Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI)

AUS-AMR-FOR-ACI General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: CompositeFramework

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Evidence & Context

No direct, high-confidence benchmark for the Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI) in the specified context could be found. A provisional benchmark derived from the best available proxy data is proposed with a mandatory Low confidence rating.

Metric Definition:

Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI) is a quantitative metric developed to assess the complexity of a soundscape from audio recordings, capturing the intrinsic variability of biological sounds.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents a provisional Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI) for Australian arid mountain production forestry, based on proxy data from a similar arid woodland biome. It reflects the natural variability of biological soundscapes rather than fixed numeric thresholds.

Justification:

No peer-reviewed study or dataset exists for ACI in Australian arid production forests. The provisional benchmark is derived from the TERN Alice Mulga SuperSite, which is in a representative arid woodland biome but under pastoral land use, not forestry. The literature does not support fixed quantitative thresholds for ACI; interpretation must be based on maintaining natural diurnal/seasonal patterns.

Sources (1)

Preview of Alice Mulga Acoustic Data Collection - TERN - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 22, 2025,
Alice Mulga Acoustic Data Collection - TERN - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 22, 2025,

Alice Mulga Acoustic Data Collection - TERN - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 22, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (22)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Guidelines for the use of acoustic indices in environmental research - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
(PDF) Guidelines for the use of acoustic indices in environmental research - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

(PDF) Guidelines for the use of acoustic indices in environmental research - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of A new methodology to infer the singing activity of an avian community: The Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI) | Request PDF - ResearchGate
A new methodology to infer the singing activity of an avian community: The Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI) | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Direct Evidence Journal

A new methodology to infer the singing activity of an avian community: The Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI) | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of A REPORT ON A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP IN ECO-ACOUSTIC MONITORING IN BRISBANE RANGES NATIONAL PARK, VICTORIA
A REPORT ON A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP IN ECO-ACOUSTIC MONITORING IN BRISBANE RANGES NATIONAL PARK, VICTORIA
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ecological Soundscapes → Term - Pollution → Sustainability Directory

View Source
Preview of Acoustic indices as proxies for biodiversity: a meta‐analysis - PMC - PubMed Central
Acoustic indices as proxies for biodiversity: a meta‐analysis - PMC - PubMed Central
Contextual Support Journal

Application of a recently introduced index for acoustic complexity to an avian soundscape with traffic noise | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Alice Mulga SuperSite | Soil & Vegetation Monitoring - TERN Australia, accessed July 22, 2025,
Alice Mulga SuperSite | Soil & Vegetation Monitoring - TERN Australia, accessed July 22, 2025,
Direct Evidence Government

Great Western Woodlands, Ground Water Data, 2014 - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report - 2013 - DAFF
Australia's State of the Forests Report - 2013 - DAFF
Contextual Support Journal

Australia's State of the Forests Report - 2013 - DAFF

View Source
Preview of Bioacoustics and AI help scientists listen in on elusive Australian cockatoos, accessed July 22, 2025,
Bioacoustics and AI help scientists listen in on elusive Australian cockatoos, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Do acoustically detectable species reflect overall diversity? A case study from Australia's arid zone, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of CSIRO – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O
CSIRO – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O
Contextual Support Journal

CSIRO – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O

View Source
Preview of Do acoustically detectable species reflect overall diversity? A case study from Australia's arid zone - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,
Do acoustically detectable species reflect overall diversity? A case study from Australia's arid zone - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

View Source
Preview of Ecosystem Acoustic Health → Term - Pollution → Sustainability Directory
Ecosystem Acoustic Health → Term - Pollution → Sustainability Directory
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ecosystem Acoustic Health → Term - Pollution → Sustainability Directory

View Source
Preview of Effectiveness of acoustic indices as indicators of vertebrate biodiversity - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,
Effectiveness of acoustic indices as indicators of vertebrate biodiversity - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Bioacoustics and AI help scientists listen in on elusive Australian cockatoos

View Source
Preview of Environmental conditions lead to shifts in individual communication, which can cause cascading effects on soundscape composition - PMC - PubMed Central
Environmental conditions lead to shifts in individual communication, which can cause cascading effects on soundscape composition - PMC - PubMed Central
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental conditions lead to shifts in individual communication, which can cause cascading effects on soundscape composition - PMC - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Forest Management Plan for the North East 2001
Forest Management Plan for the North East 2001
Contextual Support Journal

Forest Management Plan for the North East 2001

View Source
Preview of Forest Management Plan for the North East 2001, accessed August 5, 2025
Forest Management Plan for the North East 2001, accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

2019–20 Wildfires - Forestry Corporation

View Source
Preview of Forest structural heterogeneity positively affects bird richness and acoustic diversity in a temperate, central European forest - Frontiers
Forest structural heterogeneity positively affects bird richness and acoustic diversity in a temperate, central European forest - Frontiers
Contextual Support Journal

Forest structural heterogeneity positively affects bird richness and acoustic diversity in a temperate, central European forest - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Harvest operations and soil sustainability: A review - Forest Service
Harvest operations and soil sustainability: A review - Forest Service
Contextual Support Journal

Harvest operations and soil sustainability: A review - Forest Service

View Source
Preview of Key Issues for Realizing Open Ecoacoustic Monitoring in Australia - Frontiers
Key Issues for Realizing Open Ecoacoustic Monitoring in Australia - Frontiers
Methodology Source Journal

The Australian Acoustic Observatory

View Source
Preview of Managing harvesting residues: a systematic review of management treatments around the world | Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research | Oxford Academic
Managing harvesting residues: a systematic review of management treatments around the world | Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research | Oxford Academic
Contextual Support Journal

Managing harvesting residues: a systematic review of management treatments around the world | Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research | Oxford Academic

View Source
Preview of Smart Wireless Acoustic Sensor Network Design for Noise Monitoring in Smart Cities - MDPI
Smart Wireless Acoustic Sensor Network Design for Noise Monitoring in Smart Cities - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Smart Wireless Acoustic Sensor Network Design for Noise Monitoring in Smart Cities - MDPI

View Source
Preview of The Australian Acoustic Observatory | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,
The Australian Acoustic Observatory | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,
Methodology Source

The Australian Acoustic Observatory | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of The Use of Acoustic Indices to Determine Avian Species Richness in Audio-recordings of the - QUT ePrints, accessed August 6, 2025,
The Use of Acoustic Indices to Determine Avian Species Richness in Audio-recordings of the - QUT ePrints, accessed August 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The Use of Acoustic Indices to Determine Avian Species Richness in Audio-recordings of the - QUT ePrints, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Using acoustic monitoring to evaluate faunal ... - QUT ePrints, accessed July 18, 2025,
Using acoustic monitoring to evaluate faunal ... - QUT ePrints, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Using acoustic monitoring to evaluate faunal biodiversity in urban restoration - QUT ePrints

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 19 Mar 2026

Notes

ACI interpretation must be dynamic and context-specific. Fixed quantitative thresholds are not supported. The benchmark is the achievement of natural diurnal and seasonal acoustic complexity patterns rather than a single static value.