NOISE MEASUREMENT
SYSTEMS
Simple measurements of sound magnitude cannot deal
with all of the environmental and communicational factors
encountered in noise problems wherever they occur.
Specialized measurement and evaluation systems have had to
be developed which take a variety of additional factors into
account, such as the frequency content and time-dependence
of the noise, interference with speech communication,
criteria for indoor environments intended for certain
activities, evaluation of specific noise sources such as
traffic and aircraft, establishing overall community noise
impact, and so on.
In most cases, the pattern is to quantify
the noise and correlate it to individual or community
reaction, usually with the aim of establishing
"acceptable" or "recommended" levels, or in some cases, in
order to predict the impact of higher noise levels. The
criteria arrived at are often used by various levels of
government in establishing by-laws, standards and
guidelines for noise control and abatement.
The specific case of damage-risk criteria
for hearing protection in industry is considered under the
larger topic of Audiology and Hearing Loss. Other noise measurement systems are presented
here under the following general headings:
A) Basic measurement systems:
a review of common "level" measurements;
B) Speech communication
criteria;
C) Indoor environment criteria;
D) Aircraft and Traffic
measurement systems and their correlation to public
annoyance;
E) Community noise evaluation
systems;
F) Measurement of absorption,
reflection and transmission properties of materials
as criteria for sound insulation.
home
