Abstract:
Annoyance due to relatively high levels of sound and noise, above 50 dB, has been
well documented in noise assessment literature. The potential for annoyance or
disturbance from low amplitude sound, below 50 dB to the threshold of an
individual’s hearing, is not as well documented. The thesis presents a new approach to
the measurement and assessment of intrusive noise and low amplitude sound.
Acoustical and sound quality measures are integrated with measures of loudness,
pitch, dissonance and tonality to provide physical measures of sound. Individual
amenity is assessed with respect to personal noise sensitivity and personal attitudes to
sound in the environment, the environment itself and the perceived qualities of the
audible sound. A decision-support methodology to integrate perceived noise with
noise performance indicators, annoyance criteria, personal noise sensitivity and
amenity is presented. A method for rating intrusive noise is derived. Designs for
sound measurement and calibration instrumentation are described. Methods to
measure and assess low amplitude sound are presented.
Keywords
annoyance, intrusive-noise, noise-sensitivity, sound-quality, soundscape
