Abstract

IntroductionNumerous reports relating to noise threats in Poland indicate that they occur commonly. The noise has an enormous impact on the health and life quality of the human beings. Noise pollution in Poland is greater than in others UE countries, moreover it has been increased recently. Taking into account 2002/49/WE directive related to the control and assessment of environmental noise a necessity of monitoring these threats arose. With this end in view the Multimedia Noise Monitoring System (MNMS) was developed. In the first part of this paper, its general characteristics and applied hardware and software solutions were presented. In the second one, noise measurement results obtained, expanded by the noise dosimetric analysis were described. In addition, hearing measurements of persons exposed to noise were carried out. In the last part, a thorough analysis of the obtained results was presented. Multimedia Noise Monitoring SystemThe MNMS, developed at the Multimedia Systems Department of the Gdansk University of Technology enables to proceed with the environmental noise measurements in cities at an unparalleled until now range. In general the MNMS consists of the central database, which collects measurement results, and numerous equipment tools which execute noise meter functions. One of the proposed devices is a mobile noise monitoring station, described in this paper in detail. The station realizes all measuring functions typical for a sound level meter. It also includes special solutions for long-term measurements and introduces new types of noise indicators. The application of wireless data transmission technology enables to send data to the server and to remotely control the station performance.Noise and Hearing MeasurementsThe noise measurement results, obtained by means of the MNMS, are presented in a concise way. The measurements were done in the selected schools, musical clubs and around busy streets in the centre of the urban area. The data gathered were utilised to perform the noise dosimetric analysis. This is done to determine the noise exposure of a person staying in the considered places. In selected cases (i.e. schools and musical clubs) the noise dosimetric analysis was expanded by the hearing assessment. To this end the evoked otoacoustic emission measurement was applied. The hearing was examined twice. First, directly before the noise exposure to a given type of noise, and then immediately after noise exposure. The performed analysis combined the obtained noise and hearing measurement results.Result Analysis and ConclusionsThe studies performed head for the identification of the areas threatened by noise and at the same time for defining a new type of the noise indicator. Such a measure combines information on the noise level and noise spectrum characteristics for easier identification of possibility of evoking the Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS) effect. This measure is to be implemented in the engineered noise measurement unit and to be used to predict noise doses that may be potentially damaging to hearing.

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