Sound engineers use data to turn pollution into music

Researchers from the University of Birmingham have managed to turn pollution into music using data from urban and rural areas at different times of the day.

The three-part project called ‘Sounding Out Pollution’ uses pollution statistics from across the UK to create music using a range of different instruments and genres.

The project focuses closely on how air pollution in the West Midlands fluctuates hourly. It also shows how the quality of the air you breathe varies dramatically as you travel from Birmingham’s rural outskirts to the city centre.

Speaking on the groundbreaking project, Dr Catherine Muller, Project Manager for WM-Air, said: “We’re all aware that air pollution is harmful and that it affects all of us – but because it’s invisible, it’s hard to maintain that awareness. Sounding Out Pollution offers people a fresh perspective on pollution – and maybe an incentive to occasionally walk or choose public transport rather than get into a car.”

Prolific composer, performer, guitarist and two-time British Composer Award winner Robert Jarvis played a pivotal role in the project. Jarvis says: “Sound is often a striking way to express data that is normally presented through one of the other senses. Perhaps from years of listening to music, people are pretty proficient at deciphering sonic information.

“As a result, by using audio in this way we can quickly form new understandings. My hope is that Sounding Out Pollution offers a useful way in learning about how our immediate environment is changed by the choices we make.”

Adding to this, Professor William Bloss said: “Hearing how air pollution levels vary can help us to understand how the air we breathe changes with location and with a time of day.

“For example, some air pollutants are closely linked to road traffic – others less so. Sounding Out pollution helps people understand these differences, and so make decisions that may affect their air pollution exposure.”

‘Sounding Out Pollution’ is part of the UOB’s ‘The Air We Breathe’ exhibition. For more information, visit the University of Birmingham’s website.