Lublin Sound Science – a citizen science project

Project Data:

• Project Name: “Lublin Sound Science – a citizen science project”.
• Project Manager: MSc. Jordan Wilk.
• Discipline: Environmental Engineering, Mining and Energy.
• Affiliation: Department of Energy and Means of Transport.
• The project is entirely financed from funds obtained through the “Lublin Akademicki” Competition organized by the Gmina Lublin.
• Funding amount: 15 000 zł.
• Project implementation date: 01.04.2024 r. – 15.06.2024 r.

Project description:

Every individual perceives sound in a subjective way, which does not change the fact that sound, to a greater or lesser extent, affects each of them. When combined with the urban environment, sound can become a tool stimulating cultural, social, and economic processes. It is important to consider the properties of sound in different spaces – which elements of space generate desired or undesired sound phenomena, and which sounds make us want to be in a particular place. The assessment of the acoustic environment depends not only on the loudness of sounds. The perception of sounds is also influenced by other factors, and as mentioned earlier, everyone perceives sounds subjectively. Therefore, a good solution during research on soundscape and noise pollution is to use social participation – the perception of residents.

The project concerns the study of the city’s soundscape but implements it uniquely, through the paradigm of Citizen Science. The project aims to conduct an open citizen science campaign dedicated to participatory research on the soundscape. In addition to stationary activities, the project also includes online solutions, using a proprietary application for this purpose. The initiative takes the form of cyclical stationary meetings and outdoor workshops in the city space with a leading competition formula. The competition formula is intended to encourage participants to engage in research as actively as possible – the winners will receive attractive prizes. The planned number of active project participants taking part in the competition is 100 people. The application, which is used to present audio recordings representing sounds from specific locations in Lublin, allows for gathering residents’ subjective opinions on the city’s soundscape.

The described initiative is the first Citizen Science campaign in Lublin, intended to bridge the gap between the world of science, residents, and the entire academic community. The research results will enable recognition of the values ​​of Lublin’s soundscape. Analyzed data will allow for the determination of guidelines for the acoustic revitalization of Lublin.