MONICA, a European project focused on the Internet of Things for the acoustic quality and safety of outdoor large scale events

Major outdoor cultural events are often accompanied by difficulties related to acoustic quality and safety. The European MONICA project (29 partners, H2020 funded) proposes to develop an integrated solution using connected objects to facilitate their implementation and quality for spectators, residents and organisers. This article proposes a presentation of the problem and the first results concerning the diagnosis of the noise exposure of neighbourhood and participants during two major events (Fête des Lumières and Nuits Sonores, Lyon, France; KAPPA FuturFestival and Movida, Torino, Italy). The diagnosis incorporates the physical assessment of noise and the perceived assessment of the soundscape by residents. It will also present the connected solutions envisaged for both acoustic control and participatory citizen feedback (perceived hindrances, perceived quality).The acoustic control system consists of components that can estimate and mitigate noise annoyance for neighbours during outdoor musical events. In this regard, a set of sound level meters using an IoT platform will be distributed in the venue and in the neighbourhood. The noise mitigation will be performed through an Adaptive Sound Field Control System, consisting of loudspeaker arrays with an adaptive model that adjusts for changes in climate and audience configuration.