Dream Theater

Inspiration

Maps help us see the world, but not hear it. We were inspired by the idea that every place on Earth has a distinct sensory identity shaped by its physical materials and atmospheric conditions. A desert, an ocean, a forest, and a city each evoke different feelings, and weather can transform those feelings instantly. We wanted to explore how environmental data could drive a musical experience, allowing users to perceive geography through sound.

What it does

Earth Sound Map turns the planet into an interactive soundscape. Users click anywhere on a global map to hear a musical scene associated with that location. The system selects and combines pre-composed audio tracks based on: 1) the terrain type (soil, water, vegetation, or urban); 2) the current weather (rainy, cloudy, windy, or snowy). Terrain determines the musical foundation, while weather modifies the atmosphere. Instead of composing with notes, users explore the world through curated sound environments.

How we built it

We built a browser-based application that links geospatial and weather data to a library of human-composed musical loops. Mapbox API provides the interactive map and geographic coordinates; Terrain classification selects the appropriate base track; WeatherAPI retrieves real-time atmospheric conditions; The Web Audio API handles playback, layering, and mixing; Built using Vite.js and Bun, deployed on Vercel.

Rather than generating music algorithmically, we designed a set of musically compatible tracks that can be layered seamlessly: Terrain Base Track to establish rhythm, tempo, and timbre + Weather Layer to add atmospheric textures and effects. The final soundscape is modeled as:

"Earth Sound=Terrain Track + Real-Time Weather Track"

Challenges we ran into

Designing a small set of tracks that could represent diverse global environments was difficult. Each terrain track needed to feel distinctive while remaining compatible with all weather overlays.

Balancing realism with musical coherence was another challenge. Literal environmental recordings can be chaotic or unpleasant, so we created stylized representations that evoke environments while remaining structured and listenable.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Creating a coherent mapping between real-world conditions and musical materials; Designing original audio assets that work across many environmental combinations; Building an intuitive interface accessible to non-musicians; Delivering a responsive, fully functional prototype within a short timeframe; Demonstrating a new way to explore geographic data through curated sound.

What we learned

We learned that meaningful interactive audio systems rely heavily on thoughtful design of source material. Carefully composed loops can communicate environmental qualities more effectively than purely generative approaches.

We also discovered how engaging spatial interaction can be. Clicking a map encourages exploration and creates a sense of connection to distant places.

What's next for Dream Theater

Future directions include: Expanding the library of terrain and weather tracks Adding seasonal and time-of-day variations Incorporating spatial audio for immersive listening Allowing users to save and share locations Integrating into educational, wellness, or virtual environment applications Ultimately, we hope Earth Sound Map can become a platform for experiencing the planet through listening as well as sight.

Built With

• bun
• mapbox-api
• vercel.app
• vite.js
• weatherapi
• web-audio-api