How does Zürich sound to you?¶
Citizen Science Zurich Seed Grant project · University of Zurich
HearHere is a citizen-science project mapping how people with diverse hearing profiles, as well as the general population, experience urban soundscapes in Zurich. We're looking for participants to help build the map and inform policies.
Join the study Read about the research
About the project¶
Cities are loud, but not everyone experiences that loudness the same way. HearHere combines objective acoustic measurements with subjective, in-the-moment ratings to understand how sound is experienced differently depending on a person's hearing profile. Participants walk through Zürich, record short audio clips of what they hear, and rate how the sound felt (loud, pleasant, stressful, calming …) at that exact spot.
The result is a citizen-generated, multi-layered interactive map linking acoustic measurements to lived experience, highlighting positive and negative "soundscape hotspots" across the city, and how they differ across hearing profiles.
Where this is heading¶
Beyond the map itself, HearHere aims to turn citizen-collected soundscape data into something cities can act on: identifying candidate "Acoustic Relief Zones" — quiet, restorative spots — and feeding evidence back into Zürich's urban planning and noise-policy discussions.
Project status¶
| Phase | Focus | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Pilot | First data collection round, method validation | ✅ Complete — 20+ participants, 100+ geospatial audio measurements |
| 2 · Digital infrastructure & outreach | This website, participant recruitment, communications | 🟡 In progress (late summer 2026) |
| 3 · Scaled data collection | Broader recruitment, second Delphi round | ⏳ Planned (fall 2026) |
| 4 · Synthesis & policy | Analysis, dissemination, policy engagement | ⏳ Planned (spring 2027) |
A first stakeholder Delphi workshop took place in April 2026, bringing together all interested citizens and stakeholders, city officials, and researchers to shape the project's direction.
Funded by¶
Citizen Science Zurich.
See Team & Funding for the full list of partners and funders.
Get involved¶
Scan the code or visit the participate page to find out if HearHere is looking for people like you.
Contact¶
Questions about the study? Get in touch at hearhere@isle.uzh.ch.