EP329 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY VII

BEP3031 ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT LABORATORY

NO. OF EXPERIMENT: 3
TITLE OF EXPERIMENT: NOISE MEASUREMENT FROM THE
POTENTIAL SOURCES IN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS (OPEN ENDED)
NAME: REYNARD KIN SURYAJAYA
VINCENT ARTHUR
KUHAN
JOBAYAR
ID: 1001954482
1001955087
1001956286
1001852510
GROUP: 5
DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 7 June 2022
TUTOR: MS. RAFIZAH BINTI ZAITON; DR. SUM JING YAO; DR. LAI LI
SZE

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY & BUILT
ENVIRONMENT
2022
Table of Contents

1.0 Problem Statement ....................................................................................................... 3

2.0 Hypothesis ..................................................................................................................... 3

3.0 Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 3

4.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3

5.0 Material and Apparatus .............................................................................................. 4

6.0 Procedure ...................................................................................................................... 4

7.0 Result and Calculations ............................................................................................... 5

8.0 Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 5

9.0 Limitations and Precautions ....................................................................................... 7

10.0 Conclusion..................................................................................................................... 7

11.0 References ..................................................................................................................... 8

12.0 Appendix ....................................................................................................................... 9

13.0 Rubric .......................................................................................................................... 10

EXPERIMENT 3: NOISE MEASUREMENT FROM THE POTENTIAL SOURCES
IN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS (OPEN ENDED)

1.0 Problem Statement

Exposure to noise pollution is known to have caused various health-related
problems. Noise pollution started to impact health when an individual is continuously
exposed to noise beyond the threshold level above the exposure limit. To avoid the
effect of noise pollution, this experiment is set to determine the possible source of noise
pollution around the UCSI International School and the noise intensity.

2.0 Hypothesis
The hypothesis will be that among all the road directions measured, the west
road will have the highest sound level compared to other directions, on the other hand,
the north road will have the lowest sound level. One of the reasons why the west road
can be the road with the highest noise level is because the west road is the main road
for vehicles to pass so there are a lot of passing vehicles which can cause pollution,
unlike roads in other directions where the road is located inside housing complex so
that there will be far fewer passing vehicles. The maximum sound heard on all sides of
the road will exceed the allowable limit. However, because the noise measurement was
taken near the roadside, the real noise that reaches the classroom will be significantly
lower due to the distance from the roadside and the presence of building walls. This
will prove that the campus is a safe place from noise pollution.

3.0 Objectives
• To measure the noise level in university campus.
• To analyze and interpret the data obtained from the noise measurement
experiment.
• To determine if different directions of the road have a different noise level
value.

4.0 Introduction
Universities campus are good places for teaching, scientific research, life,
entertainment, production and other functions. A good sound environment can ensure
the physical and mental health of teachers and students, and ensure the high-quality
completion of learning, work and other tasks. However, due to the unreasonable campus

3
 location, the building structure and decoration, and the campus noise control, which
makes universities campus face questionable noise pollution problem. Common noises
will be that living noise was the main indoor noise, followed by mechanical and
electrical equipment noise, especially HVAC equipment noise. It was also found that
the traffic noise is the most serious among the outdoors noises, and the noise from the
adjacent room was the most serious among the noises heard indoors. It was found that
the noise was caused by the traffic both on and off campus, students' daily activities on
campus, and business activities around the campus. It is hard to understand the general
level of sound environment in universities. This experiment is to carry out using the
acoustic environment measurement and questionnaire survey. To further clarify the
campus acoustic environmental pollution level, we also combined the evaluation of
mathematical model, which provided reference for the formulation of corresponding
noise prevention methods.

5.0 Material and Apparatus

Apparatus:
- Noise level meter

6.0 Procedure
1. The noise level meter was turned on and wait until the number displayed
become stable.
2. The noise level meter was placed to the sound source.
3. “hold” button was pressed for 1 minute to get the reading
4. the readings for the maximum and minimum sound level were read and
recorded.
5. The results obtained were compared and discussed.

4
7.0 Result and Calculations
Sample Name Min (dB) Max (dB) Vehicles Time
North Road 41.1 67 2 1 min
West Road 56.2 81.4 20 1 min
East Road 46 50.4 0 1 min
South Road 49.6 73.2 2 1 min
Table 1. Recorded Noise Data

Graph of Noise Data

90 81,4
80 73,2
67
70
56,2
60 50,4 49,6
50 46 Minumum (dB)
41,1
40 Maximum (dB)
30 20 Vehicles
20
10 2 0 2
0
North Road West Road East Road South Road

Figure 1. Bar Graph of Measured Noise

North Road East Road

West Road South Road

Figure 2. Direction of road reference
8.0 Discussion
Based on the result of the experiment, it can be concluded that West Road is the
noisiest road around UCSI International School. The value of the data observed is 56.2
dB at minimum and 81.4 at maximum. This is explained by the number of vehicles

5
observed passing by, which is 20 vehicles. Based on observations made during the
experiment, the vehicle that produces the most intense noise is the motorcycle with
modified exhaust, which produces a loud and high-pitched noise.

Figure 2. Recommended Permissible Sound Level (DOE)

The maximum sound observed on the all side of road exceeds the permittable
limit based on DOE guidelines for a learning institution. However, considering that
the noise measurement is recorded on the roadside, the actual noise that reaches the
classroom may be much lower due to the distance from the roadside and the presence
of walls of the building. Thus, it might be possible that roadside noise pollution will
still be under the permittable limit but, for this matter, a further experiment needs to
be made to reach a definite conclusion.
The second noisiest road observed is the South Road, with 49.6 dB at the
minimum and 73.2 dB at maximum. While the third noisiest road observed is the
North side road, which is 41.1 dB at minimum, and 67 dB at maximum. It should be
noted that despite the North side road and the South side road having the same number
of vehicles passing by (2), the noise differs. This might be due to the type of vehicle
passing by since different types of vehicles can produce different sound intensities.
The most peaceful roadside is the East side, which is at 46 dB minimum and
50.4 dB. Despite having a higher minimum decibel measured compared to the North
side road, the maximum decibel measured is much lower compared to the North side
road, thus it is concluded that the East side road is the most peaceful. During the time
of observation, no vehicles passed by.

6
9.0 Limitations and Precautions
After conducting this experiment, there are some limitations and precautions
that need to be follows:
Precautions:
• The sound level measurement device is sensitive device; thus, it should be used
and handle with caution and care. If dropped, it may cause deviations in the
results obtained.
• The sound measurement is affected by all kind of nearby noises, even if the
sound disturbance was just for a short time, the sound level meter is already
affected. Hence, the sound was measured only when there was no rapid
abruption of noise that would not ordinarily occur.
• The noise level meter was switched off after every measurement taken to reduce
its power use and to prevent any sensitivity drift, the noise level meter was not
exposed to the excessively high noise level since there’s a range limit for the
instrument.
Limitations:
• The results obtained may not accurately reflect the effects of sound on the
teaching and learning process because there is a significant distance between
the sound source and the classroom, and there are many damping effects that
can be found, such as walls.
• The results obtained are not very effective because of the time factor, since the
experiment is carried out not during school operating hours or busy hours,
therefore the results obtained will be much smaller than expectations.

10.0 Conclusion
In conclusion, among all the road directions measured, the west road has the
highest sound level (81,4 dB) compared to other directions, on the other hand, the
north road has the lowest sound level (41,1 dB). One of the reasons why the west road
can be the road with the highest noise level is because the west road is the main road
for vehicles to pass so there are a lot of passing vehicles which can cause pollution,
unlike roads in other directions where the road is located inside housing complex so
that there will be far fewer passing vehicles, this statement matches the hypothesis
mentioned above, therefore, the hypothesis above is accepted. Overall, the minimum-
maximum sound level measured from different road directions in the UCSI

7
 International School are; north road (41,1 – 67 dB), west road (56,2 – 81,4 dB), east
road (46 – 50,4 dB), and south road (49,6 – 73,2 dB).
Referring to DOE criteria for a learning institution, the maximum sound heard
on all sides of the road exceeds the allowable limit. However, because the noise
measurement was taken near the roadside, the real noise that reaches the classroom
may be significantly lower due to the distance from the roadside and the presence of
building walls. Thus, the objectives were achieved. To recall, the objectives are:
• To measure the noise level in university campus.
• To analyze and interpret the data obtained from the noise measurement
experiment.
• To determine if the university campus is safe from noise pollution.

11.0 References
• DOE. (2021, 10). Guidelines-Noise-2019-Rev-3. Retrieved from Portal Rasmi Jabatan
Alam Sekitar Kementrian Alam Sekitar dan Air: https://www.doe.gov.my/wp-
content/uploads/2021/10/Guidelines-Noise-2019-Rev-3-ARK-V5-FINAL-1.4.2020-2-
with-cover.pdf
• Zhang, X., Hu, Y., Ran, X., & Zhang, Y. (2019, September). Investigation and
Measurement Analysis of Campus Noise Pollution Based on a University in
Hengyang. Retrieved from researchgate:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335726772_Investigation_and_Measuremen
t_Analysis_of_Campus_Noise_Pollution_Based_on_a_University_in_Hengyang
• Ismail M, Abdullah S, Yuen FS. Study on environmental noise pollution at three
different primary schools in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu state. Journal of
Sustainability Science and Management. 2015; 10(2): 103-111
• Segaran VC, Ghing TY, Abas NH, Azni NI, Zairuddin MA. Assessment of Traffic
Noise Pollutions Outside School, Residential, Hospital and Commercial Areas along
Jalan Kluang, Batu Pahat, Johor. International Journal of Integrated Engineering.
2019; 11(9): 123-131. https://doi.org/10.30880/ijie.2019.11.09.014

8
12.0 Appendix

9
13.0 Rubric

10
11