The Spectrum Device Heatmap visualises acoustic pollinator monitoring data collected by Spectrum IoT bioacoustic sensors installed at 3Bee Oasi platform sites. The Spectrum device detects and records sound frequencies produced by pollinating insects -- Diptera (flies, hoverflies), Hymenoptera (bees, bumblebees, wasps), and Coleoptera (beetles) -- through real-time acoustic signature analysis.
The system provides data on: hourly buzz rate (sound detections per hour), taxonomic clusters (frequency grouping into distinct taxa), Shannon diversity index (acoustic biodiversity measure), and seasonal activity (pollinator activity variation across months). The standard monitoring period runs from April 1st to October 1st, excluding days with precipitation exceeding 20 mm.
Data are aggregated weekly and displayed as a spatial heatmap with each sensor's coordinates. This layer is non-generatable via API: its availability depends on the user's adoption of a Spectrum device.
The Spectrum heatmap is a pure visualization layer: it displays aggregated bioacoustic sensor readings without computing a derived index or score. No quality grade (A-E) is assigned to this KPI.
| Parameter | Description | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Buzz rate | Sound detections per hour | buzz/h |
| Cluster count | Number of distinct identified taxa | n |
| Shannon index | Acoustic diversity index | dimensionless |
| Peak activity month | Month with highest pollinator activity | month |
| Total findings | Total detections in the monitoring period | n |
| Hours on | Sensor operational hours | h |
Operating hours per day: 12h. Listening hours divisor: 4.
The Spectrum system classifies pollinators into 17 frequency classes (spectrum_class 1-17), each associated with a characteristic sound frequency range of specific taxonomic groups. Typical frequencies range from approximately 115 Hz (large insects) to over 500 Hz (small Diptera).
| Source | Provider | Coverage | Resolution | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3Bee Spectrum Bioacoustic IoT Sensor | 3Bee | Local (site-level) | Point measurement per device | April-October (continuous) |
Map Layer. An interactive map overlay showing pollinator acoustic activity as a gradient heatmap based on Spectrum sensor positions.
Purpose: To visualise the spatial distribution of pollinator activity across the monitoring site using bioacoustic sensor data.
Description: The map displays the site boundary with colored gradient spots at each Spectrum sensor's location. The heatmap intensity represents the average buzz rate or activity level for the selected period and spectrum class. Users can filter by date range and spectrum class (taxonomic frequency group). Each sensor's position is shown as a heat spot, with warmer colors indicating higher pollinator activity and cooler colors indicating lower activity.
How it's calculated: Each sensor's weekly average buzz rate is plotted at its geographic coordinates. The gradient interpolation creates a continuous surface from discrete point measurements. Users can select specific spectrum classes (1-17) to focus on particular taxonomic groups.
Legend: The heatmap uses a three-color gradient from green (low activity) through yellow (moderate) to red (high activity):
#008000 — Low pollinator activity#FFFF00 — Moderate pollinator activity#FF0000 — High pollinator activityInterpretation example:
If the heatmap shows concentrated red zones near flowering areas and green zones near paved surfaces, pollinator activity is strongly correlated with available forage resources -- a healthy spatial pattern indicating that the site's vegetation supports active pollinator communities.
Map Layer. The same Spectrum heatmap overlay accessible from the Assessment Sensors page, which provides an integrated view of all IoT sensor data for the site.
Purpose: To allow users to view pollinator acoustic monitoring data in the context of the broader assessment, alongside other sensor types (PollyX, Hive-Tech).
Description: The Assessment Sensors page displays an interactive map with a layer selector. When the Spectrum layer is selected, the heatmap overlay appears showing pollinator activity intensity. Below the map, a tabbed section provides access to detailed sensor measurements. The "Monitored Pollinators" tab displays device-specific data including buzz rate charts, cluster distributions, and Shannon diversity indices.
How it's calculated: Identical to the Maps > Sensors > "Spectrum Heatmap" layer -- weekly averaged activity values at each sensor's coordinates.
Interpretation example:
If the Assessment Sensors map shows a uniformly warm Spectrum heatmap during June, the site has consistent, well-distributed pollinator activity at the peak of the season -- a positive sign for ecosystem health and pollination services.
Data Table. A tabbed data panel below the map showing detailed Spectrum sensor measurements including buzz rates, taxonomic cluster breakdowns, and diversity indices.
Purpose: To provide quantitative detail on pollinator acoustic detections beyond the spatial heatmap overview.
Description: The panel includes multiple sub-tabs: an activity heatmap calendar showing daily buzz intensity, a daily buzz chart with temporal trends, and a cluster distribution chart showing taxonomic breakdown. Key metrics displayed include total findings, average and peak buzz rates, number of active months, and Shannon diversity index values.
How it's calculated: Values are aggregated from the raw Spectrum sensor data. The Shannon diversity index is calculated from the distribution of detections across the 17 frequency classes. Cluster counts represent the number of distinct taxonomic groups detected above a minimum threshold.
Interpretation example:
If the data panel shows a Shannon index of 2.1 with 12 active clusters, the site has high acoustic pollinator diversity -- multiple taxonomic groups are present and well-represented, indicating a healthy pollinator community.
See the Calculation Methodology section for the core computation. Additional processing details are documented here for expert users.