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A Psychoacoustic Approach to Building Knowledge about Human Response to Noise of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

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  • Antonio J. Torija

    (Acoustics Research Centre, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK)

  • Charlotte Clark

    (Ove Arup & Partners, Acoustics, 13 Fitzroy Street, London W1T 6BQ, UK)

Abstract

We are on the cusp of a revolution in the aviation sector, driven by the significant progress in electric power and battery technologies, and autonomous systems. Several industry leaders and governmental agencies are currently investigating the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or “drones” as commonly known, for an ever-growing number of applications—from blue light services to parcel delivery and urban mobility. Undoubtedly, the operation of UAVs will lead to noise exposure, which has the potential to become a significant public health issue. This paper first describes the main acoustic and operational characteristics of UAVs, as an unconventional noise source compared to conventional civil aircraft. Gaps in the literature and the regulations on the noise metrics and acceptable noise levels are identified and discussed. The state-of-the-art evidence on human response to aircraft and other environmental noise sources is reviewed and its application for UAVs discussed. A methodological framework is proposed for building psychoacoustic knowledge, to inform systems and operations development to limit the noise impact on communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio J. Torija & Charlotte Clark, 2021. "A Psychoacoustic Approach to Building Knowledge about Human Response to Noise of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:682-:d:480581
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Charlotte Clark & Katarina Paunovic, 2018. "WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region: A Systematic Review on Environmental Noise and Quality of Life, Wellbeing and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-27, October.
    2. Mathias Basner & Sarah McGuire, 2018. "WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region: A Systematic Review on Environmental Noise and Effects on Sleep," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-45, March.
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    4. Stefanie Dreger & Steffen Andreas Schüle & Lisa Karla Hilz & Gabriele Bolte, 2019. "Social Inequalities in Environmental Noise Exposure: A Review of Evidence in the WHO European Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-15, March.
    5. Andreas W. Schäfer & Steven R. H. Barrett & Khan Doyme & Lynnette M. Dray & Albert R. Gnadt & Rod Self & Aidan O’Sullivan & Athanasios P. Synodinos & Antonio J. Torija, 2019. "Technological, economic and environmental prospects of all-electric aircraft," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(2), pages 160-166, February.
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    8. Charlotte Clark & Clare Crumpler & Hilary Notley, 2020. "Evidence for Environmental Noise Effects on Health for the United Kingdom Policy Context: A Systematic Review of the Effects of Environmental Noise on Mental Health, Wellbeing, Quality of Life, Cancer," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-34, January.
    9. Dirk Schreckenberg & Markus Meis & Cara Kahl & Christin Peschel & Thomas Eikmann, 2010. "Aircraft Noise and Quality of Life around Frankfurt Airport," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-24, August.
    10. Charlotte Clark & Katarina Paunovic, 2018. "WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region: A Systematic Review on Environmental Noise and Cognition," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-23, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. C. T. Justine Hui & Michael J. Kingan & Yusuke Hioka & Gian Schmid & George Dodd & Kim N. Dirks & Shaun Edlin & Sean Mascarenhas & Young-Min Shim, 2021. "Quantification of the Psychoacoustic Effect of Noise from Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-27, August.
    2. Kähler, Svantje T. & Abben, Thomas & Luna-Rodriguez, Aquiles & Tomat, Miriam & Jacobsen, Thomas, 2022. "An assessment of the acceptance and aesthetics of UAVs and helicopters through an experiment and a survey," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    3. Wang, Ning & Mutzner, Nico & Blanchet, Karl, 2023. "Societal acceptance of urban drones: A scoping literature review," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    4. Beat Schäffer & Reto Pieren & Kurt Heutschi & Jean Marc Wunderli & Stefan Becker, 2021. "Drone Noise Emission Characteristics and Noise Effects on Humans—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-27, June.
    5. Jianwei Sun & Koichi Yonezawa & Eiji Shima & Hao Liu, 2023. "Integrated Evaluation of the Aeroacoustics and Psychoacoustics of a Single Propeller," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-23, January.
    6. Antonio J. Torija & Rory K. Nicholls, 2022. "Investigation of Metrics for Assessing Human Response to Drone Noise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-19, March.
    7. Carlos Ramos-Romero & Nathan Green & Seth Roberts & Charlotte Clark & Antonio J. Torija, 2022. "Requirements for Drone Operations to Minimise Community Noise Impact," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, July.
    8. Srinivas, Sharan & Ramachandiran, Surya & Rajendran, Suchithra, 2022. "Autonomous robot-driven deliveries: A review of recent developments and future directions," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).

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