Sonic Kayaks: Environmental monitoring and experimental music by citizens

The sonic kayak is a musical instrument used to investigate nature and developed during open hacklab events. the kayaks are rigged with underwater environmental sensors,which allow paddlers to hear real-time water temperature sonifications and underwater sounds,generating live music from the marine world. sensor data is also logged every second with location,time and date,which allows for fine-scale mapping of water temperatures and underwater noise that was previously unattainable using standard research equipment. the system can be used as a citizen science data collection device,research equipment for professional scientists,or a sound art installation in its own right. © 2017 griffiths et al.