Listening laboratory study of low height roadside noise barrier performance compared against in-situ field data

Torija Martinez, AJ; Flindell, IH

Abstract

A listening laboratory study conducted using simulated soundfields with and without a low (1 m) height
roadside noise barrier suggested that small but significant improvements in the perceived or subjective
soundscape could be achieved. The laboratory study closely replicated the acoustic conditions observed
in an earlier in-situ field study (Rådsten-Ekman et al. [18]) which had also found similar improvements in
subjective impressions. Comparing the two sets of data suggested that the modest acoustical performance
of the low height road traffic noise barrier was sufficient to explain the observed subjective
differences. In the laboratory study, reported loudness and annoyance were reduced by up to 25% and
reported calmness was increased by up to 43%. In the laboratory study, there was no indication that the
increased relative importance of low frequency content within the overall frequency spectrum behind
the noise barrier had any material effect on the results.

Citation

Torija Martinez, A., & Flindell, I. (2014). Listening laboratory study of low height roadside noise barrier performance compared against in-situ field data. Building and Environment, 81, 216-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.07.006

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 2, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Jul 10, 2014
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Dec 3, 2019
• Journal: Building and Environment
• Print ISSN: 0360-1323
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 81
• Pages: 216-225
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.07.006
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.07.006
• Related Public URLs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/building-and-environment
• Additional Information: Funders : University of Malaga and the European Commission under the Agreement Grant no. 246550 of the seventh Framework Programme for R & D of the EU, granted within the People Programme, «Co-funding of Regional, National and International Programmes» (COFUND);Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain; Grant Number: Agreement Grant No. 246550; Grant Number: COFUND2013- 40259