Brown University’s Community Noise Lab launches tech-driven war on illegal dumping in Jackson
JANS – The Community Noise Lab at Brown University officially unveiled its comprehensive illegal dumping database and repository. The digital platform is designed to put scientific data directly into the hands of residents, allowing them to track, report, and analyze the illegal dumping burden affecting their neighborhoods.
The launch marks a significant shift in how environmental hazards are monitored in Jackson. Through the new repository, Jacksonians can instantly report active illegal dumping or “foul smells.” But the tool’s most innovative feature is its transparency; it allows users to view detailed data collected on existing sites, ranging from their size, soil pollution levels, and degree of contamination to air quality, and noise pollution.
Mapping the “Risk Score”
At the heart of the tool is a sophisticated Ward-Level Risk Assessment. This interactive map doesn’t just show where trash is located; it measures how that trash impacts human life. The Lab consolidated five specific domains relevant to illegal dumping exposure:
• Soil Contamination Intensity
• Ambient Air Quality
• Noise Burden
• Health Burden
• Dumping Intensity
To create a fair comparison across the city, the Lab used “min-max normalization” to rescale every indicator to a 0–100 range and assigns each ward a total Risk Score. These scores place wards into four distinct tiers, providing a clear visual of where resources are needed most:
• Low: <25
• Moderate: 25–49
• High: 50–74
• Very High: ≥75
“Our goal is to provide the data that communities need to advocate for themselves,” states Dr. Erica D. Walker, a Jackson native and current Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at Brown University. “By connecting dumping intensity to things like noise and health, we see a fuller picture of environmental stress.”
Get Involved:
Free Activity Books
The project also emphasizes education for the next generation of environmental stewards. Residents are encouraged to visit the platform to explore their ward’s data and can order free copies of the Visual Pollution Activity Book. This resource is designed to help students understand the technical and behavioral aspects of pollution through engaging, hands-on exercises.
Jackson residents can access the database and request their free materials via the Community Noise Lab’s project portal effective immediately.
For more information, visit https://communitynoiselab.org/illegaldumpingmap/
