Environmental Noise & Vibration Measurement

Measuring the total or ‘ambient’ noise at a single point is often necessary before the commencement of a development as part of an overall Noise Impact Assessment.

Establishing the frequency content of a baseline traffic noise survey allows the acoustician to design the facades and glazing of sensitive buildings to keep intruding levels low.

Background levels in the community have to be established through noise measurement if a ‘noise generating’ development is to be built. Sometimes these noise surveys have to be undertaken over a period of weeks or months (noise logging or noise monitoring), and the results statistically processed to take account of changes in meteorological conditions. On larger projects, we put in place 5 unmanned noise monitors and a weather station and download results remotely. We can also have our meters take sound recordings for playing back as sound files. This can be particularly useful in determining the subjective quality of ambient noise.