The Valencia-BioSoundScape project has developed a pilot real-time acoustic monitoring system to detect birds in the Turia Garden and the Devesa of Albufera, providing acoustic biodiversity indicators.
The initiative, tested through Valencia’s Urban Sandbox, offers citizens a web platform featuring information on detected species, seasonal trends, biodiversity indicators, and birdwatching routes.
The Valencia City Council and the Institute of Telecommunications and Multimedia Applications (iTEAM) at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) have promoted the Valencia-BioSoundScape project, an innovative initiative that combines artificial intelligence, acoustic monitoring, and IoT technologies to analyse urban biodiversity through the city’s soundscape. Over the past twelve months, the project has monitored bird activity across several natural areas in Valencia and developed a pilot system capable of detecting bird species in real time.
Valencia-BioSoundScape has collected valuable acoustic data on the city’s biodiversity by deploying passive acoustic monitoring devices at eight strategic locations: five sites within the Turia Garden and three in the Devesa of Albufera. The devices recorded the soundscape during the periods of highest bird activity (at dawn and dusk) creating a unique database on urban acoustic biodiversity.
In addition to this sensor network, the project has developed a pilot real-time acoustic monitoring system in collaboration with the University of Seville. Based on IoT technology, the system integrates a microphone, a mini-computer running artificial intelligence software, a self-powered battery, and mobile connectivity. Its replicable and scalable design will allow the technology to be deployed in other parks and natural areas beyond the city of Valencia.
Using the audio recordings captured by the monitoring devices, the system detects bird species through BirdNET, the bird classification model developed by Cornell University. At the same time, researchers from iTEAM and the Computer Vision and Behaviour Analysis Lab (CVBLab) at UPV are developing new artificial intelligence models to improve the detection of the species most commonly found in the city.
Project Results and Birdwatching Routes Available Online
Over the past twelve months, Valencia-BioSoundScape has generated acoustic biodiversity indicators that enable the monitoring of biological activity across different urban and natural environments in the city. The results are available through the project’s web platform, BioSoundScape, where users can explore detected species, listen to their songs, learn about their seasonal patterns, and access acoustic biodiversity indicators from five locations in the Turia Garden and three in the Devesa.
The platform also features birdwatching routes designed by the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO/BirdLife), adapted to different seasons of the year, encouraging new ecotourism experiences and environmental awareness activities in the city of Valencia.
This initiative demonstrates the potential of artificial intelligence and acoustic monitoring technologies to enhance scientific knowledge of urban biodiversity, support the sustainable management of natural areas, and bring science closer to citizens.
Paula Llobet, Valencia’s Councillor for Innovation, highlighted that the project “demonstrates how innovation can help us better understand our natural environment and move towards a more sustainable city. The Urban Sandbox allows innovative solutions to be tested under real-life conditions and helps position Valencia as a benchmark for innovation addressing urban challenges.”
She also emphasised that “our collaboration with the Universitat Politècnica de València enables us to promote technologies that create value for both the city and its citizens.”
Project Information
Valencia-BioSoundScape was selected under the 2024 Public Grants for Innovation in the City of Valencia, awarded by Valencia City Council, under the project title “Ecotourism and Biodiversity in the City of Valencia through Acoustic Monitoring and Artificial Intelligence.”
The project was carried out over an 18-month period, from December 2024 to June 2026, and was led by Gema Piñero, researcher in the GTAC research group at the Institute of Telecommunications and Multimedia Applications (iTEAM) of the Universitat Politècnica de València.
In addition to iTEAM-UPV, the project involved the Computer Vision and Behaviour Analysis Lab (CVBLab) at UPV, Artikode Intelligence, the Electronic and Industrial Information Technology Group at the University of Seville, and the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO/BirdLife).
The deployment of the acoustic monitoring devices was coordinated and managed through the Urban Sandbox service of Valencia City Council.