The dramatic increase in human activities all over the world has caused, on an evolutionary time scale, a sudden rise in especially low-pitched noise levels. Ambient noise may be detrimental to birds through direct stress, masking of predator arrival or associated alarm calls, and by interference of acoustic signals in general. Two of the most important functions of avian acoustic signals are territory defence and mate attraction. Both of these functions are hampered when signal efficiency is reduced through rising noise levels, resulting in direct negative fitness consequences. Many bird species are less abundant near highways and studies are becoming available on reduced reproductive success in noisy territories. Urbanization typically leads to homogenization of bird communities over large geographical ranges. We review current evidence for whether and how anthropogenic noise plays a role in these patterns of decline in diversity and density. We also provide details of a case study on great tits (Parus major), a successful urban species. Great tits show features that other species may lack and make them unsuitable for city life. We hypothesize that behavioural plasticity in singing behaviour may allow species more time to adapt to human-altered environments and we address the potential for microevolutionary changes and urban speciation in European blackbirds (Turdus merula). We conclude by providing an overview of mitigating measures available to abate noise levels that are degrading bird breeding areas. Bird conservationists probably gain most by realizing that birds and humans often benefit from the same or only slightly modified measures.

https://www.rosemonteis.us/files/references/045644.pdf

Birdsong and anthropogenic noise: implications and applications for conservation.

Noise and well-being in urban residential environments: The potential role of perceived availability to nearby green areas

Sound-absorbing materials absorb most of the sound energy striking them, making them very useful for the control of noise. They are used in a variety of locations - close to sources of noise, in various paths, and sometimes close to receivers. Although all materials absorb some incident sound, the term "acoustical material" has been primarily applied to those materials that have been produced for the specific purpose of providing high values of absorption. The major uses of absorbing materials are almost invariably found to include the reduction of reverberant sound pressure levels and, consequently, the reduction of the reverberation time in enclosures, or rooms. A wide range of sound-absorbing materials exist. In the 1970s, public health concerns helped change the main constituents of sound-absorbing materials from asbestos-based materials to new synthetic fibers. Although, these new fibers are much safer for human health, more recently, issues related to global warming may increase the use of natural fibers instead of synthetic ones.

Recent Trends in Porous Sound-Absorbing Materials

The sources of human exposure to low-frequency noise and its effects are reviewed. Low-frequency noise is common as background noise in urban environments, and as an emission from many artificial sources: road vehicles, aircraft, industrial machinery, artillery and mining explosions, and air movement machinery including wind turbines, compressors, and ventilation or air-conditioning units. The effects of low-frequency noise are of particular concern because of its pervasiveness due to numerous sources, efficient propagation, and reduced efficacy of many structures (dwellings, walls, and hearing protection) in attenuating low-frequency noise compared with other noise. Intense low-frequency noise appears to produce clear symptoms including respiratory impairment and aural pain. Although the effects of lower intensities of low-frequency noise are difficult to establish for methodological reasons, evidence suggests that a number of adverse effects of noise in general arise from exposure to low-frequency noise: Loudness judgments and annoyance reactions are sometimes reported to be greater for low-frequency noise than other noises for equal sound-pressure level; annoyance is exacerbated by rattle or vibration induced by low-frequency noise; speech intelligibility may be reduced more by low-frequency noise than other noises except those in the frequency range of speech itself, because of the upward spread of masking. On the other hand, it is also possible that low-frequency noise provides some protection against the effects of simultaneous higher frequency noise on hearing. Research needs and policy decisions, based on what is currently known, are considered.

/pdf/sources-and-effects-of-low-frequency-noise-hc722w2uv6.pdf

Sources and effects of low-frequency noise.

This report documents the research performed under NCHRP Project 1-43 It describes the work activities undertaken in the study and presents the results of those activities toward the development of the Guide for Pavement Friction The information provided in this report serves as the basis for many of the guidelines and recommendations contained in the Guide The information will be of interest to highway materials, construction, pavement management, safety, design, and research engineers, as well as others concerned with the friction and related surface characteristics of highway pavements Using information collected through detailed literature reviews and surveys/interviews with state highway agencies, this report discusses a variety of aspects regarding pavement friction It describes and illustrates the importance of friction in highway safety, as well as the principles of friction, as defined by micro-texture and macro-texture It identifies the factors affecting friction and examines the ways that friction can be measured (equipment and procedures) and expressed (reporting indices) Most importantly, it presents valuable information on (a) the management of friction on existing highway pavements and (b) the design of new highway surfaces with adequate friction This information focuses on techniques for monitoring friction and crashes and determining the need for remedial action, as well as identifying combinations of aggregate (micro-texture) and mix types/surface texturing methods (macro-texture) that satisfy friction design requirements The report includes various conclusions and recommendations based on the results of the study, and it features five appendixes containing supplemental information on friction

Guide for Pavement Friction

Ksiązka przedstawia zagadnienia związane z halasem opon samochodowych poruszających sie po nawierzchniach drogowych. Zawiera rozdzialy poświecone budowie opon, budowie nawierzchni drogowych, akustyce, mechanizmom generowania halasu, wplywie czynnikow eksploatacyjnych i konstrukcyjnych na halas opon, metodom pomiarowym, modelowaniu, metodom ograniczania halasu opon, zagadnieniom prawnym i normalizacyjnym. Jest kompletnym przewodnikiem po zagadnieniach związanych z halasem opon i zawiera wyniki wieloletnich badan prowadzonych przez autorow uzupelnione przez informacje zaczerpniete z ponad 600 innych pozycji bibliograficznych.

Tyre/road noise reference book

At this conference, the subject of tyre/road noise is on the agenda to a greater extent than ever before. This paper aims at giving an insight into the past, present and future of tyre/road noise e ...

/pdf/tyre-road-noise-myths-and-realities-1xsglionyq.pdf

Tyre/road noise : myths and realities

Road traffic noise—The influence of the road surface and its characterization

The idea of designing and building quieter pavements is not new, but in recent years there has been a groundswell of interest in making this a higher priority. Various State Highway Agencies and the Federal Highway Administration have responded accordingly with both research and implementation activities that both educate on the state-of-the-practice, and advance the state-of-the-art. "The Little Book of Quieter Pavements" was developed with this purpose in mind… to help educate the transportation industry, and in some cases the general public, about the numerous principles behind quieter pavements, and how they connect together.

/pdf/the-little-book-of-quieter-pavements-56rybdd08d.pdf

The Little Book of Quieter Pavements

During the last decade, in many countries, more deeply textured anti-skid road surfacings were implemented which appeared to be noisier and drew public awareness to what could be called "pavement noise" The surface characteristics of roads are now known as the main factors influencing car tire/road noise In order to harmonize safety and environmental requirements and also to define a reference surface for measurement and regulation purposes, a better knowledge of the noise-relevant surface characteristics is required This was the common aim of two initially independent research works conducted at National Road and Traffic Research Institute in Sweden and Road Research Center in Belgium The studies yielded complementary results and conclusions, which are summarized in this two-part paper Subjects covered include measurements, noise/texture correlations, influence of vehicle speed, noise generating mechansims, and others

Ulf Sandberg

Papers

Tyre/road noise reference book

Tyre/road noise : myths and realities

Road traffic noise—The influence of the road surface and its characterization

The Little Book of Quieter Pavements

Road surface influence on tire/road noise--1