Occupational noise exposure for Guide Dogs training centre
Donald Quinn, Paul Bassett

The Euronoise 2009 conference in Edinburgh heard from Paul Bassett about the assessment of occupational noise for dog care staff at Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the recommended solutions offered to reduce noise exposure in line with The Control of Noise at Work regulations 2005. Download (PDF, 620KB)

Shortened measurement procedure for road traffic noise at night, revisited
Paul Bassett, Sue Bird, Inigo Eugui

In October 2009, Paul Bassett presented a comparison of measurement methodologies for assessment of road traffic noise at night, at Euronoise 2009. The paper discussed the approach of an established procedure of using shortened noise measurements at night to derive night-time noise exposure. Two comparative methods were reviewed and the accuracy of their results documented. Download (PDF, 56KB)

Noise generation on construction sites
Peter Hepworth, Paul Bassett

At the Inter-Noise 2007 Conference held in Istanbul, Turkey, Peter Hepworth and Paul Bassett reported their findings from the three-year long survey into the noise from equipment used on construction sites, quarries and waste disposal sites in the United Kingdom to gather new and usable data on noise generation from these sources. The database, commissioned by Defra and compiled by Hepworth Acoustics, is now available on the Defra website and provides accurate guidance as to the noise emitted by different pieces of equipment under a range of circumstances where first-hand measurements may not be practicable. Download (PDF, 196KB)

Noise map data accuracy and public confidence
Peter Hepworth

In July 2007, Peter Hepworth, Managing Director of Hepworth Acoustics, addressed the 14th International Congress on Sound Vibration held in Cairns, Australia, on the subject of the accuracy of individual data items in noise maps, its effect on the accuracy of noise maps as a whole, and the importance of understanding and explaining the accuracy of noise maps in order to maintain public confidence in the noise mapping process. Download (PDF, 117KB)

Accuracy implications of computerized noise predictions for environmental noise mapping
Peter Hepworth

In December of 2006, Peter Hepworth presented a paper to the Inter-Noise 2006 Conference in Honolulu. In the paper, Peter Hepworth explores the ways in which noise prediction projects have grown in size over recent years. Noise mapping software is crucial to carry out these vast studies, and Hepworth looks at the accuracy of the different software packages available. Download (PDF, 92KB)

Reference settings in noise mapping software – a comparison of the speed of calculation for different software
Peter Hepworth, James Trow, Vincent Hii

In June of 2006, three members of the Hepworth team, including MD Peter Hepworth, presented this, the first of two papers on noise mapping software, its accuracy and best application. This paper identifies the most accurate and compliant benchmark settings for performing Calculation of Road Traffic Noise calculations in 5 different noise mapping software packages and concludes that the use of benchmark settings is not feasible in the performance of large-scale noise mapping calculations due to the length of the calculation times involved. Download (PDF, 874KB)

User controlled settings in noise mapping software – the effects on calculation speed and accuracy
Peter Hepworth, James Trow, Vincent Hii

In June of 2006, three members of the Hepworth team, including MD Peter Hepworth, presented this, the second of two papers on noise mapping software, its accuracy and best application. This paper shows that there are considerable reductions in large-scale noise-mapping calculation times using efficiency techniques, but that this can sometimes be at the cost of accuracy. Thus, while the use of efficiency techniques is seen as essential in carrying out noise mapping within reasonable limits of time and expenditure, decisions as to which calculation methodologies should be applied should be made on the basis of standard specific testing. Download (PDF, 91KB)

Interactive Web-based Noise Modelling

In 2004, Hepworth Acoustics consultant Simon Shilton teamed up with C.F.J. Hoar of NGIS China Ltd, based in Hong Kong, to conduct a study into the development and use of web-based noise modelling systems which would provide broad access to environmental modelling tools to a wide range of interested parties, from government bodies through to consultants and the general public. The ability to gather and disseminate data in this way opens up new vistas for consultation and cooperation. Since this date, Simon Shilton has moved from Hepworth Acoustics Ltd to Acustica Limited. Download (PDF, 565KB)