Soundscaping
For my
edge project, I was able to help out Professor Briton Mace, by helping out on
his soundscaping trips. I first heard about soundscaping when I was in his
Environmental Psychology class and he showed us some of the research he has gathered
over the years. He also let us use some of the sound equipment and go around
campus to see what sounds we could hear with the equipment that we normally don’t
pick up on. I have been able to help out with a few soundscaping trips out in
the Escalante grand staircase National monument. While we were out, we were
able to set up new acoustic monitoring sites, and take down old ones to bring
back to the sound lab and go over the last two months of data.
I found an article from SUU.edu, and it does a great job of explaining
what we do, and why.
http://www.suu.edu/news/2015/02/professor-researches-soundscapes-in-national-park.html
“Mace is
researching the soundscapes of Utah’s national parks, and has found a way to
utilize the sounds to increase visitor safety and help park administration know
where improvements are needed.”
”Though recent
research has been conducted by National Park Service to learn the
sound levels heard from coast to coast on the average summers day, the research
did not get into the details that can truly help park administration in Utah.
This is where Mace and his crew will come in. The soundscape
research being conducted by the Southern Utah University team will give
specific information on what trails, observational points and other popular
areas are in need of improvements, information that the Park Service is in need
of, according to Mace.
Mace has already conducted research at Zion, Grand Canyon and
Bryce Canyon national parks, now he and his students have been asked by Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument administration to help with site
management and visitor approval ratings through soundscape analysis.”
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