scholarly journals Noise monitoring in Monza (Italy) during COVID-19 pandemic by means of the smart network of sensors developed in the LIFE MONZA project

Noise Mapping ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-211
Author(s):  
Chiara Bartalucci ◽  
Francesco Borchi ◽  
Monica Carfagni

AbstractAs a scientific consequence of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, several initiatives have taken place in order to monitor noise levels trends before and after the lock down phase in several Italian and European cities. In Monza (Italy), since June 2017, a new smart noise monitoring system consisting of 10 sensors developed in the frame of the LIFE MONZA project is continuously measuring acoustic data every second and transmitting them hourly to a dedicated server. The sensors are located both along a main street of the Libertà district characterised by high traffic flows and along secondary streets of the district; they are positioned on (preferably sensitive) buildings facades and on streetlamps.In the present paper results of a study concerning changes occurred in noise levels trends before and during the lock down phase for the smart sensors are presented, together with a comparison with noise levels collected by the same sensors in the equivalent months of the previous year. Some preliminary considerations regarding the reliability of the sensors themselves are also provided.

Landslides ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Brezzi ◽  
Alberto Bisson ◽  
Davide Pasa ◽  
Simonetta Cola

AbstractA large number of landslides occur in North-Eastern Italy during every rainy period due to the particular hydrogeological conditions of this area. Even if there are no casualties, the economic losses are often significant, and municipalities frequently do not have sufficient financial resources to repair the damage and stabilize all the unstable slopes. In this regard, the research for more economically sustainable solutions is a crucial challenge. Floating composite anchors are an innovative and low-cost technique set up for slope stabilization: it consists in the use of passive sub-horizontal reinforcements, obtained by coupling a traditional self-drilling bar with some tendons cemented inside it. This work concerns the application of this technique according to the observational method described within the Italian and European technical codes and mainly recommended for the design of geotechnical works, especially when performed in highly uncertain site conditions. The observational method prescribes designing an intervention and, at the same time, using a monitoring system in order to correct and adapt the project during realization of the works on the basis of new data acquired while on site. The case study is the landslide of Cischele, a medium landslide which occurred in 2010 after an exceptional heavy rainy period. In 2015, some floating composite anchors were installed to slow down the movement, even if, due to a limited budget, they were not enough to ensure the complete stabilization of the slope. Thanks to a monitoring system installed in the meantime, it is now possible to have a comparison between the site conditions before and after the intervention. This allows the evaluation of benefits achieved with the reinforcements and, at the same time, the assessment of additional improvements. Two stabilization scenarios are studied through an FE model: the first includes the stabilization system built in 2015, while the second evaluates a new solution proposed to further increase the slope stability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 263 (1) ◽  
pp. 5114-5124
Author(s):  
Thulan Nguyen ◽  
Tran Thi Hong Nhung Nguyen ◽  
Bach Lien Trieu ◽  
Makoto Morinaga ◽  
Yasuhiro Hiraguri ◽  
...  

The travel restrictions caused by the epidemic outbreak in early 2020 worldwide have caused many changes in all aspects of life, especially in the acoustic environment. This study examines the impact of this environmental change at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (TSN), the largest airport in Vietnam, by comparing the situations before and after the airport stopped operating all international flights in March 2020. The after-the-change survey was conducted in 2 phases, June and September 2020, three months and six months after the stop decision. The number of flights observed in August 2019 was 728; this number is 413 and 299 for the two surveys in 2020. The range of noise levels estimated for 12 sites around TSN decreased from 63-81 dB in 2019 to 32-67 dB in June 2020 and 33-69 dB in September 2020. At the same aircraft noise level, the percentage of highly annoyed (% HA) and the percentage of insomnia (%ISM) in the 2020 survey are higher than those in the 2019 survey. The comparison results of reaction to noise before and after the TSN's noise change indicated an increase in negative responses to noise might happen in the increased noise and reduced noise situation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 1397-1406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leena M. Rantala ◽  
Suvi Hakala ◽  
Sofia Holmqvist ◽  
Eeva Sala

Purpose The aim of this study was to research the associations between noise (ambient and activity noise) and objective metrics of teachers' voices in real working environments (i.e., classrooms). Method Thirty-two female and 8 male teachers from 14 elementary schools were randomly selected for the study. Ambient noise was measured during breaks in unoccupied classrooms and, likewise, the noise caused by pupils' activity during lessons. Voice samples were recorded before and after a working day. Voice variables measured were sound pressure level (voice SPL), fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and the tilt of the sound spectrum slope (alpha ratio). Results The ambient noise correlated most often with the fundamental frequency of men and voice SPL, whereas activity noise correlated with the alpha ratio and perturbation values. Teachers working in louder ambient noise spoke more loudly before work than those working in lower noise levels. Voice variables generally changed less during work among teachers working in loud activity noise than among those working in lower noise levels. Conclusions Ambient and activity noises affect teachers' voice use. Under loud ambient noise teachers seem to speak habitually loudly, and under loud activity noise teachers' ability to react to loading deteriorates.


2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 166-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Bez ◽  
David Reid ◽  
Suzanna Neville ◽  
Yves Vérin ◽  
Vidar Hjellvik ◽  
...  

Acoustic data are often collected during bottom trawl surveys. Their use can potentially improve the precision and accuracy of fish abundance estimates if acoustic data collected between trawl stations are consistent with those collected during trawling operations. This question is addressed here through the analysis of 20 bottom trawl surveys (three survey areas and five different survey series) with coincident acoustic measurements during and between trawl stations. Firstly, on-station and underway acoustic data were compared using statistics computed globally over each survey (average vertical profiles, global indices of collocations, and spatial structures) for various combinations of depth layers. Secondly, we focussed on underway acoustic data recorded in the vicinity of stations, distinguishing between data recorded before and after the tows. On-station and underway acoustic data were highly consistent, and no systematic perturbation of the acoustic sign due to the presence of the gear a few hundred metres behind the vessel was observed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 84 (8) ◽  
pp. 20-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umar Talha ◽  
Mir Asif ◽  
Sheraz Mohani ◽  
Jahanzeb Ahmad

When examining doctors ' workplaces, it was found that traffic noise inside the premises exceeds sanitary standards. For medical institutions, the sanitary standards are 50 dBA, and for fullscale measurements, they were 60-63 dBA. Traffic noise levels have a maximum at low frequencies (31.5 Hz) and a minimum at high frequencies (16,000 Hz).


Author(s):  
Florian Hiemer ◽  
Sylvia Keßler ◽  
Christoph Gehlen

<p>Infrastructural buildings are subject to a high risk of reinforcement corrosion resulting from de- icing salts. A lot of effort is put in the design of these buildings in order to minimize this risk and ensure the durability during their service life. However, the evaluation of the effectiveness of these measures as well as the resulting corrosion state is an essential but critical part in the assessment of the structural condition. Therefore a versatile corrosion monitoring system was developed, which can be retrofitted in structures which are subject to a certain corrosion risk. In a first case study this monitoring system was installed in two parking structures in southern Germany which were subject to cracks in the concrete cover, combined with a chloride exposure during winter periods. All basic electrochemical parameters of reinforcement corrosion could be measured allowing for an evaluation of the corrosion development before and after the coating measure. The principle of the monitoring system proved to be an effective tool and can be used in a wide range of structures (bridges, parking garages etc.).</p>


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