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Noise pollution
About: Noise pollution is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4455 publications have been published within this topic receiving 67192 citations.
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TL;DR: In this paper, non-linear support vector machine (SVM) networks were used to classify the linearly inseparable data and to determine the optimal separation margin, and the boundaries of the areas which exceeded permissible noise levels (separation margin) were estimated on the basis of noise pollution maps, created by means of the SVM technique.
Abstract: This paper addresses the problem of noise in spa protection areas. Its aim is to determine the delimitation of the areas that exceed a permissible noise level around the sanatorium on the example of a health resort in Inowroclaw. The determination of the exceedance of permissible noise levels allows us to develop directly effective local policy tools to be included in planning documents. In order to reduce noise infiltration, it is important to define environmental priorities. Taking into account their impact on the health of users in the protection area, environmental priorities enable us to introduce additional elements to street architecture. In order to properly manage space, in accordance with the idea of sustainable development, zones of environmental sensitivity—and their socio-environmental vulnerability—have been designated for assessing damage (exceeding permissible noise in health facilities) and defining methods of building resilience (proper management). This has provided the basis for a natural balance optimized for the people living in these areas. To achieve the goal above, non-linear support vector machine (SVM) networks were used. This technique allows us to classify the linearly inseparable data and to determine the optimal separation margin. The boundaries of the areas which exceeded permissible noise levels (separation margin) were estimated on the basis of noise pollution maps, created by means of the SVM technique. Thus, the study results in establishing buffer zones where it is possible to use varied land utilization in terms of form and function, as described in the planning documents. Such an activity would limit the spread of noise.
23 citations
TL;DR: Noise pollution is a major factor of environmental complaints in many cities, which has significant impacts on human health and as a dominating source of environmental noise, the impact of road traffic noise is increasing.
Abstract: Noise pollution is a major factor of environmental complaints in many cities, which has significant impacts on human health. As a dominating source of environmental noise, the impact of road traffic noise is increasing. Residents living in high-rise buildings along the main road are severely affected by traffic noise. In order to assess the noise level of urban area along the main road in Guangzhou, three buildings were selected to conduct traffic noise measurements, and the questionnaire about traffic noise impact on human being was completed. Through the questionnaire, around 70% of participants consider the traffic noise has negative effect, and about 60% of participants consider the noise has moderate or much higher impact on physical comfort. Around 65% of participants consider the noise had moderately or much higher impact on their psychological comfort. By analyzing the measured data, all of the measured noise levels in three buildings exceed the recommended limit of 55 dB (A) in the daytime and 45 dB (A) in the night for residence, and the exceeded value can be up to 16 dB (A). By comparing the fitting curve of noise level transfer function on each floor relative to the reference floor, the quadratic polynomial was selected to plot the transfer function rather than cubic polynomial.
23 citations
TL;DR: No evidence for an influence of noise on clutch size, brood size, number of fledglings, or overall nest success in western bluebirds, and ash-throated flycatcher nests exposed to noise had lower reproductive success than quiet nests, suggesting that nest box placement near roads may be counterproductive to efforts to bolster population densities of some species.
Abstract: Artificial nest boxes are critical nesting sites for secondary cavity-nesting birds; however, they are often placed near roadways and in urban areas that experience noise pollution and other human-caused stressors. Recent correlative studies document both negative and positive influences of noise pollution on reproductive success. Additionally, observational studies have not determined which stage of the breeding process is most vulnerable to noise pollution-settlement, incubation, and/or provisioning. Here, we controlled for possible effects from non-random settlement and eliminated potential effects of roadways, such as collisions and chemical and light pollution, by experimentally introducing traffic noise into nest boxes after clutch initiation in two secondary-cavity nesting bird species. We found no evidence for an influence of noise on clutch size, brood size, number of fledglings, or overall nest success in western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana). In contrast, we found that ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) nests exposed to noise had lower reproductive success than quiet nests due to higher rates of abandonment at the incubation stage. Our results match recent research demonstrating that ash-throated flycatchers avoid energy-sector noise in their nest placement and, when they do nest in noise, experience stress hormone dysregulation and fitness costs. The lack of a response among western bluebirds differs from reported declines in reproductive success due to exposure to energy-sector noise; however, the absence of a response matches the response seen in other species using an in-box noise playback experiment. These results suggest that in-box noise exposure experiments may be appropriate for assessing noise impacts at the nest, and through some pathways (e.g., direct effects of noise on nestlings), but do not capture other ways in which noise can negatively affect birds during the breeding season that may ultimately cause declines in fitness. Additionally, although manipulative experiments that examine the influence of a single anthropogenic stressor on a single life stage can help reveal causal pathways, urban and other human-dominated environments are characterized by many stressors and future studies should seek to understand how noise interacts with other stressors to impact birds and other wildlife. Finally, in light of mounting evidence demonstrating declines in reproductive success due to noise, our results suggest that nest box placement near roads may be counterproductive to efforts to bolster population densities of some species.
23 citations
TL;DR: The findings revealed that views embracing mountain greenery close-by could enhance annoyance, which is contrary to other findings that greenery could always moderate noise annoyance.
Abstract: This paper studies the effect of human perception of visual and audio settings in an urban environment on annoyance. Video clips were projected onto a window panel of a living room to simulate neighborhood views containing different percentages of sea, mountain greenery, and road. These video clips were combined with audio stimuli corresponding to the congruent traffic and sea sounds. 246 participants were presented with 11 audio-visual stimuli and requested to respond to questions after the presentation. The collected responses were used to formulate a multivariate ordered logit model to predict the probability of evoking a high annoyance response. The findings revealed that views embracing mountain greenery close-by could enhance annoyance, which is contrary to other findings that greenery could always moderate noise annoyance. In addition, a 60% sea view was found to be able to yield 1 dB equivalent reduction in total sound pressure level. The trade-off was comparable to that achieved by having sea sound at a level 5 dB higher than road traffic noise. Exposure to road traffic noise level being 3 dB higher than sea sound level (i.e., signal-to-noise ratio = −3) together with a 60% sea view could provide an additional 1.5 dB equivalent reduction.
23 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a life-cycle cost model for noise barrier walls was developed based on survey data and field observations, which includes all costs required to construct the noise barriers and uses service-life estimates based on field observations and surveys.
Abstract: A life-cycle cost model for noise barrier walls was developed based on survey data and field observations. The model includes all costs required to construct the noise barriers and uses service-life estimates based on field observations and surveys. The results indicate that earth berms represent the lowest cost alternative and metal barriers with absorptive panels are the most expensive. The life-cycle costs of wood, concrete, Carsonite, and Durisol fall within a relatively narrow range near $323/m2 ($30/ft2), approximately twice the cost of earth berms. A sensitivity analysis of the model indicated that the two most important variables are initial construction cost and service life. The difficulty in obtaining data is the primary reason many state transportation departments do not use life-cycle cost analysis to select noise barrier materials. Because of the importance of the costs associated with the frequency of maintenance and replacement, and the difficulty in obtaining reliable data, life-cycle cos...
23 citations