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The Sound of Silence: A Noise Map of the U.S.

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Re: The Sound of Silence: A Noise Map of the U.S.

#111

Post by spodek »

lettergram wrote: post #27

I think it’s important to differentiate (as this website does) the human made noise from the natural. I love being in the woods / fields / lakes. Fishing, hunting, hiking, etc. when you’re out there for a while you realize how much noise there really is. I wish everyone could / would take a few days a month and just spend it in the the natural world. I feel revived after spending a day or two listening to the leaves…

Also the difference between outdoors a generation ago and outdoors now. Depending on where you are, the decrease in birdcalls is huge, but happens so slowly that most people don't know what we're missing. That loss has been happening over longer than a generation or two.

Also, there are fewer places where you hear no car noises or planes at all.

We can do something about it, but it takes work.

Re: The Sound of Silence: A Noise Map of the U.S.

#112

Post by sofixa »

tayo42 wrote: post #39
scioxo wrote: post #7

It pains me that noise pollution isn't taken as seriously as other forms of environmental damage when it's the one that most directly impacts (urban) people's quality of life.

It drives me crazy. I really don't know how other people deal with it. Like my neighbors are so unbelievably loud, its starting to get to me. (I think some cultures identify with being loud?) Or do people just accept a poorer quality of life. Its pretty much the only reason why I think dense living is a bad idea. People are are to inconsiderate of each other to make it work I think and construction quality is too low…

> Its pretty much the only reason why I think dense living is a bad idea

You can have quiet and soundproofed dense living. It just takes some standards and codes to take it into account.

NotJustBikes recently made a video about how some Dutch cities are taking this very seriously ( like Delft), and how it works ( Cities aren't loud, cars are is the video name). In France good soundproofing is mandatory on new constructions, etc. People and regulators just need to care :)

Re: The Sound of Silence: A Noise Map of the U.S.

#113

Post by kortex »

tothrowaway wrote: post #15
scioxo wrote: post #7

It pains me that noise pollution isn't taken as seriously as other forms of environmental damage when it's the one that most directly impacts (urban) people's quality of life.

The cars, trucks and motorcycles with booming exhaust pipes are insufferable. I despise hearing them revving by. I feel like I'm crazy for how much it bothers me. But then I read a story about a man shooting a driver who was just revving up and down his street, so I'm not alone. I spent a week in Helsinki, and was blown away by how quiet it was despite being far more dense than my city.

Ugh, there is one dude in my town with this beat up old Civic with what sounds like a literal tin can for an exhaust, and the engine is tuned so badly that it backfires every time he shifts, which he does at the bend by my house. Which of course sets the dogs barking.

All I'm saying is, I kinda commiserate with the guy in that story.

Europe in general seems to have far less of that particular kind of jackassery. Better enforcement? Or are people just more considerate?

Re: The Sound of Silence: A Noise Map of the U.S.

#114

Post by h2odragon »

Cicada not included.

I live in one of the quietest places available in the southeast. When I got into towns the pressure of the people sounds is noticeable. Even if Im there early when its actually quiet and everybody's asleep, its a different environment where your heartbeat echos too loud and the mice move quietly instead of rustling the leaves.

Its not that quiet in the woods, as others have said, its just a different set of noises and a different feel and extent to how they propagate. My wife can't tell a difference between the coyotes singing close to us or a mile away down the valley.

With the exception of the pine plantations. Big patches of pine can get spooky quiet; they muffle sound well, coat the ground with needles that dont say much, and few things really party there. Woodpeckers punctuate the afternoon.

Re: The Sound of Silence: A Noise Map of the U.S.

#115

Post by B1FF_PSUVM »

spodek wrote: post #109
sdoering wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I so relate. I was once able to test drive a Audi R8 Spyder because the agency I work for works for Audi. The motor sound isn't anything near quiet. Far from it. But I was astounded to find a button that enables a loud motor sound function. With this button pressed the sound makes a lot of bikes sound like child toys. I really don't understand how one needs to show off in such a fashion and explicitly expressing a lo…

Insecurity, lack of self-awareness, lack of support

Victims of Stockholm syndrome. They were conditioned to associate the pleasure of effortless movement - such as you get silently on a sailboat or downhill skiing or biking - with the noise of internal combustion contraptions.

Good thing the end of those is in sight.

Re: The Sound of Silence: A Noise Map of the U.S.

#116

Post by Kye »

hattmall wrote: post #56
tayo42 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It drives me crazy. I really don't know how other people deal with it. Like my neighbors are so unbelievably loud, its starting to get to me. (I think some cultures identify with being loud?) Or do people just accept a poorer quality of life. Its pretty much the only reason why I think dense living is a bad idea. People are are to inconsiderate of each other to make it work I think and construction quality is too low…

I don't really get it though, like you want it to be quiet everywhere always? I definitely hate motorcycles or loud cars, but I've never been bothered too much by people noises or music. I've lived in highrises and above a night club and it was ok. Construction can be annoying and I once lived next door to a tire shop and that was pretty bad, but even things like fireworks don't bother me. I've lived in nature and on…

The incessant mooing.

Re: The Sound of Silence: A Noise Map of the U.S.

#117

Post by Kye »

tayo42 wrote: post #63
hattmall wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really get it though, like you want it to be quiet everywhere always? I definitely hate motorcycles or loud cars, but I've never been bothered too much by people noises or music. I've lived in highrises and above a night club and it was ok. Construction can be annoying and I once lived next door to a tire shop and that was pretty bad, but even things like fireworks don't bother me. I've lived in nature and on…

Silence is too weird, not all sounds are the same. Like chickens are horrible though and not really a natural part of most environments. I don't want to live on a farm. I didnt think cows were to bad when I stayed next to a small farm. Some how I can deal with fireworks too though i would be pretty irritated if it happened every night and woke me up or something. Loud music drives me crazy, especially if its not musi…

Bass can wiggle through walls in ways that surprise even the person generating it. Worse, the wall filters out much of the other frequencies that might make it bearable. I think most people with their music rattling through their car doors don't even realize it. Think about it: the only way they would know is if they left the music on, got out, and shut the door. Not a common occurrence.

Plenty of music people think to treat their rooms with the usual foam on the walls, but not everyone thinks (or cares) to treat it with bass traps.

Re: The Sound of Silence: A Noise Map of the U.S.

#118

Post by Anechoic »

kzrdude wrote: post #98
w-ll wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it interesting but not surprising how you can pretty much plot air ports and the in/out routes from this heat map. Also interesting things like Whiteman AFB, from the recent stealth bomber post, shows nothing.

The default view doesn't show rail traffic, which also seems to add a lot of heat to the map. I haven't quite understood what the map is based on, but it says 24-hr LAeq - is this a 24-hour average or 24-hour max?

LAeq is an “energy” average, it’s all of the sound energy from the sources that’s averaged over 24 hours. It reflects human response to noise since.

Re: The Sound of Silence: A Noise Map of the U.S.

#119

Post by lettergram »

spodek wrote: post #111
lettergram wrote: post #27

I think it’s important to differentiate (as this website does) the human made noise from the natural. I love being in the woods / fields / lakes. Fishing, hunting, hiking, etc. when you’re out there for a while you realize how much noise there really is. I wish everyone could / would take a few days a month and just spend it in the the natural world. I feel revived after spending a day or two listening to the leaves…

Also the difference between outdoors a generation ago and outdoors now. Depending on where you are, the decrease in birdcalls is huge, but happens so slowly that most people don't know what we're missing. That loss has been happening over longer than a generation or two. Also, there are fewer places where you hear no car noises or planes at all. We can do something about it, but it takes work.

I’m personally of an opinion that’s a good thing — that means progress and a more robust civilization.

I don’t think there’s a limitation on places that are relatively silent. In other words, you can get a relatively silent world even 30 min for nearly every place on this map.

That said, I support forest preserves and places like the boundary waters

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_Waters

Where they intentionally create preserves with no motors or human civilization.

I’ll also mention the decline in bird populations also startled me. For much of my life I went to the woods and heard so many birds. Even in the past few years I’ve notified the rapid decline.

That said, I always try to put it in perspective. 100% of the trees, grass, birds, bugs, etc in North America only came around the last 10,000 - 20,000 years. I’m not sure what is causing no the bird decline (I suspect it’s pesticides, with the protective agencies not regulating effectively or invasive species such as cats). I’m sure natural will adapt to fill the niche, but it’s definitely different.

Re: The Sound of Silence: A Noise Map of the U.S.

#120

Post by notacoward »

twiddling wrote: post #21
tothrowaway wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The cars, trucks and motorcycles with booming exhaust pipes are insufferable. I despise hearing them revving by. I feel like I'm crazy for how much it bothers me. But then I read a story about a man shooting a driver who was just revving up and down his street, so I'm not alone. I spent a week in Helsinki, and was blown away by how quiet it was despite being far more dense than my city.

"Loud pipes save lives" ugh

I looked into this claim a while ago, and actual research on the subject is equivocal at best. Most often, drivers don't even notice the sound on an already-noisy road or highway, through deliberately sound-dampening windows, over music and conversation, etc. Even if they notice, they don't necessarily know where it's coming from. Even if they know where it's coming from, it doesn't necessarily influence their actions. Some people who say "loud pipes save lives" are just fooling themselves. More often, people who say it know it's not likely to be true, but they say it anyway to put a veneer of respectability over the fact that they like the sound and don't care if it's annoying to others.
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