What Is an Equality Impact Assessment?

Noise impact assessment is an omnidirectional analysis of the overall environmental noise quality, presenting objective and accurate judgment results. ^[1]

(1) The distribution of the existing noise-sensitive areas and protection targets within the scope of the assessment, the orientation, distance and height difference with the construction project, and the division of the noise functional area. Use a combination of tables, diagrams, and text.

(2) Investigation and measurement methods for the status of environmental noise: including measurement instruments, reference or reference measurement methods, evaluation standards, measurement periods, and reading methods.

(3) The types and number of existing noise sources within the assessment scope, the corresponding noise levels, the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of noise, and the analysis of main noise sources.

(4) The status of environmental noise within the assessment range.

(5) Analyze the distribution of the population affected by noise within the assessment range. ^[2]

At present, the commonly used noise impact assessment methods include statistical methods, average methods, fuzzy mathematical methods, and noise maps.

The statistical method is more commonly used in environmental noise evaluation. For example, the statistics of whether each measurement point meets the standards is used to make Sichuan cumulative noise level to evaluate road traffic noise. The "Acoustic Environment Quality Standards" respectively stipulate the contents of statistics that need to be used when using the two monitoring methods of fixed-point monitoring and census monitoring.

The average method is the current method for environmental monitoring stations to evaluate urban acoustic environmental quality. The evaluation process is: using the grid method to conduct census monitoring in the urban evaluation area, arithmetically weighting the data obtained from all grid sides and averaging, and based on the regional noise environment in the Technical Specifications for Acoustic Environment Quality Evaluation Methods The quality level classification table evaluates the acoustic environment quality, and divides the urban area environmental noise into five categories: severe pollution, moderate pollution, light pollution, better, and good.

The fuzzy mathematics evaluation method mainly refers to the use of the cluster analysis method in fuzzy mathematics for the grading evaluation of environmental noise quality, the membership quality function is used to grade the noise quality, and the ambiguity of the boundaries at all levels is described to achieve different quality levels The sound environment is reasonably classified.

Noise map is a data map that reflects the status of urban noise levels after integrating, analyzing, and calculating data from noise sources, geographic data, distribution of buildings, road conditions, road and rail traffic data, and related geographic information using modern computer technology. . The noise map can provide a basis for noise control law enforcement, serve the city's overall planning and noise prevention planning, and will be a powerful tool for the public to understand the state of the acoustic environment and participate in supervision. ^[1]

The first stage: carry out site surveys, understand the provisions of environmental laws and standards, determine the evaluation level and scope, and prepare an environmental noise evaluation work outline;

The second stage: carry out engineering analysis, data collection, on-site monitoring and investigation of the baseline level of noise and the number of noise sources, the noise level and duration of each sound source, the spatial location of the sound source, etc .;

The third stage: predict the impact of noise on the sensitive population, evaluate the significance and significance of the impact, and propose corresponding countermeasures to reduce the impact;

The fourth stage: writing a special report on the impact of environmental noise. ^[2]