New studies support environmental protection, sustainable spatial planning and document the sound of nature being destroyed, the elements of which are being lost due to human activity. The main goal of the analyses was to understand the variability of soundscapes, their structure and the impact of human-generated noise in different spaces and at different times on ecosystems.
I like to think of soundscapes as another layer of geographical space. From this layer I receive a very interesting signal that reflects the interactions between the components of the studied place
– says Dr Maciej Adamiak.
He adds:
From a technical point of view, sound is an excellent complement to remote sensing images, which are at the centre of my research interests. However, such a combination is complicated and requires the use of interesting mathematical apparatus and writing clever code. I assume that the more complex the task, the greater the challenge and satisfaction from its completion. This is why this topic interests me so much.
In search of the sound of Central Poland
During the research along the Czarna River, the Pilica River and the Cieszanowice Reservoir (Central Poland), special sound recording devices were deployed. Their casing was adapted to fit and resemble the biotope of each target area.
More than 2,200 hours of high-quality audio recordings were collected. They were then analysed using advanced sound processing and spatial analysis techniques. As Dr Adamiak points out, the research combines geomatics, data engineering and innovative data analysis. The analyses were based on a series of field recordings that covered many biomes and phenological seasons.
With the support of spatial analysis techniques, data engineering and machine learning, the spatial scope of soundscape research can be significantly increased. The support of technology allows us to remove the limitations associated with the huge volume of data. The research project is a combination of many hours of geographical field research, a lot of remote sensing tasks and a ton of geoinformatics. When it comes to geoinformation, the project has plenty of it hidden in every element of the research process from data collection to its presentation
– states Dr Adamiak.
The research has shown that natural soundscapes are much more complex than previously thought. Both natural and anthropogenic elements were distinguished here. The greatest variety of sounds was recorded in areas characterised by biotic richness and where human interference was minimal.
At the same time, it was found that areas with greater acoustic diversity support more complex ecosystems. It was also noted that dominant anthropogenic sounds disrupt the "natural sound order", which can negatively affect the communication and behaviour of wildlife. Distant and persistent noise (e.g. from cars) was present and noticeable especially in winter and early spring.
Dr Maciej Adamiak in his analyses indicates that soundscapes play a very important ecological role in maintaining the integrity of the entire ecosystem. The research is a part of the ongoing debate on the protection of biodiversity and the issue of mitigating noise pollution. Dr Adamiak argues that the condition of the soundscape is an exceptionally important indicator of the health of natural habitats.
Currently, there is nothing to prevent processing information about a given geographical space in near real time. It would be interesting to include sound information into crisis information systems, forest management support, or environmental protection. However, I would really like my research to be the first step in developing a methodology for preserving and searching for sound information collected from various corners of our country. An archive of soundscapes would be something
– notes Dr Adamiak.
By visiting the website you can listen to soundscapes, which were recorded during field work, as well as follow the entire research procedure.
The research has been published in a scientific article entitled: "Exploring soundscapes of Central Poland: a quantitative study of middle Pilica River basin within the Radomsko and Opoczno Hills" in Acta Geographica Lodziensia journal.