We believe that this project does meet best practices.
Goals – The Cities and Memories project clearly set their main goals to preserve and archive sounds through multiple avenues. Even though there are some soundscapes that are altered, they are not all altered, they do a good job in preserving the original sound from the specific locations around the world. Archiving their data is definitely a major strong suit of this project. Through the use of digital projects and mapping, the project does a good job at collecting different types of sounds and collecting a variety of sounds together if there was a specific type of sound an audience member was looking for.
Data – The data has a very clear path from input to output. The input of the data comes from many different sources and the output comes in various different formats, but the process of the data stays consistent throughout.
Tools – The tools that are used in this project are band camp and google maps. The custom google map gives the audience members the ability to quickly search the map and access soundscapes from all over the world.
Methods – Since anyone can contribute to the project through their own uploads of sounds recordings. There is a unique set of criteria that needs to be set, keeping the project consistent throughout even though the sound recordings are coming from over 1800 sound artist.
Value – The DH value of openness is very prominent in this sound project. Openness is defined as “a commitment to the open exchange of ideas” by Lisa Shapiro. This project actually depends on the value of openness because if there was not submissions of soundscapes by many different artist, the data for the project would be a fraction of what is currently mapped. Collegiality and Connectedness is also a value that Fowkes’ heavily encourages through the ability to submit your own soundscapes.
Social Justice – This is the only part of the Cities and Memories project that is not prominent and could use some work. One of the only social justice aspects to this project is that it is open to all cultures to engage in on the project.
Results – The Cities and Memories project increased awareness of environmental soundscapes and gives the audience the ability to immerse themselves in many different environments and cultures around the world. The Cities and Memories project also gave its audience members the ability to exchange and learn about different cultures through their digital project portion of the project.