Edge-Cloud Architecture for Sensor-Based Indoor Acoustic Monitoring in Buildings

Noise pollution is a major problem for both human health and the environment. Authorities monitor environmental noise (e.g., noise inside buildings) to gain real-time, up-to-date situation awareness of noise levels through continuous measurement of acoustic parameters, identify potential risks, and improve their management. Emerging technologies assist with this purpose. The edge computing paradigm distributes computation at the network edge and, in combination with cloud computing, enhances the ability to process data from acoustic sensor networks. On these bases, the research enabled the definition of a service architecture for monitoring and assessing noise levels inside buildings that integrates IoT sensors and edge/cloud computing. Here, we outline this architecture, including its future outlook.