SOUND PERCEPTION MAPS

This portion of the report contains interactive and static, downloadable maps of sound perception based off of responses from The Greater Boston Neighborhood Noise Survey. Here, we show spatially, the variation of sensitivity and annoyance levels for residents of the Greater Boston Community. Specifically, we visually represent sound sensitivity, perceptions of sound levels on a residents’ street or neighborhood, and annoyances towards specific sound sources such as aircraft, trains, road traffic, horns, and leaf blowers.

We also visually represent noise complaint data obtained from the City of Boston’s Police Department both overall and during “sleeping hours”, which we define as the time period where the majority of residents are sleeping.

So, why is perception worth talking about?

You have to remember that sound is both an objective and subjective physical exposure. While we can measure sound, only the one being exposed to it can tell you whether or not it is actually noise. Further, we believe that the subjective response to noise plays an important role in modifying and mediating the pathway from exposure to negative health. In other words, we believe that those who more annoyed/stressed by sound, may experience a more health response than those who are not as annoyed/stressed by sound.

We believe that it is important to not only describe environmental sound objectively, but also try to understand to what residents describe as noise and to what extent it bothers them.

To view a rigorous breakdown of sound perception based on responses from Boston residents, visit here. This analysis includes a look at sound sensitivity, determinants of annoyance, the temporality of annoyance, perceptions of specific sound sources, and the perception of sound in the work place, for each Boston Neighborhood.