published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Wong Chun Yin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-143). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xv / LIST OF ACRONYMS --- p.xvi / Chapter CHAPTER ONE - --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Research background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Urban park functions and challenges --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Urban park acoustic environment --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Urban Parks in Hong Kong --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Conceptual framework and research objectives --- p.7 / Chapter 1.5 --- Research significance --- p.9 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO - --- LITERATURE REVIEW / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2 --- Changing approach in managing noise problem in living environment: from noise control to soundscape planning --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Noise control: sound (noise) as a waste to avoid --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Soundscape planning: sound as a resource to utilize --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Soundscape as a guiding principle --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- The importance of soundscape --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Criteria for soundscape planning --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.5.1 --- Sound intensity and quietness --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.5.2 --- "Sound source, soundscape clarity and sound preference" --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2.5.3 --- "Sound information content, sound-image congruence and acoustic masking" --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.5.4 --- Acoustic comfort --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.5.5 --- Acoustic objectives --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- From soundscape planning to environmental design --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3 --- Impact of road traffic noise on human --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Detection of road traffic noise --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Response to road traffic noise --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Reaction to noise --- p.23 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Physiological response --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- Behavioural response --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3.2.4 --- Cognitive response --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Moderating factors for road traffic noise impact --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.3.1 --- Auditory masking --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.3.2 --- Visual screening --- p.26 / Chapter 2.4 --- Previous studies on urban park soundscape --- p.27 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Focus on sound intensity --- p.27 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Sound as a resource to utilize --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Recommendations on park design --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Research gaps --- p.31 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE - --- METHODOLOGY / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2 --- Site selection --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3 --- Characterizing urban park soundscape --- p.38 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Identification of sound source --- p.38 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Field Measurement of Sound intensity and frequency spectrum --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Contribution from road traffic noise --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Questionnaire design to study human perception --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Sampling strategy --- p.47 / Chapter 3.4 --- Summary --- p.48 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR - --- SOUNDSCAPE OF URBAN PARKS IN HONG KONG / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.50 / Chapter 4.2 --- Sound source --- p.50 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Mechanical sounds --- p.57 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Natural sounds --- p.57 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Man-made sounds --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Soundscape clarity --- p.59 / Chapter 4.3 --- Sound Intensity --- p.63 / Chapter 4.4 --- Contribution from road traffic noise to urban park sound intensity --- p.66 / Chapter 4.5 --- Frequency spectrum --- p.73 / Chapter 4.6 --- Effect of topographic variations --- p.76 / Chapter 4.7 --- Conclusion --- p.82 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE - --- PARK VISITOR'S PERCEPTION ON URBAN PARK SOUNDSCAPE / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.84 / Chapter 5.2 --- Urban park noisiness --- p.84 / Chapter 5.3 --- Sound source --- p.85 / Chapter 5.4 --- Sound preference --- p.87 / Chapter 5.5 --- Effect of park size --- p.93 / Chapter 5.6 --- Effect of park function --- p.94 / Chapter 5.7 --- Effect of fountain --- p.95 / Chapter 5.8 --- Perceived importance of tranquility --- p.96 / Chapter 5.9 --- Conclusion --- p.101 / Chapter CHAPTER SIX - --- IMPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH FINDINGS ON URBAN PARK SOUNDSCAPE DESIGN / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.102 / Chapter 6.2 --- Soundscape of urban parks in Hong Kong: undesirable yet being adapted… --- p.102 / Chapter 6.3 --- Enhancing soundscape identity of urban parks --- p.103 / Chapter 6.4 --- Small parks --- p.104 / Chapter 6.5 --- Large parks --- p.107 / Chapter 6.6 --- Conclusion --- p.109 / Chapter CHAPTER SEVEN - --- CONCLUSION / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.110 / Chapter 7.2 --- Summary of findings --- p.110 / Chapter 7.3 --- Limitations of the research --- p.115 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Park visitor's aspiration for desirable soundscape --- p.115 / Chapter 7.4 --- Further studies for designing a desirable urban park soundscape --- p.116 / APPENDIX ONE --- p.118 / APPENDIX TWO --- p.122 / REFERENCES --- p.137

Chan Wai Yip. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 210-227). / Acknowledgments --- p.1 / Summary --- p.3 / Table of Contents --- p.5 / List of Figures --- p.11 / List of Tables --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.17 / Chapter 1.1 --- Objectives of the Study --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2 --- The Uniqueness of Hong Kong --- p.17 / Chapter 1.3 --- The Selection of Tsuen Wan --- p.19 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Conceptual Background --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1 --- Review of Traffic Noise Research in Foreign Countries --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Urban Noise Surveys --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Traffic Noise Characteristics --- p.25 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Traffic Noise and Sleep Disturbance --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Noise Events --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Noise Environment by Multiple Noise Sources --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Urban Form and Noise Exposure --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2 --- Review of Noise Research in Hong Kong --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Introduction --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Noise Survey --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Noise Exposure and Response --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Attenuation of Noise --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Annoyance Produced by Different Vehicle Types --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Noise Mitigation Measures --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3 --- Research Issues in Hong Kong --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Noise Exposure Level of Public Housing Estates and Old Urban Area --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Indoor Noise Level --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Frequency Analysis of Road Traffic Noise at Receiver --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Noise Event Analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Noise Emitter Identification --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Comparison of Measured Noise Levels with Critical Load for Sleep Disturbance --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- Noise Exposure Levels of Dwellings Built at Different Times --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.8 --- Road Traffic Noise and Urban Form --- p.45 / Chapter 2.4 --- Significance of the Research --- p.46 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Methodology --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1 --- Broad Framework --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2 --- Noise Exposure --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Prediction Method --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Receptor Oriented Approach --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Choice of Target Areas --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Validation of Prediction Results by Field Measurement --- p.57 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Comparison of Measured and Predicted Noise Level --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- "The Noise Exposure Level of the Sampled Dwellings in Tsuen Wan, with Comparison with Other Countries and Other Parts of Hong Kong" --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3 --- Variation of Noise Exposure among Housing Estates --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Criteria for Comparison --- p.70 / Chapter 3.4 --- Traffic Noise Effect on Urban Population --- p.73 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- 24-hour Noise Environment --- p.73 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Site Selection --- p.74 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- 24-hour Facade Noise Level --- p.77 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Late Night Indoor Noise Level and Video Recording --- p.79 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Frequency Analysis of Noise Events --- p.82 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Noise Exposure of Tsuen Wan Residents --- p.85 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.85 / Chapter 4.2 --- Comparison of Noise Exposure Level of the Sampled Dwellings in Tsuen Wan with Hong Kong Traffic Noise Guideline --- p.85 / Chapter 4.3 --- Frequency Distribution of Noise Exposure Level of the Sampled Dwellingsin Tsuen Wan --- p.87 / Chapter 4.4 --- Comparison of Noise Exposure of the Sampled Dwellings in Tsuen Wan with Dwellings in Australia and England --- p.90 / Chapter 4.5 --- Comparison of Noise Exposure of Dwellings in Tsuen Wan With Previous studies in Hong Kong --- p.93 / Chapter 4.6 --- Variations in Noise Exposure Level among Housing Clusters --- p.96 / Chapter 4.7 --- Conclusion --- p.97 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Factors Affecting Traffic Noise Exposure in Different Housing Clusters --- p.106 / Chapter 5.1 --- Comparison of Noise Exposure Level of Dwellings Built at Different Times …… --- p.106 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Classification of Dwellings According to the Time of Construction --- p.106 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Discussion --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2 --- "Noise Exposure Level of Private, Public Housing and Village Houses" --- p.113 / Chapter 5.3 --- Noise Exposure and Urban Form --- p.121 / Chapter 5.4 --- Variation of Noise Level with Elevation for Dwellings Built at Different Times --- p.128 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Variation of Noise Level with Height for Dwellings Built Mostly in the 50's and 60´ةs --- p.130 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Variation of Mean Noise Exposure Level with Height for Dwellings Builtin the 70's and Early 80's --- p.133 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Variation of Noise Level with Elevation for Dwellings Built after 1985 --- p.134 / Chapter 5.4.4 --- Discussion --- p.135 / Chapter 5.5 --- Variation of Noise Level with Elevation for Nine Individual High-rise Housing Estates --- p.137 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- Acoustical Shadow by Podium --- p.140 / Chapter 5.5.2 --- Elevated Road Surface --- p.141 / Chapter 5.5.3 --- Acoustical Shadow by A Depressed Road Cut into a Hill --- p.143 / Chapter 5.5.4 --- Sudden Increase of Mean LA10 at High Levels at Belvedere Garden and Waterside Plaza --- p.144 / Chapter 5.6 --- Conclusion --- p.146 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Effect of Traffic Noise on Urban Population --- p.148 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.148 / Chapter 6.2 --- Diurnal Variation of LA10，LA90 and LAeq --- p.149 / Chapter 6.3 --- Comparison of Hourly Facade LA10 with Hong Kong Traffic Noise Guideline --- p.154 / Chapter 6.4 --- Comparison with 24-hour Noise Standards --- p.156 / Chapter 6.5 --- 24-hour Outdoor Noise Climate --- p.157 / Chapter 6.6 --- Outdoor-indoor Noise Attenuation --- p.163 / Chapter 6.6.1 --- "Outdoor-indoor Attenuation of LA10，LA90, LAeq and LAmax" --- p.163 / Chapter 6.6.2 --- "Outdoor-indoor Attenuation of LA10 - LA90, LA10 - LAeq and LAmax - LA90" --- p.165 / Chapter 6.7 --- Road Traffic Noise Related Sleep Disturbance --- p.167 / Chapter 6.7.1 --- Facade Noise Level --- p.167 / Chapter 6.7.2 --- Indoor Noise Level --- p.171 / Chapter 6.7.3 --- Noise Event Analysis --- p.176 / Chapter 6.7.4 --- Frequency Analysis of Noise Events --- p.182 / Chapter 6.8 --- Noise Emitters --- p.187 / Chapter 6.9 --- Conclusion --- p.193 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.195 / Chapter 7.1 --- Major Findings --- p.195 / Chapter 7.2 --- Research Significance --- p.198 / Chapter 7.3 --- Limitation --- p.199 / Chapter 7.4 --- Implications for Traffic Noise Control Measures --- p.200 / Chapter 7.5 --- Areas for Future Research --- p.202 / Appendix - Roadnoise --- p.204 / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.204 / Chapter 2 --- "A Brief Overview of Roadnoise, DoE and CRTN88" --- p.204 / Chapter 3 --- The Input Variables --- p.205 / Chapter 4 --- The Calculation Procedure --- p.206 / Chapter 5 --- The Accuracy of CRTN88 --- p.206 / Chapter 5.1 --- General Accuracy of DoE and CRTN88 --- p.207 / Chapter 5.2 --- "The Accuracy of DoE when Wind, Barriers or Shielding is present" --- p.208 / References --- p.210

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

In this thesis, the parallel barrier analysis feature in the Federal Highway Administration Traffic Noise Model (FHWA TNM), which is based on RAYVERB was used to explore the effects of multiple reflections due to single and parallel barriers and the use of absorptive treatment. Database was developed from the data collected from previous research efforts was used to generate a best fit equation model that can be used as a predetermining tool to determine the magnitude of parallel barrier insertion loss. The best fit equation model was then used to test against measured/model result and TNM prediction results for its validity. Absorptive materials were also studied such that 3 top of them were selected and recommended for Florida highway barrier use. It was found that the top three absorptive treatments for use on Florida highway barriers have been determined to be cementitous material, metal wool and glass fiber. These materials can be used to reduce the sound reflections for single and parallel barriers. The developed best fit equation model from this research is Deg = -2.17NRC - CW[superscript 0.42] + 1.97eln(BH) + RH[superscript 0.29] + DBB[superscript 0.27]; the prediction results give moderately high R[superscript 2] value of 0.55 if compared to the results from database. Prediction results from best fit equation model was also found to be consistent with the results from the measure/modeled results, providing further proof of the validity of the model. However, if compared results from equation model, TNM and measured/model (measured and model compared results using ANSI method), TNM was shown to provide higher insertion loss degradation. It was found that the most effective placement of absorptive material was the pattern which covers the barrier from the bottom up; it was also found that only about 60% from the bottom of the barrier area requires covering with high NRC absorptive treatment (NRC greater than or equals to 0.8) without sacrificing insertion loss. Also, if the barrier area near the top includes an easily obtainable NRC value of 0.4, only 40% to 50% of the bottom barrier needs absorptive treatment with a higher, more expensive NRC rating. These findings can substantially reduce the cost of conventional absorptive barrier which have full coverage of high NRC absorptive treatment. This research has begun important improvements in noise barrier design, additional work can be continued to further verify all the findings in this thesis such that easier and better equation model can be developed to calculate insertion loss degradation and cheaper absorptive barrier with less absorptive material usage can be built.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Thesis. 1976. Sc.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Engineering. / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Paul R. Donavan. / Sc.D.

Thesis. 1978. M.C.P.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references. / M.C.P.

<p><p>Since the first car appeared, the pollution on the roads became an issue, which is still mainly unsolved. Too many people complain about traffic noise. Various methods have been developed that aimed at minimizing the noise pollution and improving the environment.</p><p>This thesis presents the problems posed by noise pollution, covers the background of noise pollution and its effects on human health. Another important part of the thesis covers the method of noise calculation which applies in specific Nordic countries.</p><p>The main goal of the thesis is to present maps of noise levels on roads for region Skåne in Sweden. Because the regulation and the limits for noise levels are different for different countries, I could find various calculators for traffic noise. Australia, England, USA have the noise level calculators open for public. Another professional calculator, SoundPlan, is a program that can perform a very accurate calculation for traffic noise but only for small areas. Because of this disadvantage, the request for my thesis was to provide a program which can calculate traffic noise level for wide areas. As a master student specialist in GIS (Geographic Information System) it was natural to develop the traffic noise calculator with available GIS tools.</p><p>The software system to calculate the traffic noise maps was implemented in ArcMap 9.1, a GIS program which allows creation of tools, according to a mathematical description of noise calculator. The mathematical description is based on the Nordic Prediction method, a document which set up requirements for prediction of road traffic noise. ArcMap 9.1 allows the development of extensions in different programming languages. The tools implemented in this thesis are written in Visual Basic. The thesis work implements several tools for calculating noise levels, starting from the basic traffic noise level and introducing additional noise corrections to perform more accurate noise calculation. The additional corrections could be added because I had access to additional data regarding buildings and population location. The available population data from Lund gave me the opportunity to create a tool which performs population exposure to noise in this region.</p><p> </p></p>

Objectives.The general objectives of this dissertationwere to examine the effects of acute exposure to meaningfulirrelevant speech and road traffic noise on memory performance,and to explore annoyance responses to noise exposure in theschool environment for pupils and teachers in different agegroups. Methods. The thesis comprises seven papers, representingdifferent methodological approaches: experiments, surveystudies and interviews. In the experiments, reported in PapersI-V, 288 pupils and teachers participated in the age groups,13-14 years (n=96), 18-20 years (n=96), 35-45 years (n=48) and55-65 years (n=48). The subjects were randomly assigned to oneof three conditions: (a) meaningful irrelevant speech, (b) roadtraffic noise, and (c) silence. The equivalent sound level inthe noise conditions was set to 66 dB(A). A test batteryreflecting episodic and semantic memory were used. The surveystudies, reported in Paper VI and VII, included 207 pupils(M=13.5) and 166 teachers (M=45.9). Two separate questionnairesmainly comprising items about annoyance, noise sensitivity andstress symptoms were administered. Paper VI presents results offocus group interviews (n=16) treating the main topics:disturbing sounds, emotions, ongoing activity, and suggestionsconcerning future changes. Results. The overall findings showedthat both noise sources affected episodic and semantic memoryto the same degree for all age groups. The results indicatedthat the similarity of semantic content between noise and thetask at hand was not the only suitable explanation model, sincea non-speech noise impaired memory as much as speech. Resultsalso indicated that attention effects did notmediate the obtained noise effects and that the noise effectsdid not differ between age groups. Therefore, it seemedunlikely that different memory and attentional capacities stoodout as explanatory factors of the memory effects. Sinceperformances of both episodic and semantic memory tasks wereimpaired, the explanation based on level of access to long-termmemory was also ruled out. However, the episodic memory task,reading comprehension, stood out to be most impaired by noise,suggesting that complexity of the task to perform was ofimportance. For reading comprehension there was also adifferent noise pattern obtained. Participants performance wasin this task, more impaired by meaningful irrelevant speechthan by road traffic noise. This effect indicated thatmeaningful irrelevant speech might reduce the availablecognitive resources necessary for learning the text. Theannoyance models derived from the survey studies indicated thatsensitivity acted as a mediator between hearing status andannoyance, with stress symptoms as an outcome. Whetherannoyance arises or not was also determined by control andpredictability of the noise. In the interviews a differentannoyance pattern was found, in that stress symptoms appearedto be a determinant of annoyance. To be involved, respected,take own responsibility and respect others were suggestions onhow to change the environment to become more silent. Conclusions.For both pupils and teachers acute exposureto meaningful irrelevant speech and road traffic noiseinfluenced both the achieving and providing of knowledge. Acommon annoyance pattern was also found for pupils andteachers, where individual and situational factors were ofimportance. To achieve a more silent school environment in thefuture, the pupils pointed out that the interaction betweenthemselves and their teachers was of importance. Key words:Noise, meaningful irrelevant speech, roadtraffic noise, memory, age groups, school environment, pupils,teachers