February 10th, 2010 What do noise consultants really do
Noise pollution is becoming quite a big problem in most built-up areas today and recently I’ve begun to think that maybe an noise consultant could do something to mitigate noise levels.
As it turns out, incessant noise pollution is not such a problem as sudden peaks & troughs although in the workplace, continuous noise that isn’t particularly loud is often a problem and can give rise to loss of hearing.
One of the biggest human aspects of noise is that it has a detrimental impact on sleep and steady low level sleep deprivation is bad for physical and mental well-being.
To an Acoustic engineer this will be familiar territory. Acoustic engineers exploit the latest acoustic apparatus to quantify sound levels and pin point sources of noise. By designing buildings to absorb sound energy they can significantly improve the quality of life for anyone in the vicinity and so improve their health as well.
One common problem is due to aeroplane noise levels, particularly in proximity to busy international airports like Charles de Gaulle where aircraft fly in low over densely populated areas. Although there usually are controls on take off and landing times, busy international & national airports tend to operate virtually twenty-four hours a day. Noise consultants are being used by airport protestors now to record sound levels and then to act as experts in environmental assessment reports.