NoiseWatch is the application name that will map the noise levels across Europe in order to help the many millions of people exposed to damaging levels of noise. This application is part of the application package Eye on Earth, which already includes WaterWatch, displaying information on bathing water quality, and AirWatch, which shows near-real time information on air quality.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) launched a new layer to the application Eye on Earth which is intended to map noise levels across Europe. The new application is called NoiseWatch and is created to help the many millions of people across the EU exposed to damaging levels of noise. According to the EEA, at least 100 million European citizens are exposed to damaging levels of noise from major roads alone. The EEA is applying this initiative together to the online maps presented in May which allow citizens to pinpoint the main diffuse sources of air pollution.

NoiseWatch will be based on data from 164 European cities and it would be included at the Eye on Earth application pack, which already includes WaterWatch, displaying information on bathing water quality, and AirWatch, which shows near-real time information on air quality. Eye on Earth aims to improve understanding of the most pressing environmental challenges by bringing them to a local level, making them more relevant for citizens. An important aspect of Eye on Earth is that it combines official data with crowd sourcing, i.e. allowing the public to upload their own observations and information.

In addition, the EEA announced that is also launching the NoiseMeter app for phones and other devices running Android, Apple iOS and Windows Phone 7.5 operating systems. This app allows anyone to rate noise levels in their area and upload them to the map.