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The project

Where it all started

Silenzi in Scotland is a UCL Global Engagement-funded project, supported by UKAN+ (UK Acoustic network), bringing the Silenzi in Quota initiative from the Dolomites (IT) to the Scottish Highlands. It builds upon a recent “citizen science investigation” of soundscapes led by the UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering researchers, University of Aberdeen, and University of Sheffield.

What does your national park sound like?

Program


Soundwalk


We met 10AM on Sunday the 28th May at 6 Glenshee Road. From there we arranged transport to the Linn of Dee Car Park, the starting point of our soundwalk.


From then on, the soundwalk began. Annie from "Wild Braemar" accompanied us through a beautiful route in the Ben Macdui Valley. The soundwalk lasted for about 5 hours.

During the walk we took listening breaks and explored curiosities related to sounds and listening to the landscape. The research team and also some participants made recordings and measurements, while the others provided their subjective experience of the environment via a questionnaire.


Workshop


The soundwalk was followed by the workshop "Assessing and Preserving Soundscapes in National Parks", open to all soundwalk attendees at the Braemar Village Hall.


Workshop: “Assessing and preserving Soundscapes in National Parks”

 

  • Tin Oberman, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, University College London (UK)

Soundscape ISO 12913 series in the context of National Parks

  • Simone Torresin, Department University of Trento and the Silenzi in Quota Team (Italy)

Silenzi in Quota: “measuring” soundscapes in the Dolomites 

  • Jan Dick, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, CEH, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Edinburgh (UK)

Soundscape as cultural ecosystem service 

Our Project

Opportunity for participants to develop a critical listening ear; experience evaluating the balance or imbalance of the sound landscape with the visual one; take part in a soundwalk as per the international standard 'ISO 12913 Acoustics: Soundscape' and discuss its applicability in natural areas; develop skills for designing/delivering soundwalks for your own organization/areas of natural beauty that you are associated with, with the long-term view of developing management plans to achieve nature’s recovery and sustainability, minimizing or erasing unintended human impact through sound.

The Route


Distance: ~12km Total

Duration: 4 Hours

Ascent: 92m (starting at 377m up to 433m)


Silenzi in Scotland

The Soundwalk

Participants in the initiative were accompanied by researchers and experts from "Silenzi in Quota" and the guide Annie from "Wild Braemar" through a stunning route near the village of Braemar, on the Ben Macdui Valley. The soundwalk took place on the 28th of May 2023, 11:00 A.M.

Participants were offered a gadget from our sponsor MONTURA.

Next Soundwalks

Our goal


We want to explore and capture the beauty of the Scottish Highlands while keeping a constant eye on the surrounding sound. The scientific accuracy of the surveys will be ensured by our researchers Dr. Tin Oberman (UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering) and Dr. Simone Torresin (University of Trento, Italy - Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, formerly Eurac Research) according to the standardized methods in the analysis already conducted in urban environments. 


Our goal


We want to explore and capture the beauty of the Scottish Highlands while keeping a constant eye on the surrounding sound. The scientific accuracy of the surveys will be ensured by our researchers Dr. Tin Oberman (UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering) and Dr. Simone Torresin (University of Trento, Italy - Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, formerly Eurac Research) according to the standardized methods in the analysis already conducted in urban environments.