Posted on 3 November, 2010
Berkel-Enschot, November, 3rd 2010. Munisense, together with VGK (dutch organization for management of municipal amusement fairs) and EvertSipkema Audio, show that noise from amusement fairs can be managed cost effectively through a combination of noise limiters, centrally controlled music, and real-time on-line noise measurements. The pilot showing the effectiveness of this combination was done at the temporary queens-day fair at the Zaanenlaan in Haarlem.
Amusement fairs generally induce the notion of excessive noise for local residents. Although not unlikely in the past, today using a combination of noise abatement technologies this is not at all necessary anymore. A pilot commissioned by the VGK at the temporary queens-day amusement fair in Haarlem shows this convincingly. By combining centrally controlled music, sound limiters, and real-time continuous measurement the noise at the surrounding residences can be kept within the agreed-to limits.
The pilot included a base measurement before, building-up, the fair itself, and taking down the fair. The munisense measured the noise at three locations selected based on complaints in the past. The system measures sound every second and notifies both organization and municipal officers when the noise exceeded the set limits. By immediately intervening after receiving a notification, the organizers were able to limit excess noise effectively. The munisense system stores all measurements so that the government can evaluate the noise after wards to set the limits for next years fair and the fair organizers can use the data to plan the layout of the fair to generate less noise for local residents.
Because of the time resolution in the munisense system, the government can actually use the noise measurement to validate whether the fair opening and closing times where according to the permit.
Munisense presented the results of the pilot at the yearly VGK conference on November 3rd.