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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