Date of Event

9-29-2021

Description

The Advanced Research Institute for Informatics, Computing and Networking (ADRIC) De La Salle University in cooperation with International Association of La Salle Universities (IALU) held a La Salle Sustainability Lecture Series on Exploring Sustainable Sensor-based Smart City Services

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Audio Signal Processing for Noise Monitoring in Smart Cities

Environmental noise can be defined as the accumulation of noise pollution caused by sounds generated by outdoor human activities, being traffic noise the main source in urban areas. To address the negative effects of environmental noise on public health, the European Environmental Noise Directive requires EU member states to tailor noise maps and define the corresponding action plans every five years for major agglomerations and key infrastructures. Noise maps have been hitherto created from expert-based data collected using certified devices through static and costly measurements. However, this classic approach has recently undergone a change of paradigm thanks to the emergence of the so-called Wireless Acoustic Sensor Networks under the Internet of Things and Edge Computing paradigms, which can be used to measure and manage the noise pollution in Smart Cities in a more dynamic manner. One of the projects that has been developed following this new approach is the LIFE+ DYNAMAP projects, aimed at developing a dynamic noise mapping system able to detect and represent in real time the acoustic impact of road infrastructures, thus, being focused on road traffic noise levels computation and mapping in real-time. This talk will describe the key steps of the audio signal processing algorithm developed to avoid biasing the noise levels computation due to the presence of non-traffic acoustic events, together with the main challenges of their application for computing dynamic traffic noise maps in real-life environments, and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the monitored pilot areas.

Research on Smart Cities in the Philippine Context

The fourth industrial revolution, characteristic of rapid developments in and assimilation of technology, has allowed emerging economies to catch up and become active players in this information age. Because of improved R&D sharing practices and increasing affordable computing technology, we are now living in a global village where information and communications technology developed anywhere in the world can be quickly disseminated and accessed by any group or institution with internet access. However, the challenge is in adapting and modifying advanced technology to work in localized settings. As a case in point, I will be sharing our research efforts and challenges faced in developing vision- based monitoring technologies that are adapted to the Philippine context. Having undertaken our research in a university setting, I would describe our experience in germinating research ideas and refining them through dedicated collaborative work with generations of student researchers, enriching the scope through stakeholder feedback and multi-disciplinary collaborations, and taking them beyond the proofs-of-concept and academic publications via industry collaborations and technology transfer. To keep our research work relevant to the changing times, we have adjusted our approaches and use cases according to both global and local trends. To demonstrate how we’ve adapted our approaches to cater to the current need, I would describe how we used our developed vision-based technologies in managing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, by monitoring the mobility of vehicles and pedestrians in public spaces as captured by traffic surveillance cameras.

Sponsors

Advanced Research Institute for Informatics, Computing and Networking (ADRIC)

Event Type

Lectures and lecturing

Information Source

Help Desk Announcement; September 27, 2021

Keywords

Noise pollution; Sustainability

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