A noise footprint calculator as a tool for education and practice

Abstract

Although noise pollution is a major environmental risk factor for public health, the general understanding of the phenomenon and the attention paid to it is secondary to other relevant environmental issues. The carbon footprint has proved useful to quantify and visualize the impact of human activities on the environment, to compare actions, and to monitor progress towards reducing environmental emissions. Similarly, a “noise footprint” framework could be beneficial for measuring and understanding the impact of human activities and personal/collective choices on the environment in terms of noise pollution. However, how can the noise footprint be reduced and what compensatory measures can be taken? One answer comes from the soundscape approach, which considers the acoustic environment as perceived by humans in context trough a trans-disciplinary approach. According to this perspective, sound stimuli are not necessarily a source of pollution (i.e., noise) but can also be a resource for healthier environments. Building on this knowledge, soundscape interventions can not only reduce the noise footprint, but even reverse the impact on the environment and society. The present contribution introduces the roadmap towards the development of a noise footprint calculator as a simple and accessible tool for education and practice, creating noise-aware citizens.