Introducing Silencio – A Community-powered Network for Hyper-local Noise Pollution Data

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By Hasan Hassoun, Theo Messerer, Thomas Messerer

According to the World Economic Forum, 68% of the global population will live in cities by 2050 [1]. This increase in dwellings and movement will generate safety, health, access, and mobility challenges for those cities. The flow-on effect of this will be noise and the impact of that on the current but also future communities. The European Environmental Agency has noted that “noise ranks together with air pollution as the environmental exposures most harmful to public health” [2]. The key to driving effective change in environmental noise pollution is to clearly define the problem and then identify appropriate control strategies and actions.

The European Union considers Environmental Noise as one of the headline targets of the zero pollution action plan, targeting a reduction of 30% by 2030 in comparison to 2017 [3]. The European Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC) requires EU countries to prepare and publish noise maps and management action plans. The issue with this lies in the accumulation of data. Most countries develop Noise maps based on samples of a fraction of the city scaled to the size of the entire region. This data is not necessarily an accurate depiction of the Noise Pollution in a city and can lead to inefficient mitigation strategies that target areas potentially insignificant. If only there were a better way…

Silencio

Silencio is a community-driven platform focused on addressing the growing problem of noise pollution in urban areas. It has developed a free application that aims to become the largest citizen science project in the world in order to combat noise pollution. The project encourages users to contribute hyper-local noise pollution data by offering rewards in the form of noise coins, which can be used to access various goods, services, and environmental initiatives within the platform.

Leveraging the power of blockchain technology, Silencio enables users worldwide to join a global community contributing to a real-time noise map. This is achieved by transforming their smartphones into anonymous noise monitoring devices, recording decibel measurements to paint a detailed, global picture of noise levels. By using Silencio, users have the opportunity to create a passive income while also improving the quality of life for themselves and others. Utilizing an innovative tokenomics model, Silencio aims to create a sustainable and engaging ecosystem, where users actively participate in combating noise pollution while benefiting from their contributions. By gathering accurate, real-time data, Silencio seeks to enable data-driven decision-making for governments, city planners, and industries, leading to more effective noise control strategies and improved quality of life for urban residents.

Key aspects of the Silencio project include a user-friendly app, partnerships with businesses and organizations, and a long-term vision for global expansion and comprehensive noise pollution management. By successfully addressing these elements, Silencio aspires to become a leading force in the fight against noise pollution and promote healthier, more sustainable urban living.

Figure 1: Before we can solve a problem we must first understand it. The Silencio App will enable the collection of hyper-local noise measurement data

Where are we now?

Launched in February 2023, Silencio has swiftly emerged as a pioneering force in addressing noise pollution, gaining over 10,000 users and amassing over 150 million data points in just a few short months. Exemplifying the capabilities of Web3, Silencio utilizes blockchain technology to guarantee transparency, security, and equitable value distribution. The result is a system that users can trust while reaping rewards from their contributions. With over 150 million data points, Silencio’s platform is ripe with potential use cases. City planners can use the data to design quieter urban spaces, researchers can examine the impacts of noise pollution more effectively, and real estate platforms can provide noise level information as a key part of their offerings.

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Silencio is a testament to how technology can be harnessed innovatively to tackle pressing global issues. By transforming smartphones into a worldwide network of noise monitors, it’s voicing the need for quieter cities, healthier lives, and a more harmonious world. With sufficient data, Silencio hopes to make a significant impact in the fight against noise pollution and improve the quality of life of millions of people across the globe.

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