Downtown Brooklyn Gets Sensors To Measure Noise Pollution

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN, NY — Crews installed a series of audio sensors around the Fulton Mall last month to monitor noise pollution in the area. A local non-profit hopes the data could help the city come up with ways to cut down the neighborhood's clamor.

The sensors — attached to street lights around the mall — are part of a bigger "Living Lab" initiative by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP) to team up with startups and use technology to improve quality-of-life issues in city neighborhoods, the group announced.

"Brooklyn has long been home to innovative startups, so it only makes sense that we apply this local talent right here," said DBP president Regina Myrer in a statement.

"Smart city technology is making communities around the world safer, cleaner and more beautiful places to live, and the Living Lab program brings new, data-driven solutions that will improve the quality of life here in Downtown Brooklyn, and potentially to other cities."

"Living Lab" gave three urban planning startups the ability to use Downtown Brooklyn as testing grounds for their different technologies, with the companies sharing their data with the DBP so they could use it for future planning, the non-profit announced.

As part of the program, the DBP partnered with the Sounds of New York City (SONYC) to install the audio sensors at several spots along the Fulton Mall in April. Noise pollution is one of the biggest quality of life issues in neighborhoods, and the goal of the sensors is to provide data to back up the complaints, the DBP said.

The sensors would be able to show what contributes most to the neighborhood's noise pollution and analyze patterns for when the most noise is generated.

The "Living Lab" also includes the startup Qucit which plans to roll out in the neighborhood early this month. Qucit uses artificial intelligence to sort through different data — including weather, street maps and sensors — to create reports aimed at helping cities understand public spaces, the DBP said.

The DBP previously partnered with Citiesense last year as part of the "Living Lab" initiative to help create a platform to store real estate information, street conditions, construction permits and more to help keep track of projects and repairs.

Aside from the three startups, the DBP also partnered with the Brooklyn Navy Yard co-working space New Lab to give companies inside the chance to test their products in the neighborhood, which they plan to announce more pilots from later this summer.

Image: Downtown Brooklyn Partnership