Project by Eva Tanya Banerjee and Xinyue Hu

Abstract Air pollution is a significant global health threat. This project explores the potential of sonification, converting data into sound, to raise awareness about air quality. We create soundscapes using sounds from nature, industry, and humans, with variations in amplitude and rate corresponding to Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. An online survey evaluated participants' ability to associate soundscapes with air quality. The results indicated successful differentiation between good and poor air quality but limited distinction between moderate and unhealthy levels. The project demonstrates the usefulness of sonification for environmental communication while highlighting areas for improvement, such as clearer sound design and audience engagement strategies. We propose future research directions, including interactive installations and sonification for diverse pollution types.