TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1984
6
NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR NOISE POLLUTION STUDY
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THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS NOW APPLYING A NEW TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR STUDY OF PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS INTENDED TO PROTECT RESIDENTS IN NEW HOUSING AND OTHER NOISE SENSITIVE BUILDINGS FROM UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF TRAFFIC NOISE.
THIS WORK WILL ASSIST THE EPA IN ADVISING PLANNERS ON THE NOISE EFFECTS OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND THE MEASURES WHICH CAN BE TAKEN TO REDUCE THEM.
SPECIAL INSTRUMENTS, DEVELOPED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, HAVE BEEN IMPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES TO BACK UP THE TECHNOLOGY, KNOWN AS ACOUSTICAL SCALE MODELLING (ASM).
+THE USE OF THIS SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM MARKS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN THE EPA'S EFFORT TO CHANGE THE TRADITIONAL BELIEF THAT NOTHING MUCH CAN BE DONE IN HONG KONG TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM ROAD TRAFFIC NO! SE BECAUSE OF THE TERRITORY'S CROWDED CONDITION,+ SAID DR LEX BROWN, SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER.
DR BROWN, AN EXPERT IN NOISE-CONTROL PLANNING, CAME TO HONG KONG OVER TWO YEARS AGO TO HEAD THE PROJECT SECTION OF THE EPA'S NOISE AND VIBRATION GROUP.
DR BROWN SPOKE OF THE WORK HE HAD DONE BEFORE HIS RETURN THE OTHER DAY TO THE AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY FROM WHICH HE WAS SECONDED, TO CONTINUE HIS ACADEMIC CAREER.
DR BROWN COMMENCED A STUDY IN JUNE LAST YEAR USING A TECHNIQUE DEVELOPED BY THE EPA - KNOWN AS OPTICAL SCALE MODELLING (OSM) TO PUT INTO PRACTICE THE USE OF BUILDING POSITIONING AND DESIGNS TO SOLVE NOISE POLLUTION.
THE NEW ASM SYSTEM WILL LEND GREAT IMPETUS TO THE EPA'S STUDY PROJECT OF THESE FACTORS WHICH IS BEING CONDUCTED BY A TEAM OF SPECIALISTS, DR BROWN SAID.
BOTH ASM AND OSM INVOLVE THE USE OF TOWN DEVELOPMENT MODELS FOR ASSESSING THE NOISE LEVEL AT THE FACADES OF BUILDINGS, USING ALTERNATIVE LAYOUT PLANS TO OBTAIN OPTIMUM SOLUTIONS.
DR BROWN EXPLAINED THAT WITH THE OSM SYSTEM, LIGHTING IS USED TO SIMULATE NOISE. WHEN LIGHTS ARE PLACED ON THE PROPOSED ROADWAYS IN A TOWN MODEL, THE NOISE IMPACT ON BUILDINGS BECOMES VISIBLE IN THE FORM OF DIFFERENT LIGHTING SHADES.
+WITH THE MORE ADVANCED ASM SYSTEM, A SCALE NOISE SOURCE IS USED AND ITS IMPACT IS INDICATED BY A METER IN PRECISE FIGURES, THUS GIVING US ACCURATE DATA, TO COMPARE THE MERITS OF VARIOUS LAYOUTS AND DESIGNS.+
USING OSL,