In acoustics, noise measurement can be for the purpose of measuring environmental noise[1] or measuring noise in the workplace. Applications include monitoring of construction sites, aircraft noise, road traffic noise, entertainment venues and neighborhood noise. One of the definitions of noise covers all "unwanted sounds".[2] When sound levels reach a high enough intensity, the sound, whether it is wanted or unwanted, may be damaging to hearing.[3] Environmental noise monitoring is the measurement of noise in an outdoor environment caused by transport (e.g. motor vehicles, aircraft, and trains), industry (e.g. machines) and recreational activities (e.g. music). The laws and limits governing environmental noise monitoring differ from country to country.
At the very least, noise may be annoying or displeasing or may disrupt the activity or balance of human or animal life, increasing levels of aggression, hypertension and stress. In the extreme, excessive levels or periods of noise can have long-term negative health effects such as hearing loss,[4] tinnitus,[5] sleep disturbances,[6] a rise in blood pressure,[7] an increase in stress[8] and vasoconstriction,[9] and an increased incidence of coronary artery disease.[10][11] In animals, noise can increase the risk of death by altering predator or prey detection and avoidance, interfering with reproduction and navigation,[12] and contributing to permanent tinnitus and hearing loss.[13][14]
Various interventions are available to combat environmental noise. Roadway noise can be reduced by the use of noise barriers,[15] limitation of vehicle speeds,[16] alteration of roadway surface texture, limitation of heavy vehicles, use of traffic controls that smooth vehicle flow to reduce braking and acceleration, and tire design.[17] Aircraft noise can be reduced by using quieter jet engines,[18][19][20] altering flight paths and considering the time of day to benefit residents near airports.[21] Industrial noise is addressed by redesign of industrial equipment, shock mounted assemblies and physical barriers in the workplace.[22]
Noise may be measured using a sound level meter at the source of the noise.[23][24][25] Alternatively, an organization or company may measure a person's exposure to environmental noise in a workplace via a noise dosimeter.[26] The measurements taken using either of these methods will be evaluated according to the standards below.
^Hansell, Anna L.; Blangiardo, Marta; Fortunato, Lea; Floud, Sarah; Hoogh, Kees de; Fecht, Daniela; Ghosh, Rebecca E.; Laszlo, Helga E.; Pearson, Clare; Beale, Linda; Beevers, Sean (2013-10-08). "Aircraft noise and cardiovascular disease near Heathrow airport in London: small area study". BMJ. 347: f5432. doi:10.1136/bmj.f5432. ISSN 1756-1833. PMID 24103537. S2CID 2991257.
^Hammer Monica S.; Swinburn Tracy K.; Neitzel Richard L. (2014-02-01). "Environmental Noise Pollution in the United States: Developing an Effective Public Health Response". Environmental Health Perspectives. 122 (2): 115–119. doi:10.1289/ehp.1307272. PMC 3915267. PMID 24311120.
^"Review of noise impacts on marine mammals yields new policy recommendations". phys.org. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
^Salvi, Richard; Boettcher, Flint A. (2008), Conn, P. Michael (ed.), "Animal Models of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss", Sourcebook of Models for Biomedical Research, Totowa, NJ: Humana Press, pp. 289–301, doi:10.1007/978-1-59745-285-4_32, ISBN 978-1-59745-285-4, retrieved 2020-10-10
^Diaz, Rodney C. (2014). "Noise-induced hearing loss: perspectives". Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery. 22 (5): 373. doi:10.1097/MOO.0000000000000084. ISSN 1531-6998. PMID 25101939.
^Barrier, Hatko (2020-04-20). "How much does noise barrier cost?". Hatko Sound Barrier. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
^"NPC Resources: Noise Increases with Vehicle Speed". nonoise.org. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
^"Reducing Aviation Noise, Advancing the Aviation Enterprise | Volpe National Transportation Systems Center". www.volpe.dot.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
^"How to Control Aircraft Noise? | Noise Pollution". Essays, Research Papers and Articles on Environmental Pollution. 2018-03-12. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
In acoustics, noisemeasurement can be for the purpose of measuring environmental noise or measuring noise in the workplace. Applications include monitoring...
Society Noise and vibration on maritime vessels Noise calculation Noise control NoisemeasurementNoise map Noise regulation Occupational noise Safe listening...
noise floor is the measure of the signal created from the sum of all the noise sources and unwanted signals within a measurement system, where noise is...
Audio noisemeasurement is a process carried out to assess the quality of audio equipment, such as the kind used in recording studios, broadcast engineering...
Active noise control (ANC), also known as noise cancellation (NC), or active noise reduction (ANR), is a method for reducing unwanted sound by the addition...
filters are widely used in the measurement of electrical noise on telephone circuits, and in the assessment of noise as perceived through the acoustic...
the source of the noise; e.g., low frequency flicker noise decreasing at 30 dB per decade (= 9 dB per octave). Phase noisemeasurement systems are alternatives...
aircraft noise is studied by measuring ambient sound without presence of any overflights, and then studying the noise addition by measurement or computer...
In contrast to shot noise,[clarification needed] the quantum mechanical uncertainty principle sets a lower limit to a measurement. The uncertainty principle...
23:00 and 07:00, so as not to interfere with residents sleep. Some noisemeasurement standards which takes into account different times of the day are...
input of the EUT, in order to get repeatable measurements of the EUT noise present at the LISN measurement port. This is important because the impedance...
schools. These standards usually specify measurement using a weighting filter, most often A-weighting. In 1972, the Noise Control Act was passed to promote a...
sound pressure levels (SPL) and, by integrating these measurements over time, provide a cumulative noise-exposure reading for a given period of time, such...
A noise barrier (also called a soundwall, noise wall, sound berm, sound barrier, or acoustical barrier) is an exterior structure designed to protect inhabitants...
objective and accurate measurement of noise. Noise is measured in decibels (dB) using a pattern-approved sound level meter. The measurements are typically taken...
contact point for all neighboring communities. At the end of 2003 three new noise monitoring stations have been set up in the region of Linz airport, which...
Noise reduction is the process of removing noise from a signal. Noise reduction techniques exist for audio and images. Noise reduction algorithms may distort...
temperature of the load (for example a resistor), and B is the measurement bandwidth. This makes the noise figure a useful figure of merit for terrestrial systems...
intensity, is the watt per square meter (W/m2). One application is the noisemeasurement of sound intensity in the air at a listener's location as a sound...
Shot NoiseNoise Radio noise. ITU-R Recommendation P.372, International Telecommunication Union, Geneva. Blackard, K.L.; et al.: Measurements and models...
more valid methods for distortion measurement. Measurements based on psychoacoustics, such as the measurement of noise, often use a weighting filter. It...
increasing the distance between source and receiver, decoupling, using noise barriers to reflect or absorb the energy of the sound waves, using damping...