Free field evaluation of the influence of naturalistic road and rail traffic noise on both psychological and physiological parameters
Regular paper
Graz University of Technology
Tuesday 2 june, 2015, 13:40 - 14:00
0.4 Brussels (189)
Abstract:
The direct effects of sound energy on human hearing are well established and
accepted but previous research about the effects of noise exposure on medical
parameters has been carried out mainly under laboratory conditions. Such test
arrangements are not representative of the real impacts on humans, especially
at night during sleep phases.
The two main objectives of this presented project are to investigate the
influence of road and rail traffic noise on human sleep patterns and
additionally to explore the relationship of subjective perception of 120 test
subjects with objective measured psychoacoustic and physiological parameters.
The crucial point of the designed project is that all measurements will be done
in the free field with real-life situations. Based on past experiences of the
Graz University of Technology with acoustical measurement techniques in free
field areas a standardized method for objective acoustical measurements in
residential environments of test subjects was developed. The goal of acoustical
measurements is to achieve a time-synchronicity between the results of a
questionnaire (traffic noise annoyance-rating, experiences, feelings and
behaviour) and acoustical parameters including sound pressure level and
psychoacoustics reflecting the total quantity and quality of the test subject’s
acoustic exposure. The study concept and first results of a selected sample will
be shown.