Community noise mapping: The need, identified challenges, and potential solutions

ABSTRACT

Hearing loss and deafness have been globally recognized as one of the major public health concerns that need immediate attention. Noise mapping refers to the systematic process of measuring and visualizing the noise level distribution in a well-defined location, preferably in urban settings or industrial areas. This exercise of noise mapping is generally done with the intention of identifying the noise hotspots and measuring the extent of exposure to noise levels in different areas. The process of noise mapping at the community level is expected to have some challenges and these must be identified to effectively deal with them. In conclusion, we cannot undermine the fact that there is an immense need to implement effective noise management strategies to reduce the development of health-related implications. In dealing with this global concern, noise mapping is a crucial tool to provide comprehensive insights about noise levels in different areas, which in turn can be utilized to take specific actions for building a healthier and sustainable environment.

Introduction

Hearing loss and deafness have been globally recognized as one of the major public health concerns that need immediate attention.[1] In fact, the available global estimates predict that by the year 2050, close to 2.5 billion people will be suffering from some degree of hearing loss, while almost 700 million people will essentially need hearing rehabilitation.[2] Even though a wide range of etiological factors cumulatively contribute to these alarming estimates, community noise has been identified as one of the crucial determinants.[1,2] It has been estimated that we must make an annual extra investment of less than US$ 1.40 per person to amplify ear and hearing care services globally.[2] Higher levels of community noise have been linked with multiple physiological and psychological implications, such as hearing impairment, sleep disturbances, stress and anxiety, elevated blood pressure, cognitive impairment in the form of poor performance owing to an inability to concentrate, disruptions in memory or problem-solving skills, adverse effects on fetal development, aggravation of pre-existing health conditions, difficulty in communication, impact on the quality of life, etc.[1,2,3]

Noise Mapping

Noise mapping refers to the systematic process of measuring and visualizing the noise level distribution in a well-defined location, preferably done in urban settings or industrial areas.[3] This exercise of noise mapping is generally done with the intention of identifying the noise hotspots and measuring the extent of exposure to noise levels in different areas.[4] The obtained evidence is subsequently used to create awareness among the public about the impact of such noise levels and empower the general population to actively engage in noise reduction initiatives.[3,4,5] Further, this data can also guide policymakers in introducing specific regulatory norms-cum-policies or even in the planning of urban areas with an intention of prioritizing the reduction of noise pollution.[4,5,6]

The act of noise mapping can be executed using different methods and technologies based on the goal, available resources, and the specific location/community where mapping needs to be done.[7,8,9] These methods include the use of sound level meter or mobile noise monitoring through applications, the establishment of fixed noise monitoring stations at strategic locations, the integration of geographical information systems, the use of social media platforms and crowdsourcing to collect noise-related data, noise prediction models, etc.[7,8,9] The resulting noise maps provide significant insights into the intensity, frequency, and sources of noise pollution in the given area.[3,4,5] In essence, noise mapping is a valuable approach to understanding, managing, and mitigating the harmful consequences of noise on both the community’s health and the environment.[3,6]

Identified Challenges and Potential Solutions

The process of noise mapping at the community level is expected to have some challenges, and these must be identified to effectively deal with them, as listed in Table 1.[6,10,11,12,13] The challenges include difficulties in ensuring precise and consistent noise mapping across different areas, a lack of standardization within and across different communities or regions, and uncertainty about ensuring comprehensive coverage and completeness of noise data in the given location.[10] Further, we must be ready with regard to how to deal with the variability in sources and types of noise, and promote active community participation in noise mapping initiatives, as the local people might have privacy concerns, predominantly in residential localities.[11,12] The challenge of resource constraints and technological limitations can also not be ignored as they are bound to impact the overall outcome of the mapping.[13,14] We all must realize that the act of mapping is of no use unless the obtained results are subsequently used for policy-making, strict enforcement of existing regulations, and urban planning.[4,5] All these identified challenges will essentially require thoughtful planning, the engagement of community members, and the incorporation of advanced technologies to make the entire process more effective and beneficial [Table 1].[5,6,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]

Table 1.

Identified challenges and potential solutions

Identified challenges	Potential solutions
Accuracy of measurement	• The measurement tools should be regularly calibrated
	• Employ standardized measurement protocols
	• Depending on the availability of resources, prefer advanced technologies for precise data collection
Data completeness and coverage	• Do not limit to a single method, but employ a combination of methods
	• Set strategic placement for monitoring stations to avoid missing hotspots
	• Employ mobile-based monitoring methods as they provide better reach
	• Encourage community participation in data collection through crowdsourcing
Variability in noise sources (dynamic noise pattern)	• Differentiate between noise sources using advanced measurement techniques
	• Develop and employ predictive models that can take into account variability in noise patterns
	• Implement continuous monitoring and real-time data analysis to capture dynamic changes in noise patterns, predominantly in settings with varying activities across different times of day
Community engagement	• Sensitize the community about the health implications of loud noise
	• Organize awareness campaigns for the community about the noise mapping process
	• Encourage people to participate in the process (community-based approaches) and subsequently share their experiences
Resource constraints	• Conduct noise mapping in areas with the highest population density or where noise is a known concern
	• Use cost-effective technologies (viz., smartphone apps and crowdsourcing), to supplement traditional mapping methods
Lack of standardization	• Establish and strictly adhere to standard measurement tools and protocols to ensure consistency and comparability of noise mapping data across different areas
Technological limitations	• Stay abreast with recent developments in noise mapping technologies
	• Explore the use of emerging technologies (like advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, etc.) to enhance accuracy and efficiency
Limited integration with urban planning	• Liaise with policymakers and urban planners to integrate noise mapping data before they plan any urban locality • Advocate for the inclusion of noise reduction measures in city planning
Regulatory compliance	• Noise mapping efforts must be done in alignment with existing noise regulations
	• The collected details should be used to identify areas of non-compliance and accordingly introduce policy adjustments or stringent enforcement
Privacy concerns	• Explain the purpose of mapping clearly
	• Collected information must be kept anonymous

Conclusion

We cannot undermine the fact that there is an immense need to implement effective noise management strategies to reduce the development of health-related implications. In dealing with this global concern, noise mapping is a crucial tool to provide comprehensive insights about noise levels in different areas, which in turn can be utilized to take specific actions for building a healthier and sustainable environment.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.