Soundscape Analysis and Report Writing

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The 2012 Moving Forward for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) provides a framework for the National Park Service and Federal Aviation Administration to work together to develop incentives for Grand Canyon air tour operators using quiet technology aircraft without increasing noise at the park. Data gathered and analyzed under this project will aid planning for overflights management, as well as improve wilderness character in Grand Canyon National Park which will benefit the public both within and beyond the borders of the park. The project requires CSU Listening Lab staff and six undergrad students to perform Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) for the analyses conducted by Grand Canyon interns on data collected from multiple sites throughout the park, providing the students with real world experience in conducting QA/QC on soundscape datasets and related work. In the first year of this agreement, it is anticipated that 4 sites with 2 deployments each will occur. CSU staff will write analytical reports based their review of Grand Canyonâ¿¿s analysis and data collection. Annual soundscape data collection, analysis and reporting would provide baseline information used to analyze the effects of human caused noise such as helicopter and fixed- wing flights, and motorcycles and vehicular traffic on the natural soundscapes. The information from the analysis and reports will be used in recreation planning, including planning for the parkâ¿¿s developed areas, backcountry, and proposed wilderness. Management decisions derived from these reports may affect many of the 6 million visitors who come to Grand Canyon annually including river users, hikers, campers and visitors to the rim. The information would also be made available to the public and used in interpretive information.

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