log#2_ Exploration & field research: environmental data

After some previous research exploration, I was interested in how those abstract environmental data, such as noise level, humidity, could be used for drawing a new soundscape by sonification that could also be presented in maxmsp. I chose Rotterdam Zoo for field research and observation, it is both in the city where I live and offers an audible and perceptible scene.

#A Guide to Acoustic Research in Captive Animal Environments

This report shows environments are very rarely homogenous, and the nature of sound changes spatially with varying substrates, humidity, air pressure, etc. [1]

Although the purpose and approach of this research differs to a large extent from my project, some of the arguments and research methods have inspired me in different ways. This guide inspired me to look at the environmental variables that cause changes in sound and also influenced my choice of environmental factors later on; and prompted me to consider more about the measurement process, such as classification of sound in the captive environment (zoo), choice of equipment, etc.

#Environmental data collecting

Weather data was scraped from a platform which provides free access to historical data. The table below shows the temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed records of Rotterdam in October, 2022. I used part of the data as a parameter range in maxmsp modulation.

Except data scraping, I also did some field noise measurement and recordings at Rotterdam Zoo. In the process, I decided to use an arduino sensor to receive noise data in real time,

representing the unseen vibrations by capturing the dynamics.

data source: Weather Underground

1.Time

From November to December, measurements were taken on weekdays and weekends, and at different times of the day, to observe crowd size and noise conditions.

2.Noise measurement

The average noise level is lower than what I thought before.

-Equipment: Decibel X, a professional noise measurement app

-Data: average values for the time period and record the highest peak values

-Variables: mark the environmental variables during the process

3.Field recording

Field recordings were made for creating a library of sound material. Especially different bird’s sounds, including flamingo, crow, cockatoo, sparrow, scarlet ibis, pelican, etc.

-Equipment: TASCAM Portacapture X8

[1] Clark, F. E. (2022, June 16). From Soundwave to Soundscape: A Guide to Acoustic Research in Captive Animal Environments. Frontiers.