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Environmental Noise Compliance Surveys & Ground Vibration Control

Our acoustical engineers will help you minimize the impacts of outdoor noise emissions, ground vibrations and blast waves to achieve compliance with environmental regulations and noise bylaws, as well as maintain good relationships with your local community.

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Are Your Outdoor Noise and Vibration Levels Compliant With Laws?

Whether they're caused by mining operations, transport, industrial equipment, or construction work, outdoor noise and ground vibrations are regulated pretty much everywhere, across municipal, provincial and federal levels. Noise pollution has long been considered a public health issue—a frequent cause of discomfort and psychological problems. But regulatory obligations aside, we all have our role to play in making the world a quieter place for all.

Noise pollution is rarely generated on purpose. Rock drilling and blasting will always be noisy operations but no natural ressources without them. Heavy machinery and equipment are inherently loud but no innovation and productivity without them. We can't provide housing without construction sites. And who'd want to attend a whisper-quiet outdoor concert? Noise is a necessary evil. Unfortunately, it rarely follows the path of good intentions.

Outdoor noise and ground vibrations travel as they please and often much further than we'd like. That's why they're regulated by environmental laws and guidelines. And once outdoor noise and vibration levels are correctly measured and their environmental impact is well understood, they can be accurately predicted and continuously kept under control. That's where our acoustical engineers come in.

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Measuring & Reducing Outdoor Noise Emissions to Achieve Regulatory Compliance

For people living near construction sites, industrial facilities or transit infrastructures, outdoor noise and ground vibrations can be a problem. To address the problem, all levels of government enforce a set of regulations that one must comply with when carrying potentially loud operations in proximity with residential areas. Soft dB’s Acoustic and Vibration division can help organizations of all shapes and sizes comply with environmental regulations and noise laws. Our acoustical engineers can do many things for you:

  • Identify the source of noise and vibration from heavy equipment and building services (including HVAC systems)
  • Take measurements of the sound coming from noisy industrial equipment or processes to provide actionable recommendations on how to reduce environmental sonic footprint
  • Assess and analyze individual equipment noise or conduct site-wide noise surveys
  • Make the acoustic modelling of noise and vibration dispersion using advanced prediction software (CADNA-A, SoundPlan)
  • Assess community impacts and regulatory compliance with applicable noise bylaws and environmental regulations
  • Create custom designs and specifications for engineered noise and vibration control measures

Controlling Noise & Vibration Levels Across Mines and Quarries

It’s easy to imagine the noise that can be produced by the exploitation of natural resource sites such as mines (the heavy machinery that constantly moves around on the site, trucks moving in and out, blasting sessions, etc.). In order to reduce the production of environmental noise on such sites and to relieve nearby residents, Soft dB’s environmental acoustics consulting and noise control services may be called upon by the exploitation companies to:

  • Take on-site measurements or execute remote monitoring with real time alerting for exceeding regulatory limits
  • Make the acoustic modelling and prediction of noise and vibration geographic dispersion using advanced prediction software (CADNA-A, SoundPlan)
  • Assess impacts and predict the effect of extraction activities on buildings, structures, and occupants
  • Create the design and specification of engineered noise and vibration control measures
  • Write concise and easy-to-understand reports for our clients

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Community Noise Impact Mapping

Our acoustical engineers are often asked to create visual noise map for towns, cities, transport arteries, etc. These noise maps are as useful to us as they are visually insightful for decision makers in understanding their true sonic impact on surrounding communities. Noise mapping is done in three steps:

  • Take measurements of existing levels of background noise and vibration and perform the analysis
  • Identify and quantify the contribution of many simultaneous noise sources on the surrounding environments
  • Create the required noise maps using advanced environmental acoustics mapping software (CADNA-A, SoundPlan)

Construction Noise & Ground Vibration Impacts on Neighboring Communities and Infrastructures

Everyone knows that construction sites are noisy areas. Equipment and the flow of truck traffic are the main causes. However, they too have regulations to follow to prevent noise pollution. To help them achieve this, Soft dB’s Acoustic and Vibration division can carry out the following tasks:

  • Take on-site measurements or execute remote monitoring with real time alerting for exceeding regulatory limits
  • Assess and predict the effect of construction work on buildings, structures, and occupants
  • Assess impacts and help comply with Federal, Provincial and Municipal regulatory standards
  • Create the design and specification of temporary construction site noise and vibration control measures
  • Write concise and easy-to-understand reports for our clients

Keeping Ground Vibrations & Airblast Waves Under Close Watch

Ground vibrations and blast waves can cause serious damage to surrounding infrastructures by weakening them. Vibrations generated outside; by transit systems, blasting, pile driving, and construction sites in densely populated areas; can't be left unmonitored. Our engineers can do many things for you:

  • Take measurements of railway and traffic induced vibrations (FTA, DIN 4150, BS 7385) and make predictions
  • Take measurements of vibration mobility functions
  • Assess vibrations for new residential developments
  • Do vibration monitoring for blasting-induced ground motion (USBM RI8507)
  • Take vibration measurements for industrial and construction sites
  • Provide recommendations for vibration reduction measures

Transportation Noise Monitoring

Sometimes, transportation can result in inconvenient noise. Indeed, sound and vibration pollution (like the one caused by traffic noise, railway noise and aircraft noise) have to be controlled and reduced to a minimum to ensure the comfort of the nearby residents. To help with this issue, Soft dB’s Acoustic and Vibration division may be brought over to:

  • Identify and measure the sources of transportation noise and vibrations
  • Assess and predict the effect of transport-induced vibrations on buildings and their occupants
  • Ensure Federal, Provincial and Municipal regulatory compliance
  • Simulate noise and vibration propagation with advanced software (CADNA-A, SoundPlan, TNM, FHWA, STEAM, NEF-Calc)
  • Predictive studies of the medium and long term sound climate resulting from road traffic and transit systems

Wind Turbine Noise & Vibrations

These days, wind farms have are more important than ever in our quest for green energy. However, in addition to offering visual pollution (according to some), the noise produced by these “giant fans” is a noticeable fact. To ensure better environmental noise control, Soft dB’s Acoustic and Vibration division may be appointed to:

  • Take independent measurements of background sound levels in proposed locations for Noise Impact Assessments
  • Make the acoustic modelling and prediction of noise and vibration geographic dispersion using advanced prediction software (CADNA-A, SoundPlan)
  • Take measurements of noise and vibration emissions from turbine components, individual turbines or large wind farms using internationally recognized techniques (IEC 61400-11). Those measures are then analyzed
  • Carry out facade insulation testing and evaluation (OITC)
  • Write concise and easy-to-understand reports for our clients

Mitigating Outdoor Event Noise

We all know how to appreciate a good outdoor music show. The vibe is electrifying and the music infectious. Whether it’s a moment with friends or family, it’s clear the evening is going to be good. However, not everyone is at the party. As a matter of fact, the outdoor stage is probably near residences and, whether it’s day or an evening show, the music and cheering can affect resident’s activities. That is why Soft dB’s Acoustic and Vibration division may be brought over to help the event organizers comply with current regulations. Noise reduction tasks are summarized below and may include:

  • Carrying out the measurement and analysis of fixed or temporary entertainment and leisure venue noise emissions
  • Taking on-site measurements or executing remote monitoring with real time alerting for exceeding regulatory limits
  • Making advanced computer modelling for directional sound dispersion coming from acoustic chambers (ex: line arrays) for the purpose of sound reinforcement
  • Designing and specifying permanent or temporary noise control measures
  • Writing concise and easy-to-understand reports for our clients

Taking Full Control of Your Outdoor Noise Emissions and Ground Vibrations Is Simpler Than You Think

For over 25 years, we've been helping some of the world's largest open-cast mines and energy facilities protect their local community's need for peace and quiet. With the right expertise, there is no such thing as a loud site that can't be made much quieter for all. With the right noise & vibration mitigation plan in place, regulatory compliance with environmental laws becomes one less thing to worry about.

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