Abstract
Abstract Acoucité¹, centre of expertise in environmental acoustics and observatory of the sound environment, has investigated the changes in sound environment and its perception during the French lockdown period. The approach adopted is multidimensional, since it combines long-term acoustic measurements, large area noise mapping, as well as the study of sound perception self-reported by population sample through an on-line structured questionnaire. Data from 21 continuous sound monitoring stations² were analysed for the entire lockdown period in five conurbations in the south of France and compared to typical values in the “normal” situation (before lockdown) in order to quantify the reduction in terms of sound levels. Reductions from 4 dB to 6 dB (Lden) were observed for monitoring stations with highly dominant road noise. These results were used to obtain new Strategic Noise Maps for road noise (corresponding to the lockdown situation) for the conurbations of Lyon and Grenoble. The impact of such reductions in terms of noise exposure of their inhabitants was thus assessed. An estimation of the impact on health effects in comparison with the “normal” situation (Strategic Noise Maps “Round 3 CE-DE-2002”) was also carried out. This estimation considers a scenario where the above level reductions (4 to 6 dB) would take place in the long-term. An on-line perception questionnaire was available during the lockdown period with the aim of gathering information on the way that the changes in sound environment were perceived by people all over France and ended up with more than 3000 respondents. This paper reports the main findings of the study in terms of acoustics and sound perception.
Highlights
Data from 21 continuous sound monitoring stations2 were analysed for the entire lockdown period in five conurbations in the south of France and compared to typical values in the “normal” situation in order to quantify the reduction in terms of sound levels
Aware of the impact that these actions can have in terms of the sound environment, has closely looked at the outcomes of sound levels from the permanent measurement network of the metropolis of Lyon, as well as the sound monitoring networks of its partner conurbations
In order to quantify this reduction, Acoucité conducted a comparison of the sound levels before, during and after lockdown at about twenty long-term measurement stations located in the territories of: metropolis of Lyon, Metropolis of Aix-Marseille-Provence, Metropolis of Grenoble-Alpes, Metropolis of Saint Etienne and Metropolis of Toulouse
Summary
In order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) epidemic, the French government has decreed, among other actions, a severe restriction on the movement of individuals from Tuesday 17th March to Sunday 10th May 2020.Acoucité, aware of the impact that these actions can have in terms of the sound environment, has closely looked at the outcomes of sound levels from the permanent measurement network of the metropolis of Lyon, as well as the sound monitoring networks of its partner conurbations.Data from 21 monitoring stations were collected and analysed for the entire lockdown period (8 weeks), as well as for the first 2 weeks after the lifting of lockdown.In addition to the measurements of sound levels (physical dimension), Acoucité launched an on-line survey to obtain information on the inhabitant’s perception of the sound environment during the lockdown period (perceptive dimension). In order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) epidemic, the French government has decreed, among other actions, a severe restriction on the movement of individuals from Tuesday 17th March to Sunday 10th May 2020. Aware of the impact that these actions can have in terms of the sound environment, has closely looked at the outcomes of sound levels from the permanent measurement network of the metropolis of Lyon, as well as the sound monitoring networks of its partner conurbations. Data from 21 monitoring stations were collected and analysed for the entire lockdown period (8 weeks), as well as for the first 2 weeks after the lifting of lockdown. In addition to the measurements of sound levels (physical dimension), Acoucité launched an on-line survey to obtain information on the inhabitant’s perception of the sound environment during the lockdown period (perceptive dimension). Methods and main findings of this study are described hereinafter.
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