Welcome to the Saint John Sound Map!

Part of a Larger UNB Psychology Study

Our Purpose:

    This map will contribute to a better understanding of the sound environment of Saint John and how environmental sounds shape people’s experiences of our coastal city! The sound map will create a publicly accessible archive of Saint John’s soundscape, to be used in future research on sound, emotion, stress, and well-being.

How to use the map:

  • 1. Click on the map where you would like to record a sound of our city
  • 2. Click start recording, or upload a sound you have already recorded of this location
  • 3. Leave your name or alias (optional, but a fun way to leave your mark on the map)
  • 4. If you would like to be entered in a draw for an Indigo gift card, you must fill in information for:
    a. Your email b. The date and time you recorded the sound c. A description of your sound

Things to remember:

  • 1. You must be 19+ to participate
  • 2. For each sound you upload and fill out the required information for, you get another entry in the draw
  • 3. Only environmental noises should be uploaded to the map (so don’t record a conversation with your friend!)
  • 4. Any inappropriate sound or information will be deleted from the map
  • 5. The sound and information you add to the map will be visible publicly (except your email, which will stay private)
  • 6. If you change your mind, you can delete your sound after uploading it

Your Security

Encryption: This website uses HTTPS (SSL) encryption. This means any information you send (audio files or location data) is "scrambled" while traveling from your device to our servers, preventing unauthorized interception.

Database Integration: This website is directly integrated with Google Firebase, a secure cloud-computing platform. When you click "Upload to Map," your file is sent directly to a private Firebase Storage bucket.

Access Control: We use Firebase Security Rules (server-side logic). These rules are configured so that only the research team can modify or delete the database.

Patriot Act: Your data will be stored on cloud servers located in the United States and as a result, this information may be subject to the USA PATRIOT Act, which allows US government or law enforcement agencies to access data under specific circumstances.

While the audio is made public on the map, your personal metadata (like your email, if provided for the draw) is stored in a separate, private database (Cloud Firestore) that is accessible only to the Principal Investigator.

This project has been reviewed by the Research Ethics Board at UNB and is on file as REB number 2026-062

If you have any questions regarding the ethical aspects of this project, please contact the REB Office at ethics@unb.ca or (506) 453-5189.

If you would like to participate in more of this study, please contact m.orford@unb.ca

Thank you for helping paint a sonic picture of our city!

Saint John Sound Map

Click map to contribute