Planning for a quieter environment in Hong Kong: Construction Noise Management Plan

Abstract

Daytime construction noise is one of the most annoying noise problems according to the findings of a household opinion survey in Hong Kong. Normally detail construction methods and equipment involved for a project are only available in the detail design stage and sometimes even after tendering of a construction contract. Early consideration on the use of quieter construction methods and equipment before tendering are essential to ensure such methods/equipment would be adopted and hence a new construction noise impact assessment approach is proposed. Under the new approach only qualitative assessment, which includes the identification of the key noisy activities and the commitment of adopting quieter construction method/equipment, would be carried out in the early planning stage and then followed by the submission of a Construction Noise Management Plan (CNMP) before tendering. The CNMP should include quantitative assessment and the particular specifications in construction contracts for adopting the quieter construction methods/equipment. To further assist the project proponents in preparing CNMP, a new web-based platform called Web-CNMP has also been developed. This paper will outline control and management of construction noise in Hong Kong, the rationale and details of this new approach, Web-CNMP and explain how they can improve the noise environment.