What does the city sound like? This is the question being addressed by RCE BenE Munich in cooperation with the CitySoundscapes project and the Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research (Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology – IBE; Pettenkofer School of Public Health, LMU Munich). The focus is on a scientific study that examines how ambient noise in urban green spaces affects well-being and relaxation – and how these relationships are linked to biodiversity.
The study takes the form of guided audio walks in Munich's green and gray spaces. In groups of about 5 to 12 people, participants visit various “listening locations” where they evaluate the acoustic quality of the environment and their current well-being via a web-based survey (alternatively on paper). In addition, the ambient noise during the walk is recorded with a special microphone. An audio walk covers a distance of around 2 kilometers and lasts a total of about 60 to 90 minutes.
As part of a larger research project on the interactions between biodiversity, acoustic quality, and health, the results should contribute to a better understanding of how urban green spaces need to be designed and distributed in order to provide habitat for many species while also promoting human health. In the future, the research results may also provide impetus for urban planning.
Important information about participation: Contact details will be used exclusively for organizational purposes and will be deleted after the study has been completed (or in case of non-participation). The research data will be collected in an irreversibly anonymized form. Travel insurance (for the journey to and from the study area and the stay there) will also be provided for participants. The contact person for the study management is Dr. Michaela Coenen: hoerspaziergang@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de.
Meeting point December 1, 2025, 2-4 p.m.: In front of the PEP shopping center at the Neuperlach Zentrum subway station, PEP exit
Meeting point January 13, 2026, 2-4 p.m.: Mangfallplatz at the Mangfallplatz subway station, Mangfallplatz exit
Binding registration at: info@bene-muenchen.de