starting sound research

I have officially become a sound researcher, starting at SIAL Sound Studio as a research assistant on the Urban Soundscape Project.
The project will develop case studies of the five Melbourne soundscape systems (located at Southbank, Northbank, ACMI, Federation Square, and Birrarung Marr). The intention is to analyse the history of each system, placing them in a contextual milieu of public art and urban design, and assess their functionality and opportunities for improvement.
This is an intensely pan-disciplinary research project with intersections across urban design, geography, public art, management theory, acoustic ecology, architecture, sound design, new marketing, environmental psychology and auditory culture.
As a human geographer with some experience in sound design and arts, this is still a stretch out of my comfort zone. More than anything else, the challenge is in the sorting and arrangement of information into clusters that make sense and are accessible.
I am learning non-linear information management programs including Devonthink and Tinderbox, and while I don't doubt they will become my indispensible scaffolding, they are intimidating to begin with.
I have made this work transition from a small pond (local council) with linear management and ideas, so the prospect of arranging my thoughts non-linearly is both a breath of fresh air and a shock to my inner conservative. In fact, every element of this job is the opposite of my old one. I am now outcome oriented and self-managing, guided by a mentor team. I no longer sweat on being late to the office, and now happily take my work home. I also am much more critical of myself, and focused on the quality of my work. It is a hugely welcome change.