Crowdsourced Sound Level Meter Apps

Anyone can use crowdsourced Sound Level Meter (SLM) apps to help measure and map public noise pollution.

Some free apps only work in certain countries, but I’ve tried to pick science-based ones that work in Canada and/or the USA.

These apps aren’t recommended for submitting measurements of dwelling or private property sound levels. The location is published with submitted data.

People might still use some of these apps to measure levels and quit without submitting data, to keep location private.

Crowdsourced App Benefits:

Measure average sound levels in public locations.
Help crowdsource data for users and scientists.
Data submitted is published on global maps.
The more people who use an app, the better the map. ^•
Use maps to support community noise concerns.

Contents:

Indoor Sound Levels

SoundPrint App

iOS and Android.
Like Yelp, but for noise.
Indoor public spaces, e.g. restaurants, gyms, nightclubs, bars, stores, cinemas.
Find quiet locations at home or while traveling, e.g. easier for speech understanding, comfort, and hearing health preservation.
Minimum number of measurements required for cities to be included in SoundPrint Quiet List.

Get info, download, view map on app, and check city Quiet Lists at https://www.soundprint.co/

Outdoor Sound Levels

HushCity App

iOS and Android.
Identify sound levels in outdoor public spaces including community or city areas, parks, and natural habitats.
Help support action plans to protect and conserve quiet locations.

For more info, please visit http://www.opensourcesoundscapes.org/hush-city/

View Map on app or at https:// map.opensourcesoundscapes.org/view-area/

Noise Score App

USA only.
iOS and Android.
Outdoor public spaces.

Info and view map at http://noiseandthecity.org/noisescore/ ^•

View map at https://communitynoiselab.org/bar-charts/

NoiseCapture App

Android.
Outdoor public spaces and Noise Capture events.
GIS noise modelling can measure location and movement (direction and speed).
Potential to measure and map when moving, e.g. taking public transit.

Info and view community maps at https://noise-planet.org/

Aircraft Noise Pollution Specific

ExPlane App

iOS and Android.
Measure aircraft noise at ground level.
Identify aircraft time, date, location, noise levels, and flight number.
Gives residents, action groups, politicians, and the press the data they need to convince politicians of the seriousness of aircraft noise pollution.

Info, download, and access aviation noise reports for different countries at https://explane.org/

FlightRadar App

iOS and Android.
Measure aircraft noise at ground level.
Identify aircraft time, date, location, and flight number.
Must measure noise levels separately, e.g. free NIOSH sound level meter app at public health settings (e.g. dB LEQ, 3 dB exchange rate).
Report community data to your local airport, local city representative, provincial/state or federal representative, local Quiet Skies organization and federal aviation agencies.

Info, airports by country, and global aircraft flight paths at https://www.flightradar24.com/ 51,-2/6