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Pearsons, K.S. (1998). Awakening and motility effects of aircraft noise. In N.L. Carter and R.F.S. Job (eds.) Noise as a Public Health Problem (Noise Effects ‘98), Vol. 2, pp. 427-32. Noise Effects ‘98 PTY Ltd., Sydney, Australia.
Pearsons, K.S., Barber, D.S., Tabachnick, B.G., Fidell, S. (1995). Predicting noise-induced sleep disturbance. Journal of the Acoustic Society of America, 97: 331-338.
Reyner, L.A. and Horne, J.A. (1995). Gender- and age-related differences in sleep determined by home-recorded sleep logs and actimetry from 400 adults. Sleep 18: 127-134.
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UNIT 3: NOISE CONTROL MEASURES
1.0 Introduction 2.0 Objectives 3.0 Main content 3.1 Mitigation Measures
3.1.1 Road traffic noise
3.1.2 Railway noise and noise from trams 3.1.3 Aircraft noise
3.1.4 Machines and equipment 3.1.5 Education and public awareness 3.1.6 Land use planning
4.0 Summary 5.0 Conclusion
6.0 Tutor Marked Assignments 7.0 References and other Resources 1.0 Introduction
An integrated noise policy should include several control procedures: measures to limit the noise at the source, noise control within the sound transmission path, and protection at the receiver‘s site, land-use planning, education and raising of public awareness. Ideally, countries should give priority to precautionary measures that prevent noise, but they must also implement measures to mitigate existing noise problems.
2.0 Objectives
By the end of this unit, student should be able to understand:
i. how road traffic noise can be reduced;
ii. the role of education and public awareness in noise management and iii. other noise control measures.
3.0 Main Content 3.1 Mitigation Measures
The most effective mitigation measure is to reduce noise emissions at the source. Therefore, regulations with noise level limits for the main noise sources should be introduced.
3.1.1 Road traffic noise
Limits on the noise emission of vehicles have been introduced in many countries (Sandberg 1995). Such limits, together with the relevant measuring methods, should also be introduced in other regions of the world. esides these limits a special class of ―lownoise trucks‖ has been introduced in Europe. These trucks follow state-of-the-art noise control and are widely used in Austria and Germany (Lang 1995). Their use is encouraged by economic incentives; for
example, low-noise trucks are exempted from a night-time ban on certain routes, and their associated taxes are lower than for other trucks.
However, the main noise from traffic on highways is rolling noise. This may be reduced by quiet road surfaces (porous asphalt, ―drain asphalt‖) or by selection of quiet tires. Road traffic noise may also be reduced by speed limits, provided the limits are enforced. For example, reducing the speed of trucks from 90 to 60 km/h on concrete roads would reduce the maximum sound pressure level by 5 dB, and the equivalent sound pressure level by 4 dB. Decreasing the speed of cars from 140 to 100 km/h would result in the same noise reduction (WHO 1995). In the central parts of cities a speed limit of 30 km/h may be introduced. At 30 km/h cars produce maximum sound pressure levels that are 7 dB lower, and equivalent sound pressure levels that are 5 dB lower, than cars driving at 50 km/h.
Noise emission from road traffic may be further reduced by a night-time ban for all vehicles, or especially for heavy vehicles. Traffic management designed to ensure uniform traffic flow in towns also serves to reduce noise. ―Low-noise behaviour‖ of drivers should be encouraged as well, by advocating defensive driving manners. In some countries, car drivers use their horns frequently, which results in noise with high peak levels. The unnecessary use of horns within cities should be forbidden, especially during night-time, and this rule should be enforced.
3.1.2 Railway noise and noise from trams
The main noise sources are the engine and the wheel-rail contact. Noise at the source can be reduced by well-maintained rails and wheels, and by the use of disc brakes. Sound pressure levels may vary by more than 10 dB, depending on the type of railway material. Replacement of steel wheels by rubber wheels could also reduce noise from railways and trams substantially.
Other measures include innovations in engine and track technology (Moehler 1988; Öhrström and Skånberg 1996).
3.1.3 Aircraft noise
The noise emission of aircraft is limited by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, 1993) which estimates maximum potential sound emissions under certification procedures. In many countries, non-certified aircraft (i.e. aircraft not fulfilling the ICAO requirements) are not permitted and such aircraft may not be registered again. The use of low-noise aircraft may also be encouraged by setting noise-related charges (that is, landing charges that are related not only to aircraft weight and capacity, but also to noise emission). Night-time aircraft movements should be discouraged where they impact residential communities. Particular categories of aircraft (such as helicopters, rotorcraft and supersonic aircraft) pose additional problems that require appropriate controls.
3.1.4 Machines and equipment
Noise emission has to be considered a main property of all types of machines and equipment.
Control measures include design, insulation, enclosure and maintenance. Consumers should be encouraged to take noise emission into account when buying a product. Declaring the
A-weighted sound power level of a product would assist the consumer in making this decision. The introduction of sound labeling is a major tool for reducing the noise emission of products on the market.
3.1.5 Education and public awareness
Noise abatement policies can only be established if basic knowledge and background material is available, and the people and authorities are aware that noise is an environmental hazard that needs to be controlled. It is, therefore, necessary to include noise in school curricula and to establish scientific institutes to study acoustics and noise control. People working in such institutes should have the option of studying in other countries and exchanging information at international conferences. Dissemination of noise control information to the public is an issue for education and public awareness. Ideally, national and local advisory groups should be formed to promote the dissemination of information, to establish uniform methods of noise measurement and impact assessment, and to participate in the development and implementation of educational and public awareness programmes.
3.1.6 Land use planning
Land use planning is one of the main tools for noise control and includes:
a. Calculation methods for predicting the noise impact caused by road traffic, railways, airports, industries and others.
b. Noise level limits for various zones and building types. The limits should be based on annoyance responses to noise.
c. Noise maps or noise inventories that show the existing noise situation. The construction of noise-sensitive buildings in noisy areas, or the construction of noisy buildings in quiet areas may thus be avoided.
4.0 Summary
In this unit we have leant that:
i. Road traffic noise may also be reduced by speed limits, provided the limits are enforced.
ii. The use of low-noise aircraft may also be encouraged by setting noise-related charges.
iii. Land use planning is one of the main tools for noise control 5.0 Conclusion
With careful planning, noise exposure can be avoided or reduced. A sufficient distance between residential areas and an airport will make noise exposure minimal, although the realization of such a situation is not always possible. Noise abatement policies can only be established if basic knowledge and background material is available, and the people and authorities are aware that noise is an environmental hazard that needs to be controlled.
6.0 Tutor Marked Assignments
1. Explain how noise emission from road traffic can be reduced.
2. Describe how effective land planning can serve as a noise control measure.
7.0 References and other Resources
Berglund, B., Lindvall, T., Schwela, D.H. and World Health Organization (1999). Occupational and Environmental Health Team. ( 1999) . Guidelines for community noise. World Health Organization.
International Civil Aviation Organization (1993). International Standards and Recommended Practices: Environmental Protection. Annex 16, Volume I: "Aircraft Noise". Annex 16 (Chapter 2 and 3) to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. International Civil Aviation Organization, [Air Navigation (Noise Certification) Order 1990 -Statutory Instrument 1514], Montreal, Canada.
Lang, J. (1995). Noise abatement regulations and strategies. In: Noise - Selected presentations of an Informal Regional Consultation Meeting on Noise Pollution, 2-5 September 1991, Amman, Jordan, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Regional Centre for Environmental Health Activities (CEHA), Amman, Jordan.
Moehler, U. (1998). Community response to railway noise: A review of social surveys. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 120: 321-332.
Öhrström, E., and Skånberg, A.B. (1996). A field survey on effects of exposure to noise and vibrations from railway traffic. Part I: Annoyance and activity disturbance effects.
Journal of Sound and Vibration, 193: 39-47.
Sandberg, U. (ed.) (1995). The effects of regulations on road vehicle noise. Report by the International Institute of Noise Control Engineering Working Party, Noise News International 6: 85-113.
World Health Organization [WHO] (1995). Concern for Europe‘s Tomorrow – Health and the Environment in the WHO European Region. WHO European Centre for Environment and Health. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Germany.
Observation
Moehler, U. (1998) but date is 1988 in section 3.1.2. Community response to railway noise: A review of social surveys. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 120: 321-332.
UNIT 4: NOISE POLICIES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES