Noise Mapping

Here's a few facts a starting point if you will for the consideration of noise pollution within the urban environment. Noise is a pollution like any other is a problem but one which less attention is given to, but what is noise and how can we experience and measure it?

Noise - unwanted sound - is a universal problem and most of us have been affected by it at some point in our lives.

What is a noise map?
A noise map is rather like a weather map for noise but it shows the hotspots and the cooler area. Just as a weather map might have isobars joining points of equal air pressure, a noise map can have contours (isophons) joining points having the same noise level. Alternatively a noise map can be made up of a set of small coloured dots – which can show the overall picture of noise across the area mapped.

Oxford Street London

click for larger view

This noise map reads like a weather report showing graduation and spread of the noise. This urban conflict of technology and the advance of civilization since the industrial revolution attributes itself to our changing world which already is suffering under the strain of our supposed progress.

This effect of our progress is evident in our homes also, your fridge, the hum of all electrical equipment, droning endlessly into our lives.

How is this affecting life are our ears accepting this?
Does this effect our modes of listening?
Can this help us achieve silence by eradicating it?
What ambiance do we miss due to drone overtones of technology disrupting and covering the often harmonically rich background ambiance?

Go to town>Listen>Hear>Think