Field of Application: Ecosystem Health

Applications: Bioacoustic Assessment, Acoustic Enrichment & Restoration

Current status: TRL4 - Partial-scale prototype and modeling

About:

A POP (Point of Presence) is an 8 cm spherical, water-resistant sound transducer for placement in outdoor environments, with integrated omnidirectional microphone and loudspeaker system and on-board audio processing functions and mesh network function. Current prototypes are solar-powered. Future development includes a self-charging power source, a location tracking sensor and an aquatic version.

POPs are designed to capture environmental sound to assess the richness, abundance, evenness, and diversity of species within a given ecosystem, and to optimize soundscape broadcasting. POPs aim to support acoustic restoration in disturbed natural areas, which may help accelerate recolonisation of animals and the microbes and propagules they carry.

POPs can be mesh networked to form mobile multi-channel broadcasting configurations covering extended environmental areas. A central processing unit connecting a network of POPs is designed to monitor and report on the restorative process of the area over an extended duration of time.

Product Specifications:

Model: POP v1.0

System items:

• wireless spherical transducer
• central processing unit (CPU)

System dimensions:

• 8 cm ⌀

System configuration:

• audio I/O: 1/1 channels
• data I/O: 2/1 channels

System calibration:

• system tuning: FQ = 248 Hz
• frequency response: 200 Hz–20 kHz, -3 dB/+1 dB at the reference angle
• frequency range: 100 Hz–96 kHz, -10 dB/-20 dB at the reference angle
• sound pressure level (SPL): 80 dB(1V) at 1m
• directionality (±3dB): 360 degrees spherical around the reference angle

Power:

• power handling: 4W average, 8W peak (IEC 268-5)

Durability:

• all parts 100% recyclable

Patents:

P. Oomen & L. de Klerk, Environmental Sound Loudspeaker, WO2023/287291 A1, 2023.