Class Acoustic Pollution

The Acoustic Pollution curricular unit aims to train Environmental Engineering students with basic but extensive knowledge of the main concepts, themes and legal framework on sound and noise and the means for its monitoring and control.

Not applicable

1. Wave theory of sound. Physical properties of sound waves. Types of sounds. Spectral analysis of sound. Sound power, intensity and pressure levels. Definition of decibels (dB). Calculations with dB. 2. Sound propagation. Sound sources. Sound fields. Behaviour of sound waves: reflection, diffraction, diffusion, refraction, transmission and absorption Atmospheric and superficial factors with influence on sound propagation. Acoustic barriers. 3. Sound measurement and evaluation Quantitative indicators. Legal framework: Portuguese and international standards. European Noise Directive. Equipment, calibration and measurement methods. Noise maps. 4. Sound and noise Anatomophysiology of human hearing. Impacts of noise on human health. 5. Occupational noise Sources of noise at the workplace. Main indicators. Methods of assessing daily personal exposure. Effects on human health of excessive exposure. 6. Noise prevention and control. Evaluation of noise impacts. Noise prevention and control measures.

Teaching methods are based on the exhaustive exposure of programmatic content, strongly supported in texts and audio-visual media (slides, documentaries, films) to enable the comprehension of current technical concepts and definitions of environmental engineering related to Noise Pollution. For all programmatic content, the learning activities include autonomous work, discussion and practical application in the classroom of acquired knowledge. The indication of supplementary bibliography on programmatic content is intended to be an incentive to the students’ autonomous work. For certain components of the programme learning is also supported by the study and analysis of real cases relating to sectors of industrial activity with relevant impact on noise. The evaluation of the urban noise (at the university facilities surroundings) may be carried out in field work using measurement instruments existing at the university laboratories.

Bies, D. A., e Hansen, C. H. (2009). Engineering Noise Control: Theory and Practice. 4ª ed. CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315273464 Benz Kotzen e Colin English (2009). Environmental Noise Barriers: A Guide To Their Acoustic and Visual Design, 2ª Ed. Taylor & Francis. eBook ISBN9780429153440. James P. Chambers. (2005). Cap.12 Noise Pollution. In Handbook of environmental engineering - vol. 2: Advanced air and noise pollution control. Lawrence K. Wang, Norman C. Pereira, Yung-Tse Hung e Kathleen Hung Li (Editores). Humana Press Inc. Totowa, USA. eISBN 1-59259-779-3. Pp. 441-452.   James P. Chambers e Paul Jensen. (2005). Cap.13 Noise Control. In Handbook of environmental engineering - vol. 2: Advanced air and noise pollution control. Lawrence K. Wang, Norman C. Pereira, Yung-Tse Hung e Kathleen Hung Li (Editores). Humana Press Inc. Totowa, USA. eISBN 1-59259-779-3. Pp. 453-509.