Participatory noise mapping works! An evaluation of participatory sensing as an alternative to standard techniques for environmental monitoring

Abstract

Participatory sensing enables a person-centric collection of environmental measurement data with, in principle, high granularity in space and time. In this paper we provide concrete proof that participatory techniques, when implemented properly, can achieve the same accuracy as standard noise mapping techniques. We do this through a citizen science experiment for noise mapping a 1 km2 area in the city of Antwerp using NoiseTube, a participatory sensing framework for monitoring ambient noise. At the technical side, we set up measuring equipment in accordance with official norms insofar as they apply, also carrying out extensive calibration experiments. At the citizen side, we collaborated with up to 13 volunteers from a citizen-led Antwerp-based action group. From the data gathered we construct purely measurement-based noise maps of the target area with error margins comparable to those of official simulation-based noise maps. We also report on a survey evaluating NoiseTube, as a system for participative grassroots noise mapping campaigns, from the user perspective.