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Empowering Authorities: Advanced Techniques for Noise Measurement and Reporting

NoiseNet

When measuring noise, no matter if it’s a public complaint or part of a regulatory effort, it’s important to have solid, reliable data. The biggest challenge is that getting reliable data requires you to be there to hear what is going on, and to establish where the noise comes from. No-one has time or money to do that consistently given the workload of noise complaints. To make sure authorities are getting the most out of the measurement process, here are a few of the more advanced ways that NoiseNet facilitates acquiring actionable data.

Machine Learning Identification

NoiseNet’s monitoring devices utilise a new wave of technology that’s impacting nearly every industry: machine learning, sometimes also referred to as artificial intelligence. Machine learning refers to a powerful algorithm that grows and adapts to new input. In the case of NoiseNet devices, our machine learning algorithms are able to take sound wave inputs and reliably determine what is making the sound. We have built reliable models for common nuisance noises like barking dogs, power tools, and industrial equipment, but the technique can also be applied to more unique noise types with some additional effort (such as the donkey we once monitored). Machine learning is a powerful tool for speeding up the data analysis process, letting authorities categorise complaints swiftly and with minimal time wasted on in-person analysis.

Directional Analysis

Our most recent hardware innovation, available in our NoiseNet PinPoint devices, directional analysis enables authorities to place their monitoring device near the location of a noise issue and see precise data about where the nuisance noise is coming from. By constructing a tight array of microphones, NoiseNet PinPoint is able to detect minute differences in the time between each microphone registering a sound and determine where the sound is coming from. For authorities, this means better objective data proving exactly where an offending sound originates, which can add a lot of weight during the complaint resolution process.

Legal-Quality Reporting

One of the most frustrating experiences for authorities is working on a complaint file for months, all the way to the offending party being tried in court, only for the judge to disregard your noise data because it’s not seen as evidence quality. But most importantly, noise complaints almost always require proof of recurring or ongoing noise pollution/nuisance. And this is typically the hardest part to prove. With a NoiseNet monitoring device, authorities are able to leave the device in place for a prolonged period of time capturing exactly the data required to prove the ongoing issue. As the data is gathered, it is automatically analysed to provide rapid updates to the investigating officer, allowing timely intervention on the issue. And the data can ultimately be processed into a legal-quality format that is admissible as evidence in court, if the issues get to that stage. Although the vast majority of noise issues are solved with the extensive and high quality data before it gets to that stage, it is critical that NoiseNet is able to accompany the noise regulator on the full journey if things do end up in court.


If you’re interested in levelling up your noise measurement processes, NoiseNet is here to empower you. Head over to https://go.noisenet.com/your-needs today to get started.

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