Milieu Monitoring
Environmental monitoring is essential to protect our health and well-being from noise pollution. One of the tools that can help us monitor and reduce traffic noise is noise cameras. These devices can measure and identify loud cars and enforce noise regulations.
In Europe alone, 22 million people are affected by noise pollution, according to the European Environment Agency (2020).
Chronic noise annoyance and sleep disturbance affect 6.5 million people in urban areas, posing an equal threat to air pollution.
Today, over 50% of the global population lives in urban areas. By 2050, that will increase to two-thirds, meaning cities must take drastic measures to keep cities safe and healthy.
With our monitoring technology cities are able to monitor noise levels and behavior. The data represents a visual sound map of a specific area with the benefit of know exactly where the sound source is. Enabling cities to reduce noise pollution efficiently and effectively.
What is environmental monitoring?
For us, environmental monitoring is about using modern technology to measure and analyze environmental conditions. In the case of sound we focus on reducing noise pollution, mainly in urban areas where noise pollution is at its worst and doing most harm.
The gathered data is used to implement improvements and thus reduce harmful and excessive noise to improve the quality of life for people and animals.
Milieu Monitoring use cases examples
Harbors & maritime
Airports
Traffic
Construction sites
Harbors & maritime
Many large cities have a nearby harbor with continuous maritime activity. When nearby residents file noise complaints, it can be challenging to solve the complaint without knowing the sound source. Whether it is the off-loading of sea containers, the roaring engine of a large cruise ship or a docking ocean liner, the L642 acoustic monitor takes away the guessing and solve noise complaints.
Airports
Airports have to deal with many noise complaint from nearby residents. A jet engine makes a lot of noise, especially during take-off and landing procedures.
With an Environmental Monitoring System using the L642, airports can build sound maps and recognize patterns in noise behavior, like wind directions or specific airplane models producing more noise than others.
The data collected from environmental monitoring at airports can be used to take noise reducing actions. Such as installed sound barriers, refusing certain airplane models of enforcing certain noise levels.
Traffic
Traffic noise is among the most common causes of noise complaints in cities. With todays diversity on the road, reducing traffic noise is not easy.
Therefor it is important to know exactly which type of vehicle is producing noise and if the noise is the actual cause or the effect of for instance deteriorating asphalt.
Construction sites
Construction noise are a common source of noise pollution in cities. Regulations or guidelines for construction and demolition noises are determined individually per country. Noise emission from construction is only measured in decibels, while low and high frequency noise have strong physical effects on human and animal health.
Environmental Monitoring with an acoustic monitor will generate acoustic data in a heatmap-like visual of the sound levels and sources. Making it easier to reduce noise emission. Some noise reduction examples are maximizing the distance, creating sound barriers, using noise reduction devices like mufflers or considering off-site processes.
Regulations on environmental noise
To reduce the number of people suffering from noise pollution, the European Union has issues the Environmental noise directive 2002/49/EC. This regulation requires cities to publish noise level maps and noise management action plans, every 5 years.
Unfortunately, these traditional measuring models only provide limited insights as the 5-yearly measurements are just a snapshot of the real life situation without taking common changing condition into account.
Sound level show massive differences when you consider the difference between day and night, busy and quiet days and environmental changes. Furthermore, the noise map only indicates the amount of decibels, but don’t reveal where the sound is coming from. So there is no actionable data to help cities reduce noise pollution.
Our Environmental Monitoring system
The Sorama L642 Acoustic Monitor performs continuous environmental sound monitoring in specific areas. It is equipped with 64 MEMS microphones and provides easy-to-interpret visual data to reduce noise pollution in cities.
VMS Integration
The L642 series is connected and operated through the free Listener Platform Dashboard. A user friendly interface for setup and configuration and provides insights into sound pressure levels and customer configurable sound events.
To uncover the full potential of the L642’s Environmental Monitoring, you integrate it in your video management software for an integrated approach.
Our product used for Environmental Monitoring
L642 Acoustic Monitor
The Sorama L642V Acoustic Monitor forms the foundation of the Loud Vehicle Detection solution. It is equipped with 64 MEMS microphones and an integrated camera.
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