Innovative Approaches to Noise Reduction

Abstract

Nowadays, each individual is exposed to noise on a daily basis, and noise is often referred as in literature as a plague of modern society. Noise pollution is often overlooked when compared to other environmental pollutions (e.g. air, water, soil pollution). However, same as the all aforementioned pollutions, noise exposure has an accumulating character, meaning that the harmful effect of noise is detected only after a long period of time. Long exposure to noise pollution can be displayed as a bad mood, fatigue, insomnia, headache and loss of concentration, which causes reduced work ability and ultimately permanent hearing impairment. The goal of this chapter is to present two different approaches (traditional and contemporary) in noise reductions. The aim of both approaches is to link objective and subjective acoustic parameters, in order to plan future urban infrastructures while keeping in mind the existing acoustic environments, and to create and implement new solutions that will design, preserve and improve acoustic environments. Thus, we can conclude this chapter will be oriented towards human health and overall quality of life in terms of noise reduction.