Noise Standards Research Articles

Study on need of monitoring sound pollution at developing urban localities

Environmental pollution is a very serious issue around the world due to development of humankind towards well-being and modernization. It not only impacts health but also affects over all biodiversity. Sound does nothing till it is up to certain limit, as it creates pressure on the particles of the medium, when the limit of pressure is increased, it becomes nuisance. Sound pollution is the one important agent out of other factors that disrupts the living of humans and its ecosystem. It is related with physical, psychological or emotional states. Sound pollution adversely affects the humankind and animals leading to irritation, loss of concentration, and loss of hearing and abnormal behaviour of animals. The present work emphasizes the need to monitor and control the sound pollution in the developing cities to tackle the related future problems, to investigate the status and validity of ambient noise standards in the Indian situation, also to propose need of noise control based on the available knowledge on noise policies and regulations. The study is an approach towards importance of monitoring the sound pollution, its sources and its effects on the human activities or the ecosystem with respect to degrees of exposure in the newly developing urban localities with moderate commercial activities. The impact of sound pollution will increase if appropriate measures are not taken.

The knowledge of medical staff on the impact of noise on neonatal intensive care units patients and its application in practice.

Noise is an undesirable environmental factor whose control and reduction should be standard in every Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its impact can have negative effects on both the mental and physical health of the body. Newborns, especially premature infants, are particularly sensitive to the negative effects of noise. the negative impact of noise can be reduced through appropriate behaviour of the medical staff. Aim. The aim of the study is to analyse the knowledge of medical staff on the impact of noise on newborns staying in Neonatal Intensive Care Units and to evaluate its use in practice. Methods. A total of 104 respondents working in neonatal wards participated in the study. The survey was conducted online using social media. The study employed the diagnostic survey method with a self-designed questionnaire. The first part of the ques- tionnaire concerned the aspects of knowledge on the impact of noise on hospitalised new- borns; the second part addressed the socio-demographic issues of the medical staff. Results. Training on noise exposure for newborns is not common in the workplace. There are no recommendations regulating noise standards and control equipment. The surveyed individuals do not have in-depth knowledge about acceptable noise levels in newborn rooms. Only one in three employees was able to provide the correct answers in this regard. Older employees with longer experience and residents of large cities scored higher in knowledge than younger individuals. Those with a higher level of knowledge and satisfaction with their work and earnings show the greatest care in reducing noise intensity in the ward. Conclusions. In neonatal pathology wards and (NICUs), noise standards and recom- mendations are more common than in physiology wards. Employees caring for new- borns need training on the sources and impact of noise on babies. it is necessary to limit the noise generated by the staff, such as loud conversations, slamming furniture, placing objects on incubators, or moving equipment.

Study of the acoustic features and exposures of some typical construction noise sources in India

Occupational noise research and occupational noise standards to date are limited to continuous, non-fluctuating broadband noise and uniform exposure. However, in many occupational environments, such as the construction sites, the workers may be exposed to continuous or intermittent noise of varied spectral and temporal patterns, and their exposure may not be continuous or uniform. These differences in sound signals and sound exposures may have different effect on humans. This paper studies the sound signals of various sources in construction sites of the institute campus through in-situ measurements. The key acoustic features and the spectral content of the sound signals are analyzed. The findings show that construction workers in India are exposed to construction noise with widely varying spectral content. A modified permissible upper limit of construction noise is developed for the presented case study and it is found that five out of eight studied construction sources violate the permissible limit and pose a noise hazard to the construction workers. The study suggests the need for updating occupational noise guidelines based on the noise types and exposure types; and imposing stricter measures for protecting the workers against the construction noise.

A fundamental study on energy-based assessment of Shinkansen railway noise in Japan

This study examines the assessment of environmental noise standards for the Shinkansen in Japan, which predominantly relies on averaging the highest noise levels, specifically L_(A,Smax) obtained from actual measurements taken at key locations along the Shinkansen routes. In contrast, the international approach, based on Europe, typically involves energy-based evaluations that calculate noise exposure over time using estimated values. By investigating the correlation between L_(A,Smax) and energy-based noise levels (L_AE), including data from the latest Shinkansen model, the N700S, this research aims to explore the potential for adopting energy-based noise assessments in Japan, aligning with international methodologies. Additionally, it compares the relationship between measured L_AE and L_(A,Smax) with that of estimated L_(A,Smax) and measured L_(A,Smax). The study also examines the calculation equations by derivingL_(A,Smax) from L_AE and considers factors contributing to the increase in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), such as differences in routes, distances from the track surface to the measurement points, vehicle types, and the influence of building clusters.

Secondary Skin Facade for Urban Noise Reduction: A Case Study of Bandung Creative Hub Co-working Space

Abstract In recent years, the proliferation of co-working spaces has offered a collaborative environment for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses in urban areas. However, the issue of environmental noise within these spaces presents a challenge to comfort and productivity. This study focuses on the Bandung Creative Hub (BCH), a prominent co-working space in Bandung, Indonesia, and investigates the efficacy of facade engineering solutions, particularly the installation of secondary skin, in mitigating urban noise pollution. Through a comprehensive analysis utilizing both empirical measurements and computational simulations, the study aims to understand the intricacies of noise dynamics within the BCH co-working space. Empirical measurements using the Noise Tool software capture ambient noise levels, while computational simulations with IBANA provide predictive modeling of acoustic conditions. The results reveal a significant reduction in noise levels, with the sound level around the workspace corridor decreasing by approximately 23.3%, from 62 dB to 47 dB, indicating the effectiveness of facade engineering interventions. The limitations of prior research, which concentrated solely on barrier intervention methods and spacing ratio. Nevertheless, this study introduces a fresh perspective by examining the efficacy of secondary skin facade engineering in achieving noise standards and enhancing the quality of urban environments.

Analysis of Noise Level in Soekarno Hatta International Airport Area

One of the environmental impacts in the operation of an airport is noise, which originates from aircraft activities. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is a public service airport located in Tangerang. This study aims to determine the noise levels around Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.The research results indicate that the noise levels of aircraft around Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in the northern part were collected using a sound level meter and then analyzed using the Weighted Equivalent Continuous Perceived Noise Level (WECPNL) method from aircraft landing activities. The results show that the noise intensity is categorized within the Weighted Equivalent Continuous Noise Level (WECPNL) range from ≥ 75 to ≥ 80 dBA.The researchers suggest that the airport authorities conduct regular noise measurements to monitor and control noise levels following the established noise standards and regulations to prevent direct impacts on the surrounding communities of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport

Road traffic noise pollution and prevalence of ischemic heart disease: modelling potential association and abatement strategies in noise-exposed areas.

In many developing countries with surging vehicular traffic and inadequate traffic management, excessive road traffic noise exposure poses substantial health concerns, linked to increased stress, insomnia and other metabolic disorders. This study aims to assess the linkage between sociodemographic factors, traffic noise levels in residential areas and health effects using a cross-sectional study analyzing respondents' perceptions and reports. Noise levels were measured at 57 locations in Srinagar, India, using noise level meter. Sound PLAN software was employed to generate noise contour maps, enabling the visualization of noise monitoring locations and facilitating the assessment of noise levels along routes in proximity to residential areas. Correlation analysis showed a strong linear relationship between field-measured and modelled noise (r2 = 0.88). Further, a questionnaire-based survey was carried out near the sampling points to evaluate the association of ischemic heart disease with traffic noise. Residents exposed to noise levels (Lden > 60dB(A)) were found to have a 2.24 times higher odds ratio. Compared to females, males reported a 16% higher prevalence of the disease. Multi-faceted policy strategies involving noise mapping initiatives, source noise standards, traffic flow urban mobility optimization, smart city initiatives and stringent litigatory measures could significantly reduce its detrimental impact on public health. Finally, this study envisions a region-specific strong regulatory framework for integrating noise pollution mitigation strategies into the public health action plans of developing nations.

Effective low noise rumble strip design and performance

The purpose of the NCHRP 15-68 Effective Low Noise Rumble Strips project was to develop and recommend a rumble strip design capable of minimizing the exterior noise that can impact residences along a roadway while producing sufficient noise and vibration inside the vehicle to alert the operator of lane departure. A review of the previous research indicated that this could best be accomplished with a rumble strip of a sinusoidal profile. Twenty sinusoidal test sites were installed in Washington State, varying the wavelength from 12 to 24 inches, the peak-to-peak amplitude from 5/16 to 1/2 inch, and the recess from 0 to 1/8 inch. Each of the test sites were evaluated using the recommended test procedure developed during Phase I of the NCHRP project, which included a primary interior noise measurement, a primary interior vibration measurement, and an exterior pass-by measurement. Based on the accepted interior noise and vibration standard of 10 dB or more difference on and off the strips and the design goal used in this research of 5 dB or less at the pass-by location, the recommended rumble strip design is a sinusoidal profile with a 15-inch wavelength, a 7/16- to 1/2-inch peak-to-peak amplitude, and a 0-inch recess.

Aviation Noise Review

The U.S. airlines have long understood that if we are to remain a critical engine of prosperity and progress, we must proactively address the environmental impacts associated with aviation, including noise. Through enduring research and development and public-private partnership programs bringing together government, industry, and academic institutions, significant technological advances have led to the development of much quieter aircraft. U.S. airlines have worked in cooperation with the FAA and other aviation stakeholders for decades to reduce aircraft noise, achieving tremendous results. This paper will include a review of the airline response to FAA's recent noise policy review, including a review of the evolution of noise standards for aircraft, which has resulted in a lower number of people exposed to significant levels of aircraft noise, even while the number of passenger enplanements continues to grow. Despite this progress, aircraft noise remains an important issue for many communities and an array of aircraft noise management regulations and procedures must be pursued to address noise concerns.

Graph-Based Electroencephalography Analysis in Tinnitus Therapy.

Tinnitus is the perception of sounds like ringing or buzzing in the ears without any external source, varying in intensity and potentially becoming chronic. This study aims to enhance the understanding and treatment of tinnitus by analyzing a dataset related to tinnitus therapy, focusing on electroencephalography (EEG) signals from patients undergoing treatment. The objectives of the study include applying various preprocessing techniques to ensure data quality, such as noise elimination and standardization of sampling rates, and extracting essential features from EEG signals, including power spectral density and statistical measures. The novelty of this research lies in its innovative approach to representing different channels of EEG signals as new graph network representations without losing any information. This transformation allows for the use of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), specifically Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) combined with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, to model intricate relationships and temporal dependencies within the EEG data. This method enables a comprehensive analysis of the complex interactions between EEG channels. The study reports an impressive accuracy rate of 99.41%, demonstrating the potential of this novel approach. By integrating graph representation and deep learning, this research introduces a new methodology for analyzing tinnitus therapy data, aiming to contribute to more effective treatment strategies for tinnitus sufferers.

Underwater radiated noise numerical analysis of polar transport vessels under ship-ice-water-air coupling continuous icebreaking based on the S-ALE algorithm

With the gradual opening of the Arctic channel, the underwater radiated noise induced by the ship-ice collision cannot be ignored. However, the underwater radiated noise induced by ship-ice collision is significantly different from that of ships navigating in open water. To explore the response rule of transient underwater radiation noise induced by ship-ice collision, this paper proposes a simplified numerical analysis method of ship-ice collision-induced transient underwater radiated noise in the full frequency band by combining the explicit dynamic method and acoustic analysis method. The ship-ice-water-air coupled collision analysis method based on the S-ALE algorithm is used to simulate and verify the ice load in the process of ship-ice continuous collision at different speeds. Then, the frequency-domain acoustic analysis method is used to predict the transient underwater radiated noise response in the full frequency band under icebreaking excitation and evaluate it by referring to the steady-state underwater radiated noise standard. The results show that the simplified analysis method can effectively predict the transient underwater radiation noise under icebreaking excitation. Under the icebreaking excitation, the radiation shape is irregularly scattered and the radiation direction is concentrated towards the bottom and bow of the ship with the frequency increase. The influence range of transient underwater radiated noise is mainly within 1000 Hz at different speeds, and the variation in the ship's speed affects the amplitude of the sound power level and the smoothness of the periodic response. The synthesized total sound power levels are 172.56 dB (V = 2.0kn), 174.15 dB (V = 2.5kn), 175.70 dB (V = 3.0kn), and 182.49 dB (V = 4.0kn), respectively. According to the comparison with the evaluation standard, it is found that the transient underwater radiation noise induced by ship icebreaking has a greater impact on marine organisms. It should give more detailed requirements within 10–1000 Hz when using relevant standards to evaluate underwater radiated noise induced by polar icebreaking. This paper can provide a reference for the research of underwater radiated noise induced by ship-ice collision and the formulation of relevant standards.

Construction Noise Reduction Research on Rail Transit Projects: A Case Study in China

With the advancement of China’s construction industry and the rapid pace of urbanization, there has been heightened concern about and demand for improved construction environments. Rail transit projects commonly experience noise levels that exceed standard limits, resulting in a significant challenge posed by construction noise pollution. This issue not only disrupts the normal operations of construction sites but also profoundly impacts the mental well-being, auditory health, and nervous system of both construction workers and nearby residents. Consequently, effectively addressing construction noise pollution has emerged as a pressing issue. This study systematically reviewed domestic and international construction noise standards, integrating field research and noise monitoring data from construction sites. It provided a detailed analysis of the sources and hazards of construction noise and explored the source and propagation characteristics of construction noise from rail transit projects. The feasibility of controlling construction noise from various perspectives was investigated. Finally, the study analyzed the causes of construction noise exceeding standard limits, proposed layout strategies and control methods tailored to the stages of construction, and offered comprehensive noise control recommendations, culminating in a complete control process. This study fills a gap in research related to construction noise for rail transit projects, provides a valuable foundation for developing construction noise control objectives, and offers practical guidance on the implementation of measurement and control methods. These insights will help advance the field of construction noise control and management, and provide valuable insights for similar domestic rail transit projects.

Non-systematic noise reduction framework for ToF camera

Time-of-flight (ToF) cameras enable a diverse range of applications due to their high frame rate, high resolution, and low cost. However, these cameras suffer from non-systematic noise during the acquisition of high-quality depth images, severely affecting their range accuracy. In this paper, we propose a non-systematic noise reduction framework named “DCS2Noise” to address this issue. This framework comprises a three-stage denoising strategy, involving noise standardization, deep learning-based differential correlation sampling (DCS) denoising and further enhancement with pairwise noise suppression. This framework directly captures and denoises DCS images during the ToF imaging process, making it more suitable for non-systematic noise reduction in ToF cameras. Compared to traditional methods, our approach significantly reduces the root mean squared error (RMSE) and improves the noise reduction ratio, peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), and structural similarity index measure (SSIM). We believe that this study provides new insights into understanding noise in ToF cameras and offers effective references for reducing non-systematic noise in three-dimensional measuring instruments.

Impact of Ship Noise on Seafarers’ Sleep Disturbances and Daily Activities: An Analysis of Fatigue Increase and Maritime Accident Risk through a Survey

This study delves into the impact of ship noise on seafarer well-being, emphasizing fatigue—a significant contributor to maritime accidents due to human error. The investigation, centered around the hypothesis that IMO ship construction standards may not adequately minimize noise levels in seafarer cabins, seeks to establish whether these levels are sufficient to ensure seafarer security and prevent sleep disturbances. According to current IMO regulations, noise levels are set at 55 dB for vessels under 10,000 gross tonnage and 60 dB for those over 10,000, yet WHO guidelines recommend a maximum of 40 dB in bedrooms to avoid sleep disruption. A comprehensive survey involving 221 cadets demonstrates that 79.6% of participants experience sleep disturbances, work disruptions, and stress due to noise, indicating that the present noise standards are insufficient. This paper argues that reducing noise levels in individual cabins to below 40 dB is critical for enhancing seafarer health and safety and could significantly reduce human error-related maritime accidents. The findings advocate for more stringent noise control measures and regulatory reforms to bridge the knowledge gaps and improve labor protection in the maritime industry.

Перспективы развития дизельной топливной аппаратуры в ближайшем будущем

The analysis of the positive qualities of Common Rail (CR) fuel equipment widely used in diesels today is given. The possibility of optimal diesel control, high injection pressure, elimination of repeated fuel injections, improvement of fuel efficiency, reduction of the difference in the amplitude of torque fluctuations in the cylinders, very precise regulation of the beginning of fuel supply, a high degree of diagnosability of fuel equipment, the possibility of precise regulation of the uniformity of fuel supply through the cylinders, the ability to ensure optimal regulation of the turbocharger are noted, the ability to turn off a number of cylinders and ensure that cycles are skipped when operating under partial loading conditions. Disadvantages are also presented, in particular, a large number of various elements and sensors, activators and other controls are included in the injection system, as well as the increased demands of CR-type fuel equipment on the purity and quality of diesel fuel. When operating in low-flow modes, the injection pressure is significantly reduced to a value of 60-80 MPa, which leads to fuel overspending, the cost of fuel equipment is about twice as much as classical fuel equipment, the starting properties of diesel (as evidenced by operation) decrease sharply after 500-800 hours of operation, problems arise with maintaining high pressure in the ramp (battery), possible ruptures and leakages of the high-pressure system lead to increased fire hazard of the engine. The reasons for increased carbon formation and loss of operational efficiency and reliability are listed. Using the methods of relative penalty points, the quality of traditional fuel equipment and CR-type equipment was compared. Based on the analysis, a conclusion is made about the scope of application of this new system and traditional classical fuel equipment in the near future. The operating conditions, the qualifications of the maintenance personnel, modern requirements of standards for noise, toxicity of diesel engines and their reliability indicators were taken into account.

Aerodynamic noise characteristics of a centrifugal fan in high-altitude environments.

In high-altitude areas, the air is thin and the atmospheric pressure is low, which can affect the performance of centrifugal fans and aerodynamic noise. In this paper, steady and unsteady simulations of a centrifugal fan flow field are performed at altitudes of 0, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 m, and the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation is used to predict the aerodynamic noise of the fan. The results indicate that the tonal and broadband noise generated by the fan decrease with increasing altitude, and the A-weighted sound pressure level of each frequency band of the fan decreases when the air volume is held fixed. The maximum sound power level Lwmax, sound pressure pulsation interval, and total noise sound pressure level Lp decrease linearly with increasing altitude. For every 1000 m increase in altitude, Lwmax and Lp decrease by 0.45 dB and 1.05 dB respectively. The fan noise characteristics, performance parameters, and human auditory perception are the main factors that affect the establishment of fan noise standards in high-altitude areas.

A Review of the Current Regulatory Framework for Supersonic Civil Aircraft: Noise and Emissions Regulations

The request for faster and greener civil aviation is urging the worldwide scientific community and aerospace industry to develop a new generation of supersonic aircraft, which are expected to be environmentally sustainable, and to guarantee a high level of protection for citizens. The availability of novel propulsive technologies, together with the development of new civil supersonic passenger aircraft configurations and missions, is pushing international authorities to update the regulatory framework to limit nuisances on the ground and the contribution to climate change. Existing ICAO noise and emissions standards are outdated as they were developed in the 1970s and tailored to Concorde, the only SST that has ever operated in Western airspace. This article provides (i) a comprehensive review of current environmental regulations for SST, encompassing noise and pollutant emissions near airports (LTO cycle) as well as CO2 emissions and sonic booms, and (ii) updated information about the ongoing rulemaking activities by ICAO, FAA and EASA. This review clearly highlights the following findings: (i) the need to revise current rules to better fit future SST design, operations and technologies; (ii) the need to introduce new regulations to cover additional aspects, including stratospheric water vapour emissions and ozone depletion; and (iii) the need to support regulatory activities with solid technical bases, fostering cooperation with academia, research centres and industry in R&D projects. Eventually, a practical example of how SST rulemaking activities are supported by the collaborative research H2020 MORE&LESS is reported.

Assessment and Control of Metro-induced Vibration and Secondary Noise of TOD Buildings

Metro-induced vibration and structural secondary noise are becoming increasingly outstanding, which greatly restrict the further development of TOD (Transit-oriented development) project. To solve this problem, an evaluation methodology and dynamic model of vibration and secondary noise induced by metro train is developed firstly. Then the characteristic and distribution of vibration and secondary noise of the TOD subject to running train are studied. Finally, the control effect of steel-spring floating slab track (FST) on vibration and secondary noise of TOD project is evaluated. Results show that: when evaluating environmental problem caused by metro train, the standard of secondary noise is more strict than that of vibration. Main frequency of metro-induced vibration is concentrated in 40–63 Hz, and the second main frequency is concentrated in 6.3–16 Hz. The business building has the largest vibration due to its closest distance to the metro line. Secondary noises of most of the TOD buildings exceed the limit value, and the maximum exceeding value is 11.7 dB(A). FST is effective in controlling train-induced vibration and secondary noise of TOD buildings. FST cannot reduce vibrations in full frequency band, and vibration in some frequency bands are even amplified according to the stiffness of steel spring.

Noise Regulations in Japan

For noise regulations in Japan, environmental quality standards as noise-related administrative targets are provided under the Basic Environment Law and various measures are put in place under the Noise Regulation Law which was legislated as a law for the implementation of the Basic Environment Law. Environmental quality standards for general ambient noise are established by certain land-use types and time divisions, while separate environmental quality standards are specifically set for aircraft and Shinkansen Superexpress Railway noise. The Noise Regulation Law controls noise from factories and business that have specified facilities and sit in designated areas as well as noise from specified types of construction operations, with proper demarcation of regulation roles among national and local governments. Also, rationalization of Noise Regulation Low and Vibration Regulation Low were considered from 2021 to 2022. In recent years, new types of noise problems that are not well controlled by the Noise Regulation Law or the application of environmental quality standards, including complaints against noise from facilities not regulated under the Noise Regulation Law and against low-frequency noise, calling for responses to these problems.

A study on how to apply improvements to standards for measurement elevator noise in high-rise residential buildings

Elevators are essential equipment in high-rise buildings. In addition to residential buildings, elevator noise that can occur in high-rise buildings such as hotels, hospitals, and offices affects residants as noise. ISO 16032 is the current international standard for elevator noise measurement methods. Through many previous studies, the elevator noise measurement method was continuously studied. In particular, problems that are difficult to apply to high-rise buildings, in the case of high-rise apartments in Korea, have been verified. In order to solve these problems, previous studies have set items that need improvement. In addition, improvement plans were proposed through various experiments in apartment houses in Korea. In this study, I try to determine whether the improvement plan can be appropriately applied to the improvement of the current standard, and to find out what needs to be discussed in future research.