Soundscape Analysis and Report Writing | P18AS00211

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Soundscape Analysis and Report Writing grant opportunity?

The Soundscape Analysis and Report Writing opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00211) is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement focused on measuring, checking, and interpreting sound data from Grand Canyon National Park. The goal is to help the park manage human-made noise, with particular attention to aircraft overflights, using soundscape monitoring, analysis, and defensible reporting.

Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS).

What funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The project is intended to produce annual soundscape data products and analytical reports that establish baseline conditions and document the influence of human-caused noise on the park's natural acoustic environment. These outputs are meant to support practical management approaches that protect visitor experience and wilderness character.

How does this project relate to MAP-21 and air tour management at Grand Canyon?

The work is tied to the 2012 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which created a formal framework for the National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to coordinate on Grand Canyon air tour management. A key purpose of that framework is to encourage the use of quieter aircraft technology by air tour operators while avoiding any overall increase in noise conditions in the park. Soundscape data from this project is intended to support that coordination and related management decisions.

What types of noise are emphasized in the project description?

The description highlights aircraft noise (including helicopters and fixed-wing flights) as well as ground-based sources such as motorcycles and general vehicular traffic.

What activities are included in "soundscape monitoring and analysis" for this project?

The project centers on soundscape monitoring and analysis across multiple locations in Grand Canyon National Park, using datasets gathered from sound recording deployments at several sites. It also includes Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) of analyses performed by Grand Canyon interns, verification of technical integrity by CSU staff, and production of analytical reports based on review of both data collection and analysis methods.

What does QA/QC mean in the context of this opportunity?

QA/QC (Quality Assurance and Quality Control) refers to reviewing and checking the sound data analyses performed by Grand Canyon interns to confirm that the processing and conclusions are technically sound and consistent with operational standards. CSU staff are described as reviewing the interns' work, verifying technical integrity, and then producing analytical reports.

Who is expected to provide staff support and student involvement?

The Colorado State University (CSU) Listening Lab is expected to supply staff support and involve six undergraduate students as part of the project design.

How many monitoring sites and deployments are anticipated in the first year?

In the first year, the project anticipates monitoring at four sites, with two deployments at each site. This implies repeated measurements intended to capture variability across time and conditions.

What are the expected deliverables or outcomes?

The practical outcome is described as annual soundscape data products and reports. These deliverables are intended to establish baseline soundscape conditions, document human-caused noise influence, support comparisons across locations, and help the park track trends over time.

Why is an annual monitoring, analysis, and reporting cycle important?

Maintaining a consistent annual cycle allows the park to track trends over time, compare locations, and evaluate whether management actions are reducing, shifting, or inadvertently increasing noise exposure in sensitive areas.

How will the results be used by Grand Canyon National Park?

The findings are intended to directly support recreation and land management planning. The reports are described as usable for decision-making in developed frontcountry areas, in the backcountry, and in areas being considered for wilderness designation, where protecting natural soundscapes can be an important part of maintaining wilderness character.

How does this work relate to visitor experience and wilderness character?

The opportunity description frames soundscape protection as a way to safeguard both visitor experience and wilderness character. By documenting noise sources and conditions with defensible data, the park can make more informed decisions about managing human-made noise that affects how visitors experience the park's natural environment.

Who benefits from sound-related management decisions supported by this project?

The description notes that Grand Canyon receives roughly six million visitors each year, so sound-related management decisions can influence many user groups, including river runners, hikers, campers, and visitors concentrated at the rim.

Will the information be shared with the public?

Yes. Beyond internal planning, the information is also meant to be shared with the public and incorporated into interpretive materials, making soundscape conditions and the reasons for related management decisions more transparent and understandable.

What is the program or category associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources and is associated with CFDA number 15.945.

Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?

Yes. It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity under the Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. This aligns with the project design relying on a university lab and undergraduate student participation.

What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The award ceiling is $72,000.

How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated making a single award, which suggests a targeted, partner-specific project rather than a broad multi-award competition.

When was the opportunity created and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on May 9, 2018, with an original closing date of May 18, 2018.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is P18AS00211.

Why does the project emphasize "defensible" soundscape data?

The description suggests that solid, defensible soundscape data can support practical incentives and management approaches for aircraft and other noise sources, while helping protect visitor experience and wilderness character and supporting coordination under the MAP-21 framework.

How does the project support quieter aircraft technology without increasing overall noise?

The opportunity describes a management goal under the MAP-21 framework: encourage use of quieter aircraft technology by air tour operators while avoiding any overall increase in noise conditions in the park. The project supports this by producing consistent monitoring, QA/QC-checked analysis, and reporting that can document baseline conditions and track changes over time.