The Washington Post today released an interactive project that examines the noise produced by “crypto mining,” the process where powerful computers perform the complex computations needed to create, or “mine,” digital currencies.
It’s midnight, and a jet-like roar is rumbling up the slopes of Poor House Mountain. Except there are no planes overhead, and the nearest commercial airport is 80 miles away. The sound is coming from a cluster of sheds at the base of the mountain housing a cryptocurrency data center.
“It’s like living on top of Niagara Falls,” says Mike Lugiewicz, whose home lies less than 100 yards from the mine.
— https://wapo.st/3PXpBGU
Using environmental sensors connected via the AT&T network, The Post collected decibel data at a crypto mine in Murphy, North Carolina to measure the impact of the sound from that mine on the surrounding area and nearby residents.
Said Erika Allen, head of audience strategy and growth at The Post: “To fully understand the impact of this mine noise on rural communities, we needed to measure the frequency and decibel levels over a discrete period of time. We deployed a network of remote sensors that could collect and transmit noise data, allowing us to more fully illustrate the noise pollution produced by these mines.”
The Washington Post’s Creative Group worked with AT&T and Post journalists to delve into how the sensors configured by AT&T supported the reporting process for this story. AT&T Business helped the Post to obtain sensors that can be easy to set up and relocate for different stories, and connected them on AT&T’s network for data collection and data sharing for reporters. These sensors measure temperature, humidity, noise level, and the concentrations of dozens of air pollutants, including potent greenhouse gasses like methane and sulfur dioxide.
Explore the project here.
