Anthropogenic Noise on the University of Oregon Campus
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Cumming, Margo
Deivanayagam, Nithi
Weinrobe, Josh
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Abstract
While extensive research has been conducted on the effects of anthropogenic noise, there is a notable lack of studies investigating the impact of indoor anthropogenic noise on weather patterns. In this study, we sought to address this gap by examining the variations in indoor anthropogenic noise across three different locations at the University of Oregon (UO) concerning weather conditions. To capture sound levels on campus, we utilized the Dayton Audio iMM-6 calibrated microphone connected to our smartphones. We recorded sound levels for 10-minute intervals, twice a week, in various locations: Knight Library floor 1, EMU O-desk, and Lillis building floor 1. Concurrently, we recorded the prevailing weather conditions during each interval to observe any corresponding patterns. To analyze the captured audio data, we employed Raven Lite software to generate spectrograms that allowed us to identify the frequency components of the recorded sounds. By measuring the sound pressure levels and frequency spectrum, we compared the levels of human-generated noise over time across different selected locations and weather conditions. The independent variables in our study were the location on campus and the weather conditions, while the dependent variable was the sound levels. Based on our initial hypothesis, we predicted that indoor anthropogenic noise would decrease on sunnier days, as students would likely spend more time outdoors. Conversely, we expected noise levels to increase on rainy days, as students would be more inclined to stay indoors. Given the unpredictable nature of Oregon's weather, our analysis of how UO students adapt to changing climate conditions will contribute to further research on the effects of anthropogenic noise in conjunction with weather conditions. By shedding light on this relationship, our study aims to enhance our understanding of the broader impacts of human-generated noise in indoor environments.
Description
Single page poster
Keywords
UO campus, anthropogenic noise, Lillis, Knight Library, EMU