The University of Cádiz has awarded the atrÉBT! prize in the Projects category to Deep Noise, the distributed acoustic intelligence initiative developed by Algeciras native Víctor Manuel Díaz, founder of SonaGrid. The award was presented in the courtyard of the Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences in Cádiz, during the gala of the XVIII edition of a call that this year distributed thirteen distinctions among 119 applications submitted by the university community and its environment.
The official project description summarizes its field of application: Deep Noise "develops networks of distributed acoustic intelligence for smart cities and critical infrastructures, capable of identifying noise sources in real time with privacy guarantees." The technology is based on a premise different from that of conventional sound monitoring systems, which only measure decibels at fixed points and compare the result with regulatory thresholds.
SonaGrid, the company supporting Deep Noise, is defined as a deep technology company specialized in the digitization and analysis of industrial and urban soundscapes. According to its profile on the innovation portal of the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA), its proposal involves transforming the management of environmental noise and replacing traditional decibel measurement with the generation of operational data through artificial intelligence. The company designs and manufactures its own autonomous IoT nodes, with energy independence and long-range connectivity to operate in critical environments.
The differential component lies in the processing. The algorithms of edge computing run on the node itself, without needing to send the audio to a central server, allowing for real-time characterization of the spectral footprint of each sound and identification of the specific source emitting it. The architecture, according to the same profile, offers infrastructure managers and public administrations a continuous monitoring tool to incorporate the sound dimension into daily operations.
Deep Noise has previous experience in the context of the Port of Algeciras. SonaGrid is part of the Mission Andalucía program, which in its Algeciras node works alongside the APBA on logistical-port innovation projects. On March 26, the startup presented its technology at the seventh meeting of the Innovation Committee of the Algeciras Bay Port, held at the R&D+i Building of the Algeciras Technological Campus Foundation. In that session, it participated alongside Surcontrol, with Manuel Muñoz, and Chaara App, with Oumnia Chaara.
In a port environment, this technology could be applied to the creation of dynamic acoustic maps, identification of noise hotspots, monitoring of industrial activities, and surveillance of operational areas. It can also facilitate the analysis of anomalous sounds linked to the operation of equipment, engines, or structures, a utility related to predictive maintenance. The relationship with Mission Andalucía and SonaGrid's presence in the Innovation Committee validate its integration into the entrepreneurial environment promoted by the APBA and the Digital Agency of Andalucía.
