Showing papers on "Noise pollution published in 2014"

Diagnosing New York city's noises with ubiquitous data

Abstract: Many cities suffer from noise pollution, which compromises people's working efficiency and even mental health. New York City (NYC) has opened a platform, entitled 311, to allow people to complain about the city's issues by using a mobile app or making a phone call; noise is the third largest category of complaints in the 311 data. As each complaint about noises is associated with a location, a time stamp, and a fine-grained noise category, such as "Loud Music" or "Construction", the data is actually a result of "human as a sensor" and "crowd sensing", containing rich human intelligence that can help diagnose urban noises. In this paper we infer the fine-grained noise situation (consisting of a noise pollution indicator and the composition of noises) of different times of day for each region of NYC, by using the 311 complaint data together with social media, road network data, and Points of Interests (POIs). We model the noise situation of NYC with a three dimension tensor, where the three dimensions stand for regions, noise categories, and time slots, respectively. Supplementing the missing entries of the tensor through a context-aware tensor decomposition approach, we recover the noise situation throughout NYC. The information can inform people and officials' decision making. We evaluate our method with four real datasets, verifying the advantages of our method beyond four baselines, such as the interpolation-based approach.

Acoustic communication in a noisy world: can fish compete with anthropogenic noise?

Abstract: Anthropogenic (man-made) noise has changed the acoustic environment both on land and underwater and is now recognized as a pollutant of international concern. Increasing numbers of studies are assessing how noise pollution affects animals across a range of scales, from individuals to communities, but the topic receiving the most research attention has been acoustic communication. Although there is now an extensive literature on how signalers might avoid potential masking from anthropogenic noise, the vast majority of the work has been conducted on birds and marine mammals. Fish represent more than half of all vertebrate species, are a valuable and increasingly utilized model taxa for understanding behavior, and provide the primary source of protein for >1 billion people and the principal livelihoods for hunderds of millions. Assessing the impacts of noise on fish is therefore of clear biological, ecological, and societal importance. Here, we begin by indicating why acoustic communication in fish is likely to be impacted by anthropogenic noise. We then use studies from other taxa to outline 5 main ways in which animals can alter their acoustic signaling behavior when there is potential masking due to anthropogenic noise and assess evidence of evolutionary adaptation and behavioral plasticity in response to abiotic and biotic noise sources to consider whether such changes are feasible in fish. Finally, we suggest directions for future study of fish acoustic behavior in this context and highlight why such research may allow important advances in our general understanding of the impact of this global pollutant.

Urban green spaces' effectiveness as a psychological buffer for the negative health impact of noise pollution: a systematic review.

Abstract: Noise pollution is one of the four major pollutions in the world. Little evidence exists about the actual preventive benefits of psychological noise attenuation by urban green spaces, especially from the perspective of environmental medicine and, to the best of our knowledge, there is not a systematic analysis on this topic. The aim of this review was to systematically evaluate whether there is conclusive scientific evidence for the effectiveness of urban green spaces as a psychological buffer for the negative impact of noise pollution on human health and to promote an evidence-based approach toward this still growing environmental hazard. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for experimental and epidemiological studies published before June 04, 2013 in English and Spanish. Data was independently extracted in two step process by the authors. Due to the heterogeneity of the included studies qualitative assessment was performed. We found moderate evidence that the presence of vegetation can generally reduce the negative perception of noise (supported with an electroencephalogram test in one of the experimental studies; consistent with the data from two epidemiological studies; one experiment found no effect and one was inconclusive about the positive effect). This review fills a gap in the literature and could help researchers further clarify the proper implementation of urban green spaces as a psychological buffer in areas with population exposed to chronic noise pollution.

Vehicular traffic noise modeling using artificial neural network approach

Abstract: In India, the transportation sector is growing rapidly and the number of vehicles on Indian roads is increasing at a very fast rate leading to overcrowded roads and noise pollution. The traffic scenario is typically different from other countries due to predominance of a variety of two-wheelers which has doubled in the last decade and forms a major chunk of heterogeneous volume of vehicles. Also tendency of not following the traffic norms and poor maintenance adds to the noise generation. In the present study, Multilayer feed forward back propagation (BP) neural network has been trained by Levenberg–Marquardt (L–M) algorithm to develop an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model for predicting highway traffic noise. The developed ANN model is used to predict 10 Percentile exceeded sound level (L10) and Equivalent continuous sound level (Leq) in dB (A). The model input parameters are total vehicle volume/hour, percentage of heavy vehicles and average vehicle speed. The predicted highway noise descriptors, Leq and L10 from ANN approach and regression analysis have also been compared with the field measurement. The results show that the percentage difference is much less using ANN approach as compared to regression analysis. Further goodness-of-fit of the models against field data has been checked by statistical t-test at 5% significance level and proved the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach as a powerful technique for traffic noise modeling.

The Vindication of Don Quixote: The Impact of Noise and Visual Pollution from Wind Turbines

Abstract: In this article we quantify the marginal external effects of nearby land-based wind turbines on property prices. We succeed in separating the effect of noise and visual pollution from wind turbines. This is achieved by using a dataset consisting of 12,640 traded residential properties located within 2,500 meters of a turbine sold in the period 2000–2011. Our results show that wind turbines have a significant negative impact on the price schedule of neighboring residential properties. Visual pollution reduces the residential sales price by up to about 3%, while noise pollution reduces the price between 3% and 7%.

SoundCompass: A Distributed MEMS Microphone Array-Based Sensor for Sound Source Localization

Abstract: Sound source localization is a well-researched subject with applications ranging from localizing sniper fire in urban battlefields to cataloging wildlife in rural areas. One critical application is the localization of noise pollution sources in urban environments, due to an increasing body of evidence linking noise pollution to adverse effects on human health. Current noise mapping techniques often fail to accurately identify noise pollution sources, because they rely on the interpolation of a limited number of scattered sound sensors. Aiming to produce accurate noise pollution maps, we developed the SoundCompass, a low-cost sound sensor capable of measuring local noise levels and sound field directionality. Our first prototype is composed of a sensor array of 52 Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphones, an inertial measuring unit and a low-power field-programmable gate array (FPGA). This article presents the SoundCompass's hardware and firmware design together with a data fusion technique that exploits the sensing capabilities of the SoundCompass in a wireless sensor network to localize noise pollution sources. Live tests produced a sound source localization accuracy of a few centimeters in a 25-m2 anechoic chamber, while simulation results accurately located up to five broadband sound sources in a 10,000-m2 open field.

Variation in harbour porpoise activity in response to seismic survey noise

Abstract: Animals exposed to anthropogenic disturbance make trade-offs between perceived risk and the cost of leaving disturbed areas. Impact assessments tend to focus on overt behavioural responses leading to displacement, but trade-offs may also impact individual energy budgets through reduced foraging performance. Previous studies found no evidence for broad-scale displacement of harbour porpoises exposed to impulse noise from a 10 day two-dimensional seismic survey. Here, we used an array of passive acoustic loggers coupled with calibrated noise measurements to test whether the seismic survey influenced the activity patterns of porpoises remaining in the area. We showed that the probability of recording a buzz declined by 15% in the ensonified area and was positively related to distance from the source vessel. We also estimated received levels at the hydrophones and characterized the noise response curve. Our results demonstrate how environmental impact assessments can be developed to assess more subtle effects of noise disturbance on activity patterns and foraging efficiency.

Development of an environmental justice index to determine socio-economic disparities of noise pollution and green space in residential areas in Berlin

Abstract: The majority of human beings worldwide live in urban areas; hence, methods to assess the quality of the urban environment and its impact on human well-being are of the utmost importance Particularly relevant are areas with low levels of environmental justice, defined as areas where low biophysical quality meets low socio-economic status, and where resources and strategies for coping are rare This paper develops and applies an index to assess the patterns of environmental justice in residential areas with a strong focus on stakeholder integration We concentrate on the relationship between socio-economic disparities of environmental burdens, such as traffic noise, and of environmental benefits, such as vegetation, in residential areas of Berlin, Germany To develop an environmental justice index, we combined the environmental burdens and benefits with a socio-economic indicator As a result, we identify city-wide patterns of environmental justice in Berlin While there was a high positive correlation bet

Marine noise pollution - increasing recognition but need for more practical action

Abstract: Over the last two decades, marine noise pollution has become increasingly recognized as an issue of major significance. The issue has become a primary focus of marine mammal research, but is also of concern to the public and policy makers. The result has been efforts involving a variety of disciplines, and relevant legislation and associated guidance are now in place in many parts of the world. Most current mitigation efforts are directed at reducing the risk of injury from exposure to intense noise, although the effectiveness of such mitigation measures in terms of risk reduction has rarely been quantified. Longer-term chronic impacts of noise including disturbance or masking of sounds critical for feeding and reproduction have received substantially less attention in management. New technologies are being developed for a number of activities which can substantially reduce noise inputs into the marine environment. As with other forms of pollution, reducing input at source is likely to be the most effective way of reducing impacts. We recommend as a priority the implementation of noise quieting technologies and the spatial and temporal exclusion of noise to minimize contact with marine life.

Environmental noise pollution

Abstract: This chapter offers an introduction to the concept of environmental noise pollution. In doing so, it provides the contextual background for understanding concerns around environmental noise pollution. This includes elucidating variations in the definition of noise vis-a-vis environmental noise. It also provides a reflective introduction to key debates and challenges in the environmental noise pollution area from issues around the historical dimension of noise pollution in cities to modern challenges facing policymakers in an increasingly urbanised society.

Anthropogenic noise affects behavior across sensory modalities.

Abstract: Many species are currently experiencing anthropogenically driven environmental changes. Among these changes, increasing noise levels are specifically a problem for species using acoustic signals (i.e., species relying on signals that use the same sensory modality as anthropogenic noise). Yet many species use other sensory modalities, such as visual and olfactory signals, to communicate. However, we have only little understanding of whether changes in the acoustic environment affect species that use sensory modalities other than acoustic signals. We studied the impact of anthropogenic noise on the common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis, which uses highly complex visual signals. We showed that cuttlefish adjusted their visual displays by changing their color more frequently during a playback of anthropogenic noise, compared with before and after the playback. Our results provide experimental evidence that anthropogenic noise has a marked effect on the behavior of species that are not reliant on acousti...

Effect of noise on performance, stress, and behaviour of animals.

Abstract: The paper deals with findings in animal’s response to noise. Factors including species, gender, age, and length of exposure on metabolism, performance, health, reproduction, and behaviour are discussed. The review covers research carried out on farming animals mainly, but contains also general literary sources on response from laboratory animals. This paper summarises the auditory range and some typical levels of sound that have been recorded for farm animals inside and outside housing, during transport and lairage stay. Effects of continuous and sudden noise on animals are also presented in detail. More physiological and behavioural responses have been described as increased hormonal production, increased heart rate, and reduction in production. Animal species exhibit a wide variety of responses to noise. Some animal species are more sensitive than others, because they may exhibit different forms or strengths of responses.

Reducing hospital ICU noise: a behavior-based approach.

Abstract: Noise in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) is gaining increasing attention as a significant source of stress and fatigue for nursing staff. Extensive research indicates that hospital noise also has negative impact on patients. The objective of this study was to analyze noise variations as experienced by both nursing staff and patients, to gain a better understanding of noise levels and frequencies observed in ICU settings over extended (week-long) durations, and to implement a low cost behavior modification program to reduce noise. The results of our study indicate that behavioral modification alone is not adequate to control excessive noise. There is a need for further research involving the supportive involvement by clinicians, ICU staff, along with effective medical device alarm management, and continuous process improvement methods.

The effects of light and noise from urban development on biodiversity: Implications for protected areas in Australia

Abstract: Summary Global population growth and associated urban development are having profound effects on biodiversity. Two major outcomes of expanding development that affect wildlife are light and noise pollution. In this paper, we review literature reporting the effects of light and noise on biodiversity, and assess implications for conservation planning in Australia. Our results clearly indicate that light and noise pollution have the potential to affect the physiology, behaviour and reproduction of a range of animal taxa. Types of effects include changes in foraging and reproductive behaviours, reduction in animal fitness, increased risk of predation and reduced reproductive success. These could have flow-on consequences at the population and ecosystem levels. We found a significant gap in knowledge of the impact of these pollutants on Australian fauna. To reduce the effect of light and noise pollution, there needs to be careful planning of urban areas in relation to protected areas, and for biodiversity more generally. Potential measures include strategically planning the types of development and associated human activities adjacent to protected areas, and the use of shields and barriers, such as covers for lights or the use of dense native vegetation screens, while still allowing movement of animals. Changes in government standards and regulations could also help to reduce the impacts of light and noise pollution.