METHODOLOGY

DATA

• The 2016-2017 Greater Boston Neighborhood Noise Survey results were used to conduct the majority of analysis presented within this report. This survey was an online survey open to all residents of The Greater Boston Area from late fall, 2016 to May 2016. Additionally, hard copies of the survey were handed out at a variety of community events, including planning events for IMAGINE BOSTON 2020. An updated online version of this survey is available HERE.  This data was used to inform the following areas of the report:

  • Demographics

  • Perceptions

  • Health Impacts

  • Noise Abatement Strategies

  • Health Perceptions Mapping

  • Health Outcome Mapping

  • Sound Sensitivity Score for the Noise Report Card

• Sound level data was obtained after an extensive sound monitoring campaign from February 2015 to February 2016. This data was used to inform the following areas of the report:

  • Sound Level Mapping

  • Sound Level Score for the Noise Report Card

• Noise Complaint data was obtained from the City of Boston’s Police Department and was gathered from August 2016 to July 2016. Massport noise complaint data was obtained from Massport’s website and was collected from January 2016 – July 2016. This data was used to inform the following areas of the report:

  • Noise Complaints

  • Noise Complaint Heat Maps

  • Noise Complaint Score for the Noise Report Card

• Demographic information was obtained from the 2016 American Community Survey, Boston Redevelopment Authority, and from the Department of Neighborhood Development’s Policy Development and Research Division. This data was used to inform the following areas of the report:

  • Demographic analysis

  • Noise Complaint Per Capita Metric for the Noise Report Card

  • Population Density for the Noise Report Card

• Information on neighborhood spatial characteristics was obtained using data obtained from MASSGIS data layers. This data was used to inform the neighborhood spatial characteristic score for the noise report card.

ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics (mean, median, 90^th percentile) were used to analyze the data. Comparison of means across groups were made using ANOVA. An α = 0.05 was used to assess statistical significance. Detailed rubric for noise report cards can be found HERE.

REPORT CARD RUBRIC:

LIMITATIONS: The Greater Boston Neighborhood Noise Survey was not a random sample but a mix of convenience and purposeful sampling. A breakdown of demographic information shows that while our sample may be more representative of educated whites, there is under-representation of African American, Latino/Hispanic, and Asian residents. We also had low survey in certain neighborhoods and had to collapse neighborhoods together to conduct analysis. Further, while statistical models helped to inform the report card rubric, we are aware that there are other variables that may additionally impact sound levels and sound perception levels in the Greater Boston Area. We intend to update our report card as we are able to gather additional information.

FUTURE: We are currently working on report cards for the following cities: Somerville, MA and Cambridge, MA. These will be available by the end of the year.  If you are a city/town/neighborhood and would like to be considered for future iterations of this report, please contact us HERE.

The NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD NOISE SURVEY is currently available and can be completed HERE.