Environmental Noise Analysis - A Rethink

Objective: To improve current methodologies for the evaluation of environmental noise impact. Methods: Historical methods of environmental noise analysis have been reviewed and their limitations described. A method of analysis allowing noise impact on a statistical basis has been developed. Records of ambient noise in areas having different land usage have been examined and recent guideline criteria issued by the WHO have been analysed using the statistically based method in the context of those land area uses. Results: The NSW road noise policy results in traffic noise to exceeding ambient noise levels more than 80% of the time and by more than 25dB(A). New WHO guidelines provide a positive control of traffic noise for residential areas, though will fail to preserve the quiet areas also encouraged by the WHO. Conclusion: The proposed methodology demonstrates a more intuitively useful measure of noise impact from environmental noise sources than those in current common use and is likely to be understood by both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Implication: The methodology facilitates a link between noise measurement and research work based on soundscapes, and between regulatory noise management policy and the expectations of the general public.