Noise: Research
Noise policy is developed in the context of protecting the environment
and enhancing the quality of life and public health. Research is necessary
to underpin this aim. Defra therefore sponsors research to inform Ministerial
decisions, to guide the development of policy, to develop action programmes,
to monitor the achievement of policy goals, to stimulate and promote innovation
and to encourage the spread of good practice and technology.
Our current research programme includes projects to:
- assess current levels and attitudes to environmental noise;
- assess the effects of noise on health (through a series of joint projects
with the Department of Health and the European Union 5th Framework Programmes)
- develop work which will be required under the proposed EU Directive
on environmental noise such as noise mapping and action planning
- help develop a National Ambient Noise Strategy
- help respond to noise and other nuisance issues.
Research papers on noise
2007
- NANR 190 - A Review of Performance Indicators
Defra, and through it the Devolved Administrations of the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland, commissioned a project to see how Performance Indicators are used by Local Authorities and other parties (nation-wide and within other parts of Europe) to monitor the management of environmental and neighbourhood noise. The project was also expected to lead to recommendations regarding suitable local or national performance indicators for the management of environmental and neighbourhood noise.
The research aimed to establish the existence or otherwise of performance indicators relating to noise, determine the extent of their use in the UK, identify any variation in application based upon locality and provide details of any common themes, threads or key issues that may help or hinder the implementation of performance indicators – nationally at strategic level, or locally – in relation to the management of noise.
- Research into aerodynamic modulation of wind turbine noise report, August 2007
This report was commissioned from Salford University by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (previously DTI, now
BERR) and Defra, to ascertain the prevalence of aerodynamic modulation of wind turbine noise on UK wind farm sites, to gain a better
understanding of the likely causes, and to establish whether further research is required. The final report is published on the BERR website.
- NANR 208 – Noise Modelling
In 2004 Defra let a research contract to Hepworth Acoustics, DGMR and Acustinet to investigate how the quality of input data used for road traffic noise modelling could affect the reliability of the noise levels calculated. The final report is available here.
This new research project has taken the same approach and techniques, and has applied them to the assessment of noise from railways, in order to understand how the quality of input data could affect the quality of the calculated noise levels.
-
Review of use of mediation services by local authorities and housing associations (PDF 900
KB)
The study reviewed the types of services available, who provides them, and their effectiveness in terms of results and costs compared to other methods available to landlords for controlling noise from tenants.
Information was gathered using a combination of methods: questionnaires, telephone discussions, and meetings with housing professionals and mediators.
- Update of noise database for prediction of noise on construction
and open sites (PDF 200
KB)
This report forms Phase 3 of the study. The objective of the Phase
3 study is to obtain measurements of noise from typical construction-type
plant that is currently used on quarries in the UK and to prepare a database
of the information. The database includes octave band noise levels.
- Human response to vibration in residential environments (PDF 2 MB large file)
2006
2005
2004
- Noise Mapping England:
noise mapping industrial sources
A methodology for representing industrial sources in a noise model
which is simple, reproducible and robust has been developed. This
study was undertaken by Bureau Veritas Acoustic Technology (BVAT)
- Noise Mapping England:
aircraft traffic noise
This study was carried out to inform mapping processes with regard
to the implementation of the National Ambient Noise Strategy and EU
Directive 2002/49/EC (25 June 2002), through the production of aircraft
noise maps for London Heathrow Airport. EU Directive 2002/49/EC relates
to the assessment and management of environmental noise. The study
also investigated various technical issues that arise as a result
of moving from producing summer average LAeq
contours to producing annual average Lden contours.
This study was undertaken Environmental Research and consultancy department
- Civil Aviation Authority.
- Noise Mapping England: rail
and wheel roughness - implications for noise mapping based on the
Calculation of Railway Noise procedure
This study investigates technical issues associated with using Calculation
of Railway Noise, a method for calculating noise from railways. This
study was undertaken by AEA Technology (AEAT).
2003
- CSL - Review of international
research literature regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring
techniques and potential alternatives
There is limited information available on the efficacy of bird deterrent
devices and guidance on best use. The use of gas cannons in particular
has resulted in complaints of noise nuisance. Therefore, Defra commissioned
Central Science Laboratory to review and evaluate the current state
of knowledge in order to provide a sound scientific basis for policy
decisions and guidance material.
- MORI - Neighbour Noise: Public Opinion
Research to assess Nature, Extent and Significance
Neighbour noise is a key quality of life issue. This report assess
its nature, extent and significance based on public opinion research,
and makes recommendations for future actions.
- Phase 2 of Research into Neighbour and
Neighbourhood Noise
This study built on an earlier Phase 1 research that identified examples
of best practices in noise control from the rest of Western Europe.
Phase 2 develops a range of practical options that could inform a
possible national Neighbour Noise Strategy.
- MCM Research - Implications for noise
disturbance arising from liberalisation of Licensing Laws
The principal aim of the study is to assess the potential impacts
of noise disturbance related, directly or indirectly, to the operation
of licensed premises. This provides a basis for the anticipation of
possible noise problems, if any, and proactively indicates appropriate
ways of tackling them.
- Low frequency noise research papers
This page includes three reports developing a proposed criteria and methodology for the assessment of low frequency noise complaints, and a review of the available literature concerning the effects, assessment and management of low frequency noise.
2002
2001
2000
1999
The views expressed in the above reports are those of the authors
and do not necessary reflect those of the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Executive, the Department of Environment
for Northern Ireland or the National Assembly for Wales.
Links
Page last modified: 10 August 2007
