A GIS tool for modeling anthropogenic noise propagation in natural ecosystems

SPreAD-GIS is a tool for modeling spatial patterns of anthropogenic noise propagation in natural ecosystems. SPreAD-GIS incorporates commonly available datasets on land cover, topography, and weather conditions to calculate noise propagation patterns and excess noise above ambient conditions for one-third octave frequency bands around one or multiple sound sources. User-specified noise source characteristics, ambient sound conditions, and frequency-weighting make SPreAD-GIS flexible to incorporate field measurements and model noise propagation for any type of source, environment, or species. SPreAD-GIS is a free, open-source application written in Python and implemented as a toolbox in ArcGIS software.

► SPreAD-GIS is a new GIS tool for modeling noise propagation in natural ecosystems.
► It is a free, open-source application written in Python and implemented in as a toolbox in ArcGIS.
► SPreAD-GIS models noise effects for any type of source, environment, or species.
► Input datasets for SPreAD-GIS include land cover, topography, and weather conditions.
► Outputs are spatial patterns of noise propagation relative to ambient conditions.