Soundmap of Egypt

SoundMap of Egypt is a research project hosted by the Soundscape and Urban Ambiences Lab ( DCSC - Dynamic Systems and Digitalization Cluster ), funded by Ain Shams University. This project aims to create a platform that links the sounds of the city to specific locations on a satellite map. This SoundMap serves as a sound archive intended to preserve the sounds of Egyptian cities undergoing rapid transformation—changes that may erase or alter their existing soundscapes.

The project integrates teaching and research within an applied framework. Since Fall 2021, the course Soundscape and Aural Architecture has been formally incorporated into the architectural and urban curriculum at the Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University (ASU). This initiative aligns with the growing emphasis on the sonic dimension of the city as a key axis for analyzing and understanding urban environments. As part of this effort, the SoundMap of Egypt project aims to create a sound library to document, archive, and explore the diverse urban soundscapes studied in the course. This platform will serve as both a pedagogical tool and a valuable research resource.

The project highlights the importance of sound in shaping the identity of the city by constructing a database of Egyptian Acoustic Heritage. The objective is to create a sound archive of Egyptian cities that underlines their unique sonic identity. This goal aligns with the broader vision of the Egyptian government, which seeks to strengthen city identity and branding. The project expands the spectrum of cultural identity to include the sonic dimension of urban identity and city branding. الهوية السمعية للمدن

Interest in the sonic dimension is an emerging concern on the international level. It addresses the role that sound heritage plays in shaping the history and memory of cities. Sound is increasingly recognized as a component of intangible cultural heritage, as defined by UNESCO. This is also the central aim of the French association “The UNESCO Week of Sound,” which promotes the role of sound in shaping urban heritage. In this context, the Faculty of Engineering hosted the first edition of the UNESCO Week of Sound in Egypt in May 2022, in collaboration with the French Embassy and the UNESCO Week of Sound Association in Paris, France.