Understanding and Preserving Quiet Areas

08.26.2013 | HMMH |

What is a quiet area; how can it be protected or restored; and is there public interest in understanding, identifying, restoring and preserving quiet areas? What is the difference between eliminating noise, and implementing quiet areas? This study examines the results of sociological, psychological and acoustics studies and offers possible answers.

Presented at Noise-Con 2013 in Denver, CO, HMMH explores these questions while considering the challenge of informing the public of the difference between implementation and elimination. This question is answered by looking at several metrics including quality of life ratings in relation to sound annoyance and desirable versus undesirable noise ratings.

The findings in this paper spur important questions about the need for noise mitigation, and possible developments in how we identify need and pursue preservation projects.

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