Analysis Of Indoor And Outdoor Noise Quality At The University – A Case Study

Abstract

Noise is an invisible environmental hazard that many people ignore in their daily lives. Exposure to high levels of noise can cause many health problems in people of all ages. This study aims to measure indoor and outdoor noise quality and to observe student noise exposure at Mahindra University premises. The noise in classrooms and laboratories was recorded as a measure of indoor noise. In the afternoon sessions, the noise level in the classroom peaked up to 80 dB, which might be potentially dangerous to the students. The outdoor noise measurements were recorded at twelve different locations inside the University campus during working and non-working. The spatial distribution of the noise map was plotted. The frequency distribution curve suggested that the students were exposed to higher noise levels mainly in indoor areas than in the outdoors. The overall outdoor noise at the selected sites ranged from 53 to 65 dB when the traffic noise data at the main entry gate was excluded. The University has exceeded the maximum permissible noise level, which is 55 dB(A) suggested by WHO. This can result in noise pollution issues that annoy individuals, make it difficult to concentrate, hinder communication, and increase stress which could result in the poor academic performance of students.