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Less noise pollution in Bangkok with new Electric buses ?!

GENTLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PUBLIC PURSE, ELECTRIC BUSES ARE THE WAY TO GO

BANGKOK: — Electric buses are undergoing trials in the capital this month, with the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) offering free rides on three routes.

If approved by the Cabinet, the BMTA will buy 400 to 500 of the lithium-battery-powered vehicles from China and put them into service next year.

BMTA caretaker director Pranee Sugrasorn says the electric buses are more environment-friendly than their petrol- and natural-gas-powered (NGV) counterparts. “The air in Bangkok will improve and that should boost residents’ health,” she says.

At Bt15 million per unit, the price of electric buses is more than three times that of their gas-powered equivalents, which cost Bt4.5 million. However, the battery-powered option is cheaper in the long run.

Over its 20-year lifetime, the fuel, maintenance and running costs of an NGV bus amount to an estimated Bt34 million, compared to Bt30 million for its electric counterpart.

In total, the city’s public-bus operator will acquire more than 3,000 new vehicles to replace its ageing fleet. Some will be NGV buses, under a purchase plan that is already at the bidding stage. But more than 2,600 are likely to be electric, since Transport Minister Prajin Juntong has encouraged the BMTA and other state public-transport operators to gradually switch from diesel and gas to electricity. Prajin says the switch would soften the impact of fluctuations in fuel prices and make vehicles more environmentally friendly.

An electric bus is pollution-free

and easy on the ears because it has no internal-combustion engine. It is powered by rechargeable batteries, so there are no emissions. The more than 3,000 public buses that currently ply Bangkok streets consume some 120 million litres of diesel per year and pump out huge quantities of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. Many of the capital’s buses have been in use for two decades or more and their ageing engines are constantly adding to the air and noise pollution.

Electric vehicles are increasingly popular as fossil fuels dwindle. About 90 cities around the world have opted for electric buses as a cleaner and quieter choice for their mass-transit systems. Bangkok is making the right choice in adopting the technology.

But it is also important that we develop our own alternative-energy mass transit so that we don’t have to rely on imports. Thailand must build on its long history of assembling diesel-engine buses for domestic use.

Suranaree University of Technology and the Provincial Electricity Authority have taken the lead by developing an electric bus with zero emissions. Their prototype, powered by a lithium-ion battery, has the potential to be produced on a commercial scale. And while fuel-cell technology is still relatively expensive, it will become cheaper in the near future.

The government must now push for the use of electric buses as a major mode of transport in all our big cities. That option will not only be lighter on the public purse, it also will carry less impact for the environment and for our health.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Public-transport-should-GO-ELECTRIC-30262087.html

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Asia Noise News

India: IIT Gandhinagar developing low-cost noise reducing devices for autistic kids (affordable headphones that act as noise-cancelling devices and low-cost sensors)

India: IIT Gandhinagar developing low-cost noise reducing devices for autistic kids (affordable headphones that act as noise-cancelling devices and low-cost sensors)

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Gandhinagar (IIT-Gn) are developing low-cost devices for autistic children in India.

This includes affordable headphones that act as noise-cancelling devices and low-cost sensors — part of a larger system being designed to educate, train and rehabilitate children with complex neurodevelopment disorders.

“Children with autism or auditory processing disorder often have a hard time with noise. Background noise like that of a fan or a toilet flush or a vacuum cleaner can increase the anxiety level in the child. It is for this that these headphones or earmuffs come in handy.

“In the recent past, there have been instances in other countries where headphones have been used to help such children. These headphones are very expensive and the costs can vary between Rs 4,000 and Rs 25,000,” said Nithin V George, assistant professor, Electrical Engineering, IIT-Gn who is working on developing a low-cost device for children who battle disorders characterised by social impairments, communication difficulties and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour.

“The device is currently at a design stage.It is a little premature to put a price tag, but It should cost around Rs 1,000. The headphones will be such that a child can wear it all day without discomfort,” George told The Indian Express on the sidelines of an event held on autism at the Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG) campus here recently. Currently IIT-Gn is conducting a feasibility study along with BM Institute of Mental Health in Ahmedabad to assess the workability of such a device among autistic children. It is also receiving funding from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

“No studies have been done on this in the past, so we are conducting a feasibility study as well,” the professor added. Meanwhile, another set of researchers from the same department at IIT-Gn are engaged in developing a special system for autistic children who have difficulty interpreting what others think or feel, as they do not understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions. “We are developing a virtual reality-based anxiety sensitive adaptive intelligent system for autistic children. The purpose is to address the gap in their social skills,” said Uttama Lahiri, assistant professor of IIT-Gn who is heading a team of researchers who are busy creating real-world-simulations using computer graphics. “We are trying to use technology so that will make educating, training and rehabilitating autistic children much more simple. With these virtual simulation models, we will help these children enhance their motor-skills, understand social etiquette, face unexpected situations and make friends,” said Lahiri. Meanwhile, this team is also developing low-cost sensors that is part of the intelligent system used to help autistic children. “These sensors also have a wider application,” she added. –

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/iit-gandhinagar-developing-low-cost-noise-reducing-devices-for-autistic-kids/#sthash.GCmfvcPP.dpuf

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New noise barriers for Mumbai in Sion, Matunga and Parel

New noise barriers for Mumbai in Sion, Matunga and Parel

The MMRDA is erecting noise barriers on three flyovers along the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar road at the cost of nearly Rs 19 crore; pilot project in BKC had already proved successful in 2010

Residents living along the busy Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar road and patients in Sion Hospital are set to get some much-needed respite from the incessant honking and engine noise that have been making their lives miserable.

The MMRDA has begun installing noise barriers on the Sion Hospital, King’s Circle- Tulpule Chowk and Hindmata flyovers at a cost of Rs 18.9 crore.

Speaking to mid-day, MMRDA Joint Project Director Dilip Kawatkar said, “The installation of noise barriers on flyovers on the arterial Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar road will help bring down the vehicular noise levels and benefit the residents living in buildings close to the road.

The installation work has already begun on the flyover opposite Sion Hospital and it is expected to be completed on all three flyovers in six months.”
Successful pilot

In 2011, a team of experts from MMRDA, including then MMRDA Commissioner Rahul Asthana had gone for a tour to Italy, where it studied the noise barrier projects. MMRDA later said it would be installing noise barriers on all the flyovers and road over bridges that it constructs in the future.

Before the officials left on the trip, the authority had already begun a pilot project in BKC in 2010. Before the noise barriers were installed along the road near Kalanagar in BKC, the decibel level was between 60 and 90, which has come down to 50-55 during the day and well below 45 in the night.

Mumbai: MMRDA to erect noise barriers in Sion, Matunga and Parel – See more at:Source

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Asia Noise News

Less noise from big bikes in Thailand ?

The Land Transport Department is to impose tighter noise control on big bikes or big motorcycles with the noise level not exceeding 95 decibels.

Land transport deputy director-general Mr Wattana Pattharachon said he had already discussed with producers and importers of big bikes about the problem of their loud noise that the department has wanted to control.

He said that from now on manufacturers of big bikes would have their prototype motorbikes sent to the department for examination before production licences were to be granted.

As for the importers, imported big bikes will be examined to determine whether they meet the noise standard set by the department before they can be put on sale, he added.

Mr Wattana said he had informed the manufacturers and importers of big bikes to warn their distributors or dealers not to sell or install substandard exhaust pipes failing that the department might revoke the certificates of the models of the bikes In question.

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Traffic noise can give you ‘belly tyre’, gain weight ?

Noise traffic from roads, rails, aircrafts can make you fat from your belly, suggests a new study.

Exposure to a combination of such noise may pose the greatest risk of acquiring a spare tyre, otherwise known as central obesity, and thought to be one of the most harmful types of fat deposition around the body.

The researchers assessed how much road traffic, rail, and aircraft noise 5075 people living in five suburban and rural areas around Stockholm, Sweden, had been exposed to since 1999.

The analysis indicated no link between road traffic noise and body mass index (BMI). But there was an association between road traffic noise and waist size, with a 0.21 cm increase for every additional 5 dB increase in exposure, although this was only significant among women.

Similarly, there was a link to waist:hip ratio, with a change of 0.16 for every 5 dB increase in noise exposure to road traffic; this association was stronger in men. larger waist was significantly associated with exposure to any of the three sources of noise, but the link was strongest for aircraft noise; a larger waist:hip ratio was associated with road traffic and aircraft noise only.

The more sources of noise pollution a person was exposed to at the same time, the greater their risk of central obesity seemed to be. Age was an influential factor, with associations between central obesity and road traffic noise only found for those below the age of 60.

Since the study was observational, no definitive conclusions could be drawn about cause and effect.

However, they suggests that noise exposure may be an important physiological stressor and bump up the production of the hormone cortisol, high levels of which are thought to have a role in fat deposition around the middle of the body.

The study is published online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

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Asia Noise News

Helicopter tourism route changed after protests in Shanghai

BEIJING: The introduction of a helicopter tourism service in Shanghai has resulted in a sharp resistance from the local people, who complain about noise pollution and the risks of the copters flying very low over the city’s skyline.

Within five days of its introduction on May 1, the helicopter service has already been forced to alter one of the routes over the Pudong area of the city. This follows a strong protest from a local school, Jincai High School, which said students were finding it difficult to concentrate due to the high noise.

“It was so loud that the pupils couldn’t hear what their teachers were saying,” Shanghai Daily quoted the school principal, Zhao Guodi, as saying. A teacher, surnamed Li, said: “On Monday, I had to stop three times during a single class because the noise was so loud.”

One of the school’s teachers actually lodged a complaint with the police.

Two companies, Yiyang and Kingwing, are jointly providing helicopter tours to visitors over the site, which was used for World Expo in 2010, the Huangpu River and the site of the Disney Resort, which is under construction. Tour lasts six to 25 minutes, and costs between 4,000 yuan ($640) and 12,000 yuan ($1920) each.

Yiyang said it has sought permission of the air traffic control to fly the copters at 300 feet height instead of the present height of 200 feet to reduce noise levels, and respond to complaints from Shanghai citizens.

“The sightseeing tours are new to the city, so we apologize for failing to take these details into account,” Ren Yibing, general manager of Yiyang Cultural Co, told the paper.

If the revised route continues to cause upset, it will be adjusted further, he said. Besides, the 12-seat helicopter used at present will be replaced by a smaller, and quieter, four-seater, for flying over highly populated areas, he said.

“My 22-month-old granddaughter runs into my arms and covers her ears with her little hands every time she hears the helicopter,” a 60-year-old woman surnamed Mao told the paper. “It’s not just the noise, you can also feel the pressure in your ears, like when a plane takes off,” she said.

An official from the neighborhood committee at Taolin area of Shanghai said he has received numerous complaints about the noise from the aircraft.

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Asia Noise News

Decibels rising, New Delhi can’t afford to flunk its noise pollution test

On May 5, the National Green Tribunal will meet government officials, traffic cops and residents to discuss solutions to noise pollution in south Delhi’s Panchsheel Park located along the busy Outer Ring Road.

A petition in the green court seeks relief for 5,000-odd residents who suffer as the noise levels in their neighbourhood touch 65-75 decibels (db), while the safe limit for day and night is 55 and 45 db, respectively.

They have already scored a partial victory when earlier the Tribunal directed the traffic police to declare Panchsheel Park as a no-horn zone, limit the speed of vehicles passing the area to 30 km/hr and fine the violators. Residents have been asked to grow green hedges to ward off the noise from the road. But they want a concrete sound barrier around the neighbourhood.

If these measures are effectively enforced, Panchsheel Park will be one of the few residential areas in Delhi to get some kind of sound-proofing.

Studies indicate that noise disturbance in Delhi is an environmental problem, as severe as air pollution, but few take note. We absorb the din without realising that it causes stress and messes up with our sleep. The World Health Organisation says that prolonged exposure to noise above 80 decibels can interfere with our immune systems, boost stress hormones, contribute to cardiovascular maladies and cause hearing damage.

In 2011, researchers from the Centre for Science and Environment travelled through Delhi, recording sound levels using a manual meter. They found the noise level going up to 100 db in the commercial and industrial zones, and 90 db in some residential zones during peak traffic.

At least 70% of these damaging sounds emanate from the ever-swelling fleet of eight million vehicles in a city of 17 million people. In 1910 when England’s Oliver Lucas designed the first electrical horn attached to the automobile, it was to save lives. Until then, laws in England mandated that self-propelled vehicles must be preceded by a man on foot waving a red flag and blowing a horn for the safety of pedestrians and animals.

Today, incessant honking is often blamed on India’s poor road infrastructure. But most drivers do it out of habit. On Delhi roads, weaving through traffic is a proud art that involves constant honking. At 100-110 db, blaring car horns are comparable with noise from a rock concert or a running jet engine.

Honking is banned in India at intersections or near temples, schools and hospitals. But the rule is flouted every second. With a fine as low as R100, it doesn’t matter anyway. Such is the demand for louder horns that many foreign car makers have customised stronger horns for the Indian market.

Recommendations of the pollution watchdog include ban on pressure horns, extensive plantation of trees on the roadsides, encouraging use of noise-absorbent materials, adequate noise barriers, monitoring of loudspeakers and generator. While regular sound-mapping can check the extent of noise trauma, sound barriers can bring noise levels down by 5 db.

Above all, say experts, sound trauma can be reduced just by changing our habits. The horns are necessary to warn other road users or animals of the vehicle’s approach, or as a part of an anti-theft device. In all other situations, it is possible to drive without honking.

All you need to do is stick to the speed limit. Experts prescribe the two-second rule — staying at two seconds or one car length behind the vehicle directly in front of one’s car gives just about enough time to stop or manoeuvre the vehicle if the one ahead of you suddenly applies brake. For overtaking or changing lanes, use indicators. And remember, no matter how much you honk, you can’t make traffic jams disappear.

“Calling noise a nuisance is like calling smog an inconvenience,” said Dr William H. Stewart, former Surgeon General of the United States. After much prodding, our government has woken up to the problem of air pollution. There is no reason why it should sleep through the deafening noise that ails our city.

Source of article New Delhi Noise pollution

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Asia Noise News

Silent protest against noise in Changsha, China

Silent protest against noise in Changsha, China

Residents put the Chinese character chao (meaning ‘noisy’) on windows of a building near an expressway and railway tracks in Changsha city, capital of Central China’s Hunan province, May 18, 2015.

Local residents said their lives have been affected by the nearby traffic, particularly beeping of car horns and train whistles.

noise in china
noise in china

(Photo: China News Service/Yang Huafeng)

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Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Risk of hearing loss increasing: experts

Increasing exposure to damaging sound levels in recreational areas and the unsafe use of personal audio devices are putting Cambodians, especially teenagers and young adults, at a high risk of hearing loss, health experts said yesterday.

In a statement issued on Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that at least 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults globally are susceptible to hearing loss due to growing exposure to recreational noise.

Nearly 50 per cent of teenagers and young adults aged 12-35 years are prone to hazardous levels of sound from improper personal audio device use while 40 per cent are vulnerable to potentially harmful levels of sound at entertainment venues, according to a recent WHO analysis of data from middle- and high-income countries.

Although low-income countries weren’t included in the study due to a lack of data, Dr Shelly Chadha, WHO’s prevention of deafness and hearing loss technical officer in the Geneva headquarters, said that the threat is “very real” within the general Cambodian population.

“Cambodia is seeing the same trends with regards to recreational noise so the risks are present there too,” Chadha said.

In the National Institute of Statistics’ most recent Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey, 4,155 Cambodians had hearing disabilities.

NGO Deaf Development Programme (DDP) director Charlie Dittmeier, however, said the current number is much higher, with 51,000 profoundly deaf and half a million hard-of-hearing people in the Kingdom.

“Cambodia is a very noisy culture, which is evident through the wall of speakers present at most weddings, funerals and advertisements in the streets,” said Dittmeier. “Due to these factors and people playing their music really loud, the problem is only getting worse.”

Under the 2014 Disability Rights Initiative Cambodia, the government is planning to initiate some programs targeting hearing loss prevention and increasing hearing impaired people’s access to health and rehabilitation services.

The government also plans to take over the deaf school operated by NGO Krousar Thmey in 2020 and is working with DDP to develop a hybrid Khmer-American sign language, Dittmeier added.

But to further combat the problem and lessen risks, Chadha recommended that the government focus on prevention.

“Prevention, after all, is easier and cheaper than cures.”

Source: http://www.phnompenhpost.com

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Malaysia police stop Sunday service over complaints of “Noise”

PETALING JAYA – Policemen stopped a Sunday service at a church which mostly catered to Indonesians in Kajang after they received complaints from the public about the “noise”.

However, the service was allowed to continue after the policemen told the pastor Nelson Sembiling that they would return with the letters of complaints.

Sembiling, who is from Indonesia, said two policemen came 10 minutes after he started delivering his sermon.

“They said they had received complaints about the noise. I asked them if I could finish delivering my sermon first.

“They said I had to stop the service immediately or they would call their superiors. I told them to go ahead,” he added.

The officers then told him that he was allowed to continue with his service, but they would come back with the letters of complaints.

“This is the first time I have been stopped while delivering a sermon,” Sembiling said in an interview yesterday.

He said he then alerted National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) executive secretary Alfred Tais.

Sembiling said he had no plans to lodge a police report.

He said the church had been located at a different place in Kajang for the past four years until it moved to its present location near the Kajang bus station in September.

The church is attended by Indonesian Christians living and working in the area.

MCA religious harmony bureau chairman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said the church could take legal action if there was any element of trespass or breach of authority by the police.

“We have to know if the action was justified,” he said.

Ti said Malaysians accepted the practices of different faiths as long as they did not deviate from social norms.

Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming, whose constituency covers the current location of the church, said the matter should have been handled by the local authorities, not the police.

Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rashid Abdul Wahab said police did not disrupt the service.

“We acted based on a noise complaint and sent two policemen to find out more about the situation. The officers spoke to the person in charge there and were told it was a religious service,” he said, adding that the policemen then left.

 

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