Why Is Moscow’s Gorky Park Measuring Decibels – and What Will Artificial Intelligence Hear?
In Moscow’s Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after Maxim Gorky, a real-time noise monitoring system has gone live. Five sensors now operate around the clock, tracking acoustic conditions and generating a dynamic noise map.
The Voice of the City
For decades, Russia’s capital has grown by roughly one million residents every ten years. Today, Moscow is home to more than 13.3 million people. High population density, heavy traffic and constant construction generate a persistent soundscape – the megacity “speaks” far louder than most other Russian regions. Survey data show that 94 percent of Muscovites experience acoustic discomfort to some degree. Official measurements indicate that in some residential areas near major highways, nighttime noise levels reach 77 dBA, compared to the maximum permissible limit of 45 dBA. Although transport accounts for up to 80 percent of total urban noise, residents most frequently complain about construction activity, cited by 82 percent of respondents. In such conditions, public parks become more than recreational zones – they are expected to provide silence.
Acoustic conditions in Gorky Park are now monitored by a network of sensors. In the near future, these devices will be enhanced with artificial intelligence algorithms and effectively become professional sound engineers. The system will analyze the components of background noise, distinguishing the hum of a festive crowd from construction equipment or ordinary conversations. The resulting data will form the basis of an updated noise map designed to improve visitor comfort. A rock concert will not spill into the children’s zone, and landscaped “green barriers” can be positioned to absorb traffic noise from adjacent highways.
Smart Parks
Moscow’s broader “smart park” initiative has gained strong support from city authorities. Public spaces are increasingly equipped with sensor systems that transmit environmental data in real time – supporting landscaping and urban improvement projects – while video surveillance systems enhance safety. Visitors sitting on smart benches with built-in device charging receive notifications through mobile apps about upcoming events. In Zaryadye Park, sensor systems monitor microclimate and air quality. In Gorky Park and on Sparrow Hills, intelligent irrigation and lighting systems optimize resource use and reduce energy consumption.
City regulators are also targeting construction sites, which remain a major source of noise. The Moscow State Construction Supervision Committee plans to equip sites with dedicated sensors and drones capable of detecting violations and emerging risks. The scale of oversight reflects the challenge: in 2024, more than 13,000 preventive inspections of construction sites in Moscow resulted in approximately 4,500 official warnings. Authorities are also preparing to deploy road cameras equipped with noise meters. These systems, fitted with microphones, will identify motorcycles and cars emitting excessive music volume or roaring exhaust systems within traffic flows.
Digital Ears
By the end of 2026, the Gorky Park system is expected to integrate AI modules. Soon, these “digital ears” will appear in other parks across the capital and eventually expand to noisy urban environments throughout Russia – along central avenues, in recreation zones and near airports and railway terminals.
Moscow is positioning itself as a leader in environmental sound management. As cities worldwide grow denser and urban life accelerates, quiet is emerging as a resource as critical as clean air. The ability to measure, analyze and protect it is not merely a question of comfort, but of public health and sustainable urban planning.
