Noise is defined as any undesired sound. Urban noise and its effect on citizens area significant environmental problem, and the increasing level of noise has become a critical problem in some cities. Fortunately, noise pollution can be mitigated by better planning of urban areas or controlled by administrative regulations. However, the execution of such actions requires well-established systems for noise monitoring. In this thesis, we present a solution for noise measurement and classification using a low-power and inexpensive IoT unit. To measure the noise level, we implement an algorithm for calculating the sound pressure level in dB. We achieve a measurement error of less than 1 dB. Our machine learning-based method for noise classification uses Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients for audio feature extraction and four supervised classification algorithms (that is, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, bootstrap aggregating, and random forest). We evaluate our approach experimentally with a dataset of about 3000 sound samples grouped in eight sound classes (such as car horn, jackhammer, or street music). We explore the parameter space of the four algorithms to estimate the optimal parameter values for the classification of sound samples in the dataset under study. We achieve noise classification accuracy in the range of 88% – 94%.

This study investigates the performance of Logistic Regression, k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Random Forest algorithms in predicting customer churn within an e-commerce platform. The choice of the mentioned algorithms was due to the unique characteristics of the dataset and the unique perception and value provided by each algorithm. Iterative models ‘examinations, encompassing preprocessing techniques, feature engineering, and rigorous evaluations, were conducted. Logistic Regression showcased moderate predictive capabilities but lagged in accurately identifying potential churners due to its assumptions of linearity between log odds and predictors. KNN emerged as the most accurate classifier, achieving superior sensitivity and specificity (98.22% and 96.35%, respectively), outperforming other models. Random Forest, with sensitivity and specificity (91.75% and 95.83% respectively) excelled in specificity but slightly lagged in sensitivity. Feature importance analysis highlighted "Tenure" as the most impactful variable for churn prediction. Preprocessing techniques differed in performance across models, emphasizing the importance of tailored preprocessing. The study's findings underscore the significance of continuous model refinement and optimization in addressing complex business challenges like customer churn. The insights serve as a foundation for businesses to implement targeted retention strategies, mitigating customer attrition, and promote growth in e-commerce platforms.