An Approach Towards Upcycling Smartphones for Acoustic Monitoring

Mobile phones have evolved far beyond traditional communication devices and are now being repurposed for innovative applications in fields such as health, education, retail, and environmental monitoring. This paper addresses the challenge of cost-effective and scalable acoustic monitoring for endangered species, proposing a sustainable approach by repurposing obsolete Android smartphones into dedicated voice recorders. These devices leverage Android Enterprise APIs for autonomous operation, optimized energy management, and minimal user interaction. The focus is on monitoring ghost moth populations, critical for assessing the ecological health of Ophiocordyceps sinensis habitats. Traditional monitoring methods are labor-intensive and disruptive, whereas acoustic monitoring offers a scalable, non-invasive alternative. The proposed system integrates smartphones with advanced configuration policies to function as autonomous acoustic monitoring devices. Methodology includes implementing energy-efficient configurations via Android Enterprise APIs, deploying policies to disable non-essential features, and enabling kiosk mode for uninterrupted operation. Results demonstrate significant improvements in recording duration and energy efficiency, achieving a 27%-29% reduction in battery consumption during managed tests compared to unmanaged devices. This approach aligns with circular economy principles, reducing e-waste while providing a scalable, sustainable and a low-cost conservation tool. Future work includes real-world field deployments and real-time data analysis for broader ecological applications.