are leveraging intelligent acoustics to “support high social value applications fostering innovation and sustainability.”
In Santander, the Ear-IT project has installed 12,000 recording devices throughout the city into existing infrastructure such as lamp posts. The sensors are able to pick up on specific sounds that then trigger a series of actions to improve efficiency.
For example, when a sensor hears a siren in a busy intersection, other sensors are triggered to track the emergency vehicle and adjust traffic lights to create a safe path of travel. In addition, collecting acoustic data from cars can help researchers gauge traffic density which can be used for transit planning to reduce congestion, as well as understand main sources of air pollution.
Furthermore, acoustic sensors were placed inside buildings and homes to analyze a room and identify how many people were inside it. When the room is considered empty, other sensors can be triggered to turn off lights or close curtains to save energy and increase safety. If an elderly person were to fall in a room, a sensor could pick up on the incident and alert emergency responders.
Three-Step Process
The Ear-IT projects use a three-step acoustic detection process to ensure the right data is being collected and analyzed:
- Pre-processing state: audio signal composed of background and target sounds is picked up by microphones
- Background sounds are separated from target sounds to increase accuracy and efficiency
- Target sounds are extracted from the recording and defined by predetermined characteristics such as time, energy and modulation, before being categorized into different classes of acoustic events
From there, the data collected can be used to trigger different types of notifications through other smart technologies. This includes sending out mobile alerts, altering traffic signals or turning on/off utilities.
Looking at the big picture, Ear-IT projects are also sound mapping communities that illustrate a more clear view of the overall condition of the environment based on acoustics. Sound mapping enables researchers to identify key trends and adjust resources to solve a problem or improve an initiative’s outcome.
Demand for Smart
According to Navigant Research, cumulative investment in smart city technologies such as the Ear-IT project is expected to exceed $174 billion between 2014 and 2023. Smart city technologies are projected to improve city operations and quality of life through increasing demand for:
- Smart grids
- Advanced water monitoring systems
- Transportation management systems
- Energy efficient buildings
The Asia Pacific region will likely be the largest market for smart technologies by 2015 and grow $11.3 billion annually through 2023.
Why Be Smart?
Gov1 has reported on the smart city trend that uses data analysis to spur efficient decision making.