Free field evaluation of the influence of naturalistic road and rail traffic noise on both psychological and physiological parameters

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 designed 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 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 will be developed. The goal of acoustical measurements is to achieve a time-synchronicity between the results of the electronic 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 concept and first results of a preliminary study will be shown.