noise survey monitoring around Unikl MICET

1. EXPERIMENT 1: NOISE SURVEY MONITORING
OBJECTIVE:
1. To determine how the sound pressure level generated from a source varies as one
move away from it.
In this survey, the noise level from four sources had been conducted. The sources is chiller,
air-conditioner, control room and refrigerator. The sources of the survey is carried out at
different venue. The venue is library, staff café, tutorial building and outside lab. The
distance of the noise level taken is 1 m and 4 m. As a conclusion, the shorter the distance
from the sources, the higher the noise level.
2. To identify area at risk of NIHL (Noise Induce Hearing Loss).
The survey was conducted around the university area. Four sources is used to determine
the noise level at five different places. From the result, the noise level from the sources is
lower than 80 dBA and it can be concluded the university surrounding is a safe area and
the risk of NIHL can be reduced.
3. To evaluate effectiveness of existing noise control.
Based on the survey, the sources of the noise is controlled by surrounding that can reduced
the noise level. For example, the chiller outside the lab is covered by grass to absorbed the
noise and can reduced the noise level at the same time. Another example is in library, the
air-conditioner is put in covered area to reduce it noise level.

2. INTRODUCTION:
The objective of this experiment are to determine how the sound pressure level generated
from a source varies as one move away from it, to identify area at risk of NIHL (Noise Induce
Hearing Loss) and to evaluate effectiveness of existing noise control. “The word noise comes from
the Latin word noxia meaning "injury" or "hurt". Noise is an unwanted, unpleasant and annoying
SOUND caused by vibration of the matter. Sound is a sensation of acoustic waves
(disturbance/pressure fluctuations setup in a medium). A decibel (dB) is the standard for the
measurement of noise”. 80 dbA is the level at which sound becomes physically painful and can be
termed as noise. If the noise reading is higher than that, it can cause the human lost their hearing
sense if they are in noisy place in long time. For this experiment that is noise survey monitoring,
it included a visit to a site and recorded noise measurement at a specific noise source. Sound Lever
Meter (SLM) is used to measure the noise level while the measuring tape is used for measure the
distance.
Material used:
a) Measuring tape b) Distance c) Sound Level Meter (SLM)

3. Distance used in this experiment is 1 meter and 4 meter. In this survey, 4 sources is used
in 5 different places. The source is air-conditioner (place: library), chiller (place: outside lab),
refrigerator (place: cafe staff) and control room (place: tutorial building level 2 and 4). The noise
level is taking 3 times and the average noise level is calculated by using formula:
Average noise = 20 log
ퟏ
푵
(Σ LP/20)
The main problem to conduct this survey is to determine whether the university area is safe and
secure from noise pollution. Based on the result, the noise level of the sources is lower than 80
dBA. So, it can be concluded the area is free from noise pollution. The result shows the shorter the
distance from the sources, the higher the noise level. As a conclusion, the noise survey area is not
in the risk of noise pollution that can makes the people deaf or have hearing problem and it very
suitable for the student for studying in conducive environment.
PROCEDURE:
1. The students is divided into 4 group.
2. Each group are given 4 places and need to find 4 sources that can detect the noise level.
(Place: staff café, library, tutorial building: level 2 and 4, outside lab)
3. The Sound Level Meter (SLM) is given for each group.
4. The students need to find the noise level from two different distance. The distance is 1 m
and 4 m long.
5. SLM was calibrated with the piston phone before taking all experiment.
6. The first place was staff café and the noise level is determined.
7. When taking the measurement of noise level, the position of the SLM must same with the
height of the measuring tape on the source. The reading is recorded.
8. After all measurement is taken, the SLM is calibrated before used at another place.
9. Then, repeat step 5 to 9 at another places that is library, tutorial building and outside lab.

4. 10. When the measurement of noise is done at all the places, the noise average is calculated by
using formula:
Average noise = 20 log
ퟏ
푵
(Σ LP/20)
11. All the data and observation was recorded in the report.
12. Graph Sound Level Pressure against distance is plotted.
Venue and sources of the survey
Control room-tutorial building Equipment: SLM Chiller –outside lab
Air conditioner- library Equipment: Measuring tape refrigerator-staff café

5. DISCUSSION:
The objective of this experiment is to determine how the sound pressure level generated
from a source varies as one move away from it, to identify area at risk of NIHL (Noise Induce
Hearing Loss) and to evaluate effectiveness of existing noise control. This experiment is done by
using Sound Level Meter (SLM). SLM contains a microphone, an amplifier, frequency response
networks, and some type of indicating meter. The SLM indicates the sound level pressure in
decibels (dB) by measuring sound pressure level, the amplifying and scaling it. It is used to
determine the compliance with standard by detecting at slow response. The “A” scale which most
closely approaches the way of our ears receive and perceive sound pressure level. Noise survey
included a visit to a site and the noise measurement of a specific source was determined. In this
survey, UniKL MICET surrounding was used to measure the noise level. Distance used in this
experiment is 1 meter and 4 meter along and measured the distance by using measuring tape. In
this survey, 4 sources is used in 5 different places. The source is air-conditioner (place: library),
chiller (place: outside lab), refrigerator (place: cafe staff) and control room (place: tutorial building
level 2 and 4). The resources in one place are many, but only one sources was taken the noise level
reading. The noise level is taking 3 times and the average noise level is calculated.
The first place that had been detected its noise level is library (source: air-conditioner). The
noise reading at 1 m long are 45.0 dBA, 45.0 dBA, 45.0 dBA and the average noise level is 44.04
dBA. For result in 4 m long at library, the sound level pressure are 45.0 dBA, 45.0 dBA, 45.0 dBA
and the average noise level is 38.15 dBA. Based on the reference, the decibel of noise allowed is
between 40 dBA until 70 dBA (www.temple.edu/departments/CETP/environ10.html). The result
obtained showed the noise level at the library is not in the risk of pollution. The noise level at the
library is lower because of the environment is calm and quiet. The place was built in covered area
to reduce the noise sound inside the library.
The second place that had been detected its noise level is café staff (source: refrigerator).
The noise reading at 1 m long are 45.0 dBA, 43.0 dBA, 46.0 dBA and the average noise level is
44.75 dBA. For result in 4 m long at café staff, the sound level pressure are 37.0 dBA, 42.0 dBA,
41.0 dBA and the average noise level is 40.25 dBA. Based on the reference
(www.temple.edu/departments/CETP/environ10.html), the decibel of noise allowed in the café is
between 60 dBA until 70 dBA. The result obtained showed the noise level at the library is not in

6. the risk of Noise Hearing Induce Loss (NIHL). The noise level at the cafe is lower because of the
environment is fairly quiet and the refrigerator placed inside the covered area that easily absorbed
the noise.
The third place that had been detected its noise level is outside the laboratory (source:
chiller). The noise reading at 1 m long are 72.0 dBA, 73.0 dBA, 75.0 dBA and the average noise
level is 73.42 dBA. For result in 4 m long outside the laboratory, the sound level pressure are 45.0
dBA, 45.0 dBA, 45.0 dBA and the average noise level is 38.15 dBA. Based on the reference
(www.temple.edu/departments/CETP/environ10.html), the decibel of noise allowed is between 60
dBA until 70 dBA. The result obtained showed the noise level is higher than the noise level
allowed. The noise level outside the lab is higher because the sound of chiller and the sound of the
machine to run the cooling process is higher. The grass is planted around the chiller to absorb the
noise.
The fourth place that had been detected its noise level is tutorial block level 2 (source:
control room). The noise reading at 1 m long are 33.0 dBA, 33.0 dBA, 33.0 dBA and the average
noise level is 33.00 dBA. For result in 4 m long at tutorial block level 2 , the sound level pressure
are 30.0 dBA, 35.0 dBA, 34.0 dBA and the average noise level is 38.15 dBA. Based on the
reference (www.temple.edu/departments/CETP/environ10.html), the decibel of noise allowed is
between 40 dBA until 70 dBA. The result obtained showed the noise level is in the noise level
allowed. The noise level is higher at 4 m distance compared to 1 m distance. It because the students
talking with other during the class. The control room is built outside the tutorial room to easy the
noise released.
The last place that had been detected its noise level is tutorial block level 4 (source: control
room). The noise reading at 1 m long are 43.0 dBA, 40.0 dBA, 41.0 dBA and the average noise
level is 41.42 dBA. For result in 4 m long at tutorial block level 4, the sound level pressure are
36.0 dBA, 44.0 dBA, 34.0 dBA and the average noise level is 39.14 dBA. Based on the reference
(www.temple.edu/departments/CETP/environ10.html), the decibel of noise allowed is between 40
dBA until 70 dBA. The result obtained showed the noise level is in the range of the noise level
allowed. The control room is built outside the tutorial room to release the unwanted noise.

7. Graph of the survey:
Sound Pressure Level (dBA) against distance (m)
Library Staff Cafe Tutor block-level 2 Tutor block-level 4 Outside Lab
Di s tance( m)
1m 4m Column1
The graph shows the higher average sound level pressure is outside the lab followed by
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Sound Pressure Level (dBA)
staff café, tutorial block level 4, library and tutorial block level 2. The shorter distance shows the
higher sound level pressure compared to longer distance. It can be concluded, the shorter the
distance from the sources of the noise, the higher the noise level obtained. The noise level reading
showed the higher reading is 75 dBA outside the lab and the allowable standard is between 60-70
dBA. But, the noise level become painful when it reach 80 dBA. So, in this case, the noise level
reading is not categorized as noise pollution. Each of the sources is built the method to reduce the
noise level. For example, built in the covered area and grass planted to absorb the unwanted noise.
The risk of Noise Induce Hearing Loss (NIHL) is lower because the reading of the noise level is
lower than 80 dBA. So, the environment inside MICET is safe from the noise pollution. As a
conclusion, the three objective of this survey were achieved.

8. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION:
The objective of this experiment are to determine how the sound pressure level generated
from a source varies as one move away from it, to identify area that are at risk of NIHL and to
evaluate effectiveness of existing noise control. This experiment was conduct at five differe nt
places that were library upper floor, café staff, tutorial block second floor, tutorial block fourth
floor and outside the laboratory. The sources is chiller, air-conditioner, control room and
refrigerator. The noise level was detected by using Sound Level Meter (SLM). This equipment can
measure sound pressure level in decibels (dB). This sound pressure level was measured at differe nt
length of the source that are 1 meter and 4 meter. From all the five sources of the survey, the
highest sound pressure level is outside of the laboratory. The noise level from all of the sources is
lower than 80 dBA and it can be concluded the university surrounding is a safe area and the risk
of NIHL can be reduced. The sources of the noise is controlled by surrounding that can reduced
the noise level. For example, the chiller outside the lab is covered by grass to absorbed the noise
and can reduced the noise level at the same time. Another example is in library, the air-conditioner
is put in covered area to reduce it noise level. As a conclusion, the shorter the length of measuring
tape from the source, the higher the sound pressure level.
For the recommendation of this survey, make sure the length of the distance from the
sources is 1 m and 4 m. So the noise level that has been measured is more accurate. Then, make
sure to keep quiet to avoid the noise level increase too high. It because, Sound Level Meter is
sensitive. Lastly, make sure to take the reading more than two reading and calculate the average
reading of the sound pressure level.

9. REFERENCES:
1. Temple University Department of Civil/Environmental Enginee r ing
(www.temple.edu/departments/CETP/environ10.html) , and Federal Agency Review of
Selected Airport Noise Analysis Issues, Federal Interagency Committee on Noise (August
1992).
2. Outdoor Noise and the Metropolitan Environment, M.C. Branch et al., Department of City
Planning, City of Los Angeles, 1970.
3. Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government 2007
(http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Noise/) ( October, 2007)
4. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (www.osha.gov) Occupational noise
exposure.
5. Patricia A. Niquette, AuD, Noise Exposure: Explanation of OSHA and NIOSH
Safe‑Exposure Limits and the Importance of Noise Dosimetry
(https://www.etymotic.com/pdf/er_noise_exposure_whitepaper.pdf)