New York City is the first city in the US to use the Sorama CAM iV64 acoustic camera to reduce noise pollution. This advanced camera detects, locates, and visualizes noise sources with high precision. Using an array of microphones, the device visually represents noise sources, such as construction equipment, loud bars, or noisy HVAC units.
Sorama, based in Eindhoven’s Strijp-T district, is a former Gerard & Anton Award winner.
Addressing a noisy problem
New York City is known as “the city that never sleeps,” and noise is a big part. Each year, the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) receives about 50,000 noise complaints. Introducing the Sorama CAM iV64 acoustic camera is a step toward addressing this problem.
How the Sorama CAM iV64 works
The Sorama CAM iV64 uses a series of microphones to detect noise levels and identify their sources. The microphones capture sound waves from different directions, allowing the camera to represent the sound source visually. The data is then processed to determine the exact location of the sound through triangulation. This helps accurately identify noise sources such as construction equipment, noisy vehicles, or HVAC systems.
Future implications
These technologies may have broader societal benefits in addition to reducing noise pollution. Consistent exposure to loud sounds can lead to health problems such as heart disease, hearing loss, high blood pressure, stress, depression, and anxiety. By reducing noise, cities can contribute to a healthier and stress-free environment for their residents.
Eindhoven
New York is not Sorama’s only target city. The company’s home base, the city of Eindhoven, is also enjoying Sorama’s cameras. In its residential areas, you see more and more outdoor units for air conditioners and heat pumps. Not all of these units are equally quiet, and over time, wear and tear can cause vibration, resulting in unwanted noise. It is becoming increasingly difficult to determine which device is causing the unwanted noise and where it is coming from. With the CAM iV64, detecting whistling or buzzing sounds is much easier. It helps shorten the response time for complaints and to identify a culprit.
Sorama is approaching shop owners as well. The city is pleased with this option: “Regarding local businesses, we prefer a preventative approach instead of proceeding with enforcement. With the CAM iV64, we can easily make sound leaks visible. This is very valuable for the business owner and also for us. It helps us start a dialogue with the business owner and build a good relationship. If the noise pollution continues, we know where to find each other much faster, and the contact is more positive than if we only speak to each other during enforcement.”
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