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UNIT TITLE: Noise, Vibration and Health
CREDIT POINTS: 15
FHEQ LEVEL: 7
UNIT DESIGNATION: Traditional
UNIT CODE: MAA101
ACADEMIC SCHOOL: Media Arts and
Technology
Delivering School: Media Arts and
Technology
Date validated: May 2014
Date last modified: N/A
Unit delivery model: BK
Max & Min Student No: N/A
TOTAL STUDENT WORKLOAD
Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal scheduled sessions for the
unit. Students are also expected to manage their directed learning and independent study
in support of the unit.
PRE-REQUISITES AND CO-REQUISITES: None
UNIT DESCRIPTION
Noise is defined as unwanted or undesirable sound. This means that for a sound to be
classified as noise it needs to interact with a listener (human or otherwise). Exposure to
noise and vibration has a number of potential effects on the health of people exposed to it,
including direct effects such as hearing loss or vibration white finger, and also indirect
effects such as stress related conditions.
This module addresses the principles of psychoacoustics and the human hearing system, and
also examines the effects of noise and vibration on health, and how we measure noise and
vibration levels in different situations. It particularly looks at the measurement of
occupational and environmental noise. The module also addresses standards and legislation
regarding the measurement and permitted exposure levels to noise and vibration in different
situations.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
On successful completion of the unit, students should be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
K1
Explain and evaluate principles of how humans and animals respond to sound and
vibration and how measurement systems for noise and vibration are designed to
reflect human response to noise and vibration.
Cognitive Skills
C1
Independently and critically synthesise, analyse and evaluate complex information
from information sources and laboratory measurements to form conclusions on
human response to noise and vibration.
Practical and Professional Skills
P1
Display expertise in the selection and application of prediction calculations and
measurement techniques to solve problems relating to human response to noise or
vibration.
Transferable and Key Skills
T1
Work autonomously, reflectively evaluating own performance through awareness of
professional requirements and expectations.
AREAS OF STUDY
Principles of the auditory system. Perception and localisation of sound. Binaural hearing.
Pinna, acoustic meatus, tympanic membrane, ossicles, cochlea, basilar membrane, organ
of corti, auditory nerve, auditory cortex.
Resonant and mechanical amplification of sound through the hearing system. Limits of
hearing threshold, frequency dynamic ranges. Infra-sound and ultrasound.
Perceiving pitch and loudness: signal amplitude and resonance of the basilar membrane.
Critical bands. Perception of loudness of narrowband and broadband signals. Pitch
resolution in the cochlea. Positive feedback systems.
Confusing the ear: simultaneous and non-simultaneous masking. Sum and difference tones,
false bass and the McGurk effect.
Noise and hearing loss. Effects of age, health and noise exposure on hearing sensitivity and
hearing acuity.
Noise annoyance and Individual noise susceptibility. Effects on sleep, stress levels and
epidemiology. Low-frequency annoyance. CRTN.
Sound level meter features and relevant standards: Frequency weightings, A and C weighting
and use in measurement. Fast, slow, impulse and peak time weighting. Octave and thirdoctave band filters. Windshields. Calibration and calibrators.
NIHL and occupational noise legislation: Calculation and assessment of noise exposure.
Criterion levels. LAEQ and LEX. Time Weighted Average, Upper and lower action levels.
Statistical measures: L10 and L90. ‘Exchange rate’ in European and US legislation.
Environmental noise legislation. BS4142, planning guidance. Wind turbine noise and its
measurement.
Leisure noise: Music events, firearms, motorsports. Music industry good practice guide.
Audiometry: basic procedures of manual and automatic audiometry; audiograms.
Assessment of noise dose, hearing protectors - their use and performance. Measurement
of insertion loss of hearing protectors.
Vibration effects: Vibration in buildings BS 6472:2008. Hand arm vibration and ‘vibration
white finger’.
Principles of vibration measurement: displacement, velocity and acceleration. Introduction
to Fourier techniques. Vibration transducers and calibration.
LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGY
The unit will be taught in concentrated blocks, with a blend of lectures, seminars and
practical workshops in each block which address the theory, practice and standards for
understanding, prediction and measurement of the effects of noise and vibration on people
and animals. Between sessions students will work on practical and theoretical directed
learning to reinforce and develop their understanding of core materials, while extending
their knowledge through further research and background reading.
ASSESSMENT STRATEGY
This unit covers concepts of noise and vibration and how they affect humans. Assessment
is designed to help the student explore these concepts and how they apply to practical
situations by studying underlying theory and applying to practical situations and simulations.
The unit will be partly assessed through a technical report in which the student undertakes
a theoretical noise or vibration assessment task based on a given dataset, and is required to
assess the situation and formulate an appropriate professional recommendation in the form
of a report, drawing on theory covered through the course and supported by calculations.
The other part of the assessment will comprise a written examination which will assess the
student’s understanding of key concepts within the course. This will be held close to the
end of the taught component of the unit, allowing maximum flexibility for part-time and
flexible study students.
ASSESSMENT
AE1
weighting:
assessment type:
length/duration:
online submission:
grade marking:
anonymous marking:
AE2
weighting:
assessment type:
length/duration:
online submission:
grade marking:
anonymous marking:
50%
Examination
2 hours
No
No
Yes
50%
Report
2500 Words
Yes
Yes
Yes
Aggregation of marks
The marks for each element of assessment will be aggregated to give an overall mark for
the unit.
Re-assessment Arrangements
Students will undertake re-assessment in the University re-assessment period. Reassessments will be similar, though not identical to the first assessment in topic and content.
Unit Author: Chris Barlow
Date of version: May 2014