Sonic Kayaks: Environmental monitoring and experimental music by citizens.

• Main Authors: Amber G F Griffiths, Kirsty M Kemp, Kaffe Matthews, Joanne K Garrett, David J Griffiths
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017-11-01
• Series: PLoS Biology
• Online Access: http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5708627?pdf=render

The Sonic Kayak is a musical instrument used to investigate nature and developed during open hacklab events. The kayaks are rigged with underwater environmental sensors, which allow paddlers to hear real-time water temperature sonifications and underwater sounds, generating live music from the marine world. Sensor data is also logged every second with location, time and date, which allows for fine-scale mapping of water temperatures and underwater noise that was previously unattainable using standard research equipment. The system can be used as a citizen science data collection device, research equipment for professional scientists, or a sound art installation in its own right.