Improving knowledge of the acoustic factors involved in railway noise annoyance: first results of a pilot field survey of sixty-two local residents

TL;DR

This study introduces a new protocol for assessing railway noise annoyance by capturing real-time ratings and acoustic data from residents near railway lines, aiming to better understand how specific noise factors influence annoyance.

Contribution

It presents the first results of a pilot field survey that combines real-time annoyance ratings with detailed acoustic measurements to improve understanding of railway noise impact.

Findings

Collected around 5,000 annoyance ratings during train passages

Linked acoustic characteristics with perceived annoyance levels

Identified potential co-determinants of long-term annoyance

Abstract

Railway transportation contributes to the objectives of decarbonization but also generates negative externalities, including noise. Energy noise indicators used to characterize population exposure do not adequately reflect the repetitive nature of railway noise peaks. The GENIFER pilot study aims to test a protocol designed to characterize railway noise events according to the instantaneous perceived annoyance when the train is passing, in order to improve understanding of the influence of acoustic factors on annoyance. The first phase of the survey was carried out in 2023 among 62 residents of a pilot site. An electronic device was used to collect around 5,000 ratings, ranging from 1 to 10, assessing the instantaneous annoyance induced by railway noise at passing trains. The site instrumentation included sixteen sound level meters and two video recording systems, enabling annoyance ratings to be associated with the acoustic characteristics of railway noise events. A questionnaire aimed at identifying co-determinants of long-term annoyance was also administered to participants. Feedback on the field implementation of this survey and initial results concerning acoustic measurements, instantaneous annoyance ratings and questionnaire responses will be presented.