TUM and LMU Invite Munich Residents on Soundwalks to Shape Future Urban Soundscapes

TUM and LMU Invite Munich Residents on Soundwalks to Shape Future Urban Soundscapes

(IN BRIEF) CitySoundscapes, led by TUM and LMU Munich with multiple partners, has launched guided soundwalks in three Munich neighborhoods. Participants traverse 1.5 km routes, recording their reactions to diverse urban sounds—positive, neutral, or negative—via questionnaires or an app. Data will be integrated with ecological studies on land use, green space, and biodiversity to formulate practical, community-led recommendations for healthier, more enjoyable soundscapes. Occasional saliva sampling will assess stress impacts, and the project falls under Germany’s FEdA biodiversity initiative, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research.

(PRESS RELEASE) MUNICH, 25-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The Technical University of Munich (TUM), alongside LMU Munich and a consortium of partners, is inviting Munich residents to embark on guided “soundwalks” through Au, Neuperlach, and Harlaching—turning a simple stroll into an opportunity to shape future urban planning. Under the CitySoundscapes project, participants explore curated routes with listening stations that spotlight both cherished and challenging city noises, from birdsong and children at play to traffic and construction clamor.

Rather than focusing solely on noise reduction, CitySoundscapes seeks to map the full tapestry of urban acoustics and its links to biodiversity and mental well-being. “Our aim is to translate people’s real-world sound experiences into evidence-based recommendations that enrich daily life,” explains Leonie Schulz, TUM research associate and project coordinator.

Developed by TUM’s Web Science Institute, LMU’s Chair for Public Health, TU Berlin, Biotopia Lab, the City of Munich’s Climate and Environmental Protection Department, Green City e.V., and BUND Naturschutz Munich, the initiative combines land-use surveys and biodiversity assessments with public input. During each 1.5 km, one-hour walk, small groups note which sounds they find pleasant, neutral, or annoying—using paper questionnaires or a mobile app. Select sessions also collect saliva samples to gauge cortisol, linking soundscapes to physical stress responses.

“This isn’t research about citizens; it’s research with citizens,” says Michaela Coenen of LMU. “By involving the public directly, we ensure our measures resonate and are embraced by the community.”

Further information and links

• Project website: https://www.citysoundscapes.de/
• Sign up via the booking calendar at https://www.citysoundscapes.de/soundwalks or by emailing hoerspaziergang@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de
• Alongside the Professorship for Urban Productive Ecosystems, the Professorship for Forest and Agroforest Systems, the Chair for Strategic Landscape Planning and Management, and the Chair of Terrestrial Ecology are also collaborating on the project. All these chairs are part of the TUM School of Life Sciences.
• CitySoundscapes is part of the Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity (FEdA). Supported by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the initiative funds over 40 scientific projects focused on analyzing biodiversity in Germany and developing effective strategies for its protection and restoration. The initiative promotes “transformative” science, encouraging dialogue between researchers, policymakers, businesses, agriculture, forestry, conservation groups, and civil society. More info at: www.feda.bio

Media Contacts:

Corporate Communications Center
Anja Lapac
presse@tum.de

Contacts to this article:

Leonie Schulz
Technical University of Munich
Professorship of Urban Productive Ecosystems
leonie.schulz@tum.de

Dr. Michaela Coenen
LMU Munich
Chair for Public Health and Health Services Research
Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE)
coenen@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de

SOURCE: Technical University of Munich