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, 90th 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:
Category | Grading Scheme |
Your Neighorhood or City | 100 points |
Sound Level | |
Average sound level from 7am – 7pm (DAY) | -3 points for every 3 decibels over WHO DAYTIME recommended level |
Average sound level from 7pm – 7am (NIGHT) | -5 points for every 3 decibels over WHO NIGHTTIME recommended level |
Daytime peak sound level value dBA | |
Nighttime peak sound level value dBA | |
Sound Perception | |
Average sound perception level based on The Greater Boston Neighborhood Noise Survey results | 10 points if equal or below the median sound percpetion level for the entire city of Boston; -5 points if above the median |
Noise Complaints | |
Per captia noise complaints (or average per captia noise complaint if 2+ neighborhoods) | -10 if neighborhood noise complaints are greater than median number of per capita noise complaints for the city; 10 if lower |
Massport Noise Complaints (January 2016-August 2016) | - 0.5 points for every unique caller |
Neighborhood Spatial Attributes | |
Total (or Average if 2+ neighborhoods) percentage of land use that increases sound levels (commercial, industrial, transportation, etc.) | -1 points every 25% of neighborhood land use dedicated to land use attributing to sound level. + 2 points for percentages under 25% |
Total (or average if 2+ neighborhoods) length (in miles) of: | |
Major Roads | 3 if lower than the median length for the City of Boston; -3 if higher |
Bus | 2 if lower than the median length for the City of Boston; -2 if higher |
Rail | 2if lower than the median length for the City of Boston; -2 if higher |
Bike | 3 if lower than the median length for the City of Boston; -3 if higher |
Average vegetation index | 12 if the vegetation index is higher than the median vegetation index for the City of Boston; - 12if lower |
Neighborhood Demographics | |
Population Density | - 5 if population density is higher than the population density for the entire City of Boston, + 5 points deduction if lower |
Adjustment | 2 points if report card includes 2+ neighborhoods |