Improve Knowledge Of Acoustic Factors Involved In Railway Noise Annoyance

TL;DR

This study investigates how specific acoustic features of railway noise peaks influence residents' annoyance, aiming to improve noise assessment methods beyond traditional energy indicators.

Contribution

It introduces a novel protocol using innovative tools to rank railway noise events by their instantaneous annoyance impact on residents.

Findings

Validation of the feasibility of ranking noise events by annoyance

Development of a protocol combining real-time annoyance ratings and acoustic measurements

Comparison of annoyance scores from real-time ratings and sound sample evaluations

Abstract

Energy noise indicators are generally used to characterize the exposure of populations to transportation noise in relation to their long-term annoyance, but they do not adequately reflect the repetitive nature of noise peaks generated by railway traffic. The GENIFER project aims to test a study protocol designed to rank railway noise events according to the instantaneous annoyance they cause to residents. This study will be carried out in a sector exposed to railway noise in the {\^I}le-de-France region and will require the recruitment of 60 volunteer local residents. It will propose the use of innovative tools for collecting information, including an electronic remote-control allowing participants to rate the annoyance they feel when trains pass by, and noise sensor instrumentation allowing the simultaneous collection of the acoustic characteristics of railway noise peaks. It also includes semi-directive interviews and a questionnaire to identify co-determinants of annoyance. The instantaneous annoyance scores collected will also be compared with those obtained from commented listening to sound samples of passing trains. In addition to assessing the acceptability of the protocol by the participants, this study aims to validate the feasibility of ranking railway noise events according to their acoustic characteristics in terms of the annoyance expressed.