Impact on industrial and other user communities

Operators of the CTBT monitoring system and its monitoring stations are expected to be early adopters of new calibration capability developed in the project, gaining measurement traceability for the first time. Their position will therefore be strengthened through increased confidence in their data and enhanced credibility overall. In this way, the project supports the United Nation’s non-proliferation policy. Similarly, the assessment of ocean noise pollution in response to international treaties (for example under the Oslo-Paris Agreement – OSPAR) and EU Directives such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive will benefit. Confidence will improve in crucial acoustic measurements used to infer changes in the ocean temperature and polar ice coverage. Other beneficiaries include the maritime transport community, where the environmental effect of ever-increasing ship traffic has been recognised by the International Maritime Organization. Low-frequency noise and infrasound is one of the major environmental barriers to the ‘renewables’ agenda, in particular the expansion of both offshore and land-based wind energy generation. In both cases improved measurement standards for very low frequency sound will provide important confidence in environmental impact assessments, leading to better-informed decision-making for stakeholders on both sides, e.g. in the fiercely contested debates over the environmental impact of wind farms near dwellings or in certain marine habitats. There are other industries that also benefit from an improvement in low frequency noise and vibration measurement capabilities and the inherited reliability and traceability in low-frequency environmental measurements, e.g. mining and oil exploitation applications (including fracking), which rely on environmental measurements in their execution as well as for evidence of compliance with environmental regulations. Environmental and industrial noise control in general will be improved by developments in the verification of sound level meter performance at low frequencies, benefiting the general public and the workforce.

Impact on the metrology and scientific communities

The project will be closely monitored in the global acoustics and vibration measurement community and directly addresses a key strategic goal established by CCAUV for low frequency measurement standards. Uptake of newly developed methods by the National Measurement Institutes is highly likely as soon as publications are available, as are new international measurement comparisons which lead to formal recognition of particular measurement capabilities, in this case for low frequency calibration. The project will also establish the Europe measurement institutes as world leaders and innovators in these technologies. In the wider scientific community, expected benefits include better scientific understanding of the atmosphere and improved accuracy in weather forecasting. Traceable low frequency measurement will also improve the representation of gravity waves in the stratosphere and estimation of wind speed and temperature in the thermosphere, ultimately improving existing models for these upper-atmosphere regions. The benefits also spread to monitoring of climate-related phenomena such as severe weather, thunderstorms and stratospheric warming, providing for improved evaluation of long-term trends.

Impact on relevant standards

The outcomes of the research will feed into current and future international standards for primary and secondary calibration in the fields of sound in air, underwater acoustics and vibration at low frequencies. For airborne sound, standardisation on methods of low frequency calibration has already been proposed in the working group on microphones (IEC TC29/WG5) but has so far lacked the research effort necessary to make progress. This project provides exactly the research required to develop the first draft standard. International standards for sound level meters, the devices used for practical noise measurements will also adopt findings from this project. For underwater acoustics, input will be made to standards on the calibration of hydrophones (IEC TC87) and for monitoring of noise in the ocean (ISO TC43/SC3). The latter strongly supports the implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, where this project provides much-needed research in the low frequency range. For vibration, input will be provided to a series of international standards (for example, TC108 for the ISO 16063), to cover lower frequencies and fields of application. For example, there is a strong need for a new draft document concerning on-site calibration methods, where international interest and a desire to cooperate on this, has already been expressed.

Longer-term economic, social and environmental impacts

Economic impact of the project is achieved through new calibration methods and standard adding recognition and credibility to the performance of the sensors. Introduction of robust uncertainty estimation also adds to the usability of the sensors. Altogether the project developments will facilitate greater uptake and wider use of sensors and monitoring systems, improving sales of such systems which are predominantly developed and produced in Europe. The improved calibration methods will enable manufacturers of monitoring systems and sensors as well as of calibration equipment to more readily demonstrate that their performance meets the application requirements for the instrumentation. In terms of CTBT monitoring, enhancements to the data represents a greater return on the financial investment in establishing and operating the global monitoring system and provides stronger justification for the multi-national investment.

The project will provide a robust metrology infrastructure for low frequency measurements for environmental monitoring. In airborne acoustics and vibration, there is a delicate balance between urban development and increased noise and vibration exposure of the population, for example due to road and high-speed rail developments, which are always heavily contested on environmental grounds, and where low frequency noise and vibration is a significant contributing factor. In all cases an improved ability to measure accurately and with confidence adds scientifically robust factual details to the debate. The project therefore supports the development of strategies and local action plans for monitoring and control thereby contributing to the long-term EU goals for “Living well within the limits of our planet”.

In underwater acoustics, the field of metrology for environmental noise is relatively immature and struggles to keep pace with the rapidly evolving legislative framework. Improved ocean noise measurements will ensure that decisions are informed and underpinned by good acoustic metrology, that the environment is protected without unnecessary barriers to developments, and that existing Directives requiring monitoring can be implemented in a scientifically robust manner, with appropriately calibrated instrumentation.

Many of the environmental impacts noted above have a social impact component. For example, reduction in annoyance caused by environmental noise and vibration, has well-documented impacts on the health and wellbeing of the population, especially in terms of learning ability, sleep disturbance, mental health and hypertension, where there are known associations with heart disease, stroke and dementia. Even at the less severe end of the spectrum, improvements in quality of life are easy to appreciate.

Less obvious is the level of protection offered to society by the monitoring of illegitimate nuclear testing and the consequent international efforts to condemn and prevent further nuclear proliferation. A secondary social benefit is the use of the data for monitoring other forms of natural disaster and for climate change studies, all of which have profound social impact.