Baseline studies of existing noise and vibration levels are conducted to determine noise and vibration constraints and criteria that may apply to a site if developed for mining, industry or infrastructure uses.

Unattended one-third octave noise loggers monitor noise levels and frequency spectra continuously during the monitoring period, normally one to seven days.

Extraneous noise levels of insects and birds, or other road, rail, aircraft or industrial noise can be identified from the unattended logging analysis. Extraneous noise may be removed from the noise data to determine background noise levels and noise criteria for standard daily time periods.

Baseline vibration surveys of road, rail, or industrial vibration are conducted using the Soundbook multi-channel analyser and 3D seismometer, or the Instantel Mini-Mate ground vibration monitor and geophones.

Impact assessment studies (EIS) of noise and vibration for major projects.

Projects include: industrial, commercial and mining plants, quarries, energy and power plants, road and rail corridors, ports, wind farms, water and sewerage infrastructure, processing plants and refineries, concrete batching plants, aircraft and helicopter airports.

Studies include:

• Baseline noise and vibration surveys, including underwater;
• Criteria determination;
• Measurement of source levels and frequency spectra;
• Modelling;
• Low frequency noise;
• Noise mitigation solutions and design, including barriers, enclosures, silencers, lagging, low-noise design and marine piling underwater noise mitigation;
• Cumulative noise impacts;
• Construction noise and vibration;
• Workshops with project teams;
• Presentations, liaison, and negotiation with Commonwealth, State and Local regulatory authorities.

Prediction of noise levels and contours using SoundPLAN, TNIP, and other software modelling packages.

• Noise levels predicted for road, rail, aircraft, industrial, commercial, and recreational facilities;
• Noise contours plotted over layout drawings, aerial photography or topographic plans;
• Noise contours for cumulative exposure;
• Noise contours inside large buildings;
• Contours for blast overpressure and ground vibration levels.

Management of construction noise and ground vibration by:

• Impact assessment upon nearby sensitive receptors;
• Modelling of levels;
• Noise and vibration EMPs;
• Expert witness and negotiation with authorities;
• Temporary mitigation controls;
• Monitoring short-term;
• Installation/operation of longer-term monitoring systems;
• Inspection of dwellings (before and after construction).

Scientific investigation of excessive noise and vibration, including:

• Sophisticated multi-channel analysis instruments and transducers;
• Confirmation of impacts or annoyance;
• Source confirmation, identification or mechanism;
• Ranking of source contributions;
• Options for retro-fit solutions and control designs.

Short and long term monitoring of noise, vibration and meteorological conditions.

• One-third octave noise level and frequency loggers;
• Audio records;
• SMS and email alerts;
• Multiple integrated monitoring positions;
• Integration with other monitoring systems.

Expert witness in noise and vibration impact of:

• Road, rail, aircraft and marine transport;
• Quarrying or mining, including haulage routes;
• Shopping centres, child care centres, fast-food and service stations;
• Entertainment venues, including hotels and wedding reception centres;
• Industrial developments; and
• Residential developments (including noise and vibration inside buildings).

Experience in Queensland courts:

• Planning and Environment Court;
• Land Court;
• Supreme Court; and
• Liquor Licensing Tribunal.

Assessment of acoustic and vibration impacts upon residential developments or community facilities, such as child care centres, schools and churches, from:

• Industrial or commercial developments;
• Delivery trucks, mechanical plant and patron vehicles;
• Entertainment, sporting and recreation facilities, and patrons;
• Road and rail traffic (including light rail), and marine transport operations;
• Noise of aircraft and helicopter operations.

Liaison, negotiations and reports to State and Local authorities, including Expert Witness and RPEQ Acoustic Certification.

Determination of cost-effective noise and ground vibration mitigation options to achieve compliance with state policies, regulations or guidelines; local government codes or policies, or other applicable criteria.

Acoustic specification of mitigation treatment conceptual designs.

Detailed design of noise and vibration mitigation treatments.

Laboratory and field testing of noise and vibration mitigation treatments.

Certification may include:

• Acoustic design certification prior to construction. Includes specification of building materials for proposed building plans to comply with internal noise levels for road, rail, or aircraft noise (using the methods of AS3671 and AS2021);
• Liaison and negotiation with Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, or Queensland Rail, or the local authority regarding building approval;
• Post construction acoustic certification, including measurement of window glass thickness, inspection of ceiling insulation and air-conditioning.

Desk studies of current or best practice for specific technical areas or issues.

Review and preparation of draft policies and guidelines.

Presentations to industry bodies, government agencies or local authorities.

Baseline noise sampling for port facilities and shipping channels.

TReal-time ype 1 Narrowband and third octave analysis of underwater sound measurements with zero-sea-state measurement system sensitivity.

Sound sampling for marine species detection.

Sampling underwater third-octave sound exposures with species-specific frequency weighting.

Audible and sonogram replay of underwater sound measurements.

Real-time underwater noise measurements during piling, impact, vibratory and hydrohammer construction activities.

Specification of underwater noise mitigation treatments.

Monitoring to confirm effectiveness of mitigation treatments.

Underwater construction noise measurement and assessment of grab, trailing-arm, and suction-cutter dredges for port and channel developments.

Ship/Pleasure craft sound power measurement and rating for Ecotourism vessels (e.g. whalewatch vessels).

Ambient and source noise sampling for marine noise impact assessment at recreational dive sites (e.g. impact assessment for shipping channels and sand bypass systems).

Noise and vibration criteria from international standards.

Ground vibration and overpressure propagation laws for blasting or piling operations using multiple loggers and geophones.

Assessment of severity for structural damage and human comfort.

Monitoring compliance with DA or EA conditions (tunnelling, blasting, demolition).

Investigation of complaints (windows rattling, cracks and other signs of structural damage).

Noise and vibration criteria for sheet and impact piling.

Monitoring, investigation and certification during piling.

Impact of ground vibration from road traffic and construction (including compaction) upon residential dwellings or sensitive receivers, such as:

• Buildings housing sensitive scientific instruments;
• Historic buildings;
• Hospitals, medical research, residential and educational buildings;
• Chicken hatcheries, or similar buildings containing animals.

Noise and vibration criteria for tunnelling and directional drilling.

Modelling of noise and ground vibration levels at above ground facilities.

Monitoring, investigation and certification.

Noise and vibration criteria for bombing and artillery activities.

Monitoring during exercises.

Complaint investigations.

Noise controls are designed to achieve a design noise reduction at nominated locations:

• Close - for hearing conservation noise limits;
• Distant - for environmental or community noise limits.

Noise modelling determines the sound power level specification of all plant components.

Methods of noise control may include:

• Barriers;
• Enclosures;
• Operator cabins;
• Lagging and wrapping;
• Silencers and mufflers;
• Vibration isolation;
• Building design.

Acoustic analysis and modelling of noise treatment designs.

Specification of materials and construction details.

Tender specification and review of tenders.

Field and laboratory testing.

Performance specification design in accordance with standards.

Commissioning and certification noise and vibration measurements/testing.

Compliance monitoring by combination of measurements and modelling.

Regular surveys to monitor noise and vibration compliance with EA conditions.

Investigations of noise levels following complaints.

Liaison with DERM and local authorities regarding noise levels.

Surveys of daily noise exposure levels for employees in work environments.

Check of suitability of supplied hearing protection devices.

Hearing conservation program preparation.

Noise management and mitigation solutions.

Expert witness.

Survey of hand-arm vibration exposure in construction and mining work environments.

Measurement of hand-arm vibration levels and health risk assessment.

Vibration management and mitigation solutions.

Survey of whole-body vibration exposure of drivers and operators of mobile equipment, including trucks, mining and construction equipment.

Determination of suitable vibration mitigation measures.

Long-term monitoring of whole body vibration using permanent monitors in mobile equipment.

Analysis of room acoustics, including shape, surface finishes, reverberation, RASTI, speech intelligibility, diffusion.

Ambient noise levels, low frequency noise.

Design of theatres, halls, court-rooms and education facilities.

Open space offices, masking noise.

Field measurements in accordance with Australian and international standards.

Specification of wall, door, window, ceiling sound reduction indices.

Assessment of privacy requirements.

Measurements of Wall and ceiling field transmission loss in accordance with Australian and international standards.

Investigation of unwanted intrusive noise from adjacent spaces.

Assessment of structure-borne sound levels.

Specification of structure-borne sound mitigation measures.

Specification of vibration isolation measures.

Floor impact isolation testing in accordance with Australian and international standards.

Ductborne noise from air-handling plant to rooms.

Isolation of noise from plant rooms and diesel generators (attenuators).

Structure-borne noise and vibration isolation of pumps, motors, chillers and fans.

Environmental noise from roof-top plant, cooling towers, refrigeration condensers, air-coolers and diesel generators.

Field testing to Australian and international standards using the Soundbook analyser.

Testing of walls to ISO 140.

Reverberation testing of rooms to ISO 354.

Sound absorption testing to ISO 354.

Floor impact testing to ISO 140.

Review of sound system designs to check level distributions, reflections, speech intelligibility.

Modelling and auralisation of internal room sound field using Bose Modeller software.

Measurement of room acoustic performance using the acoustic head.

Monitoring of machine condition using vibration levels and spectra.

Investigation of excessive machine vibration levels.

Investigation and monitoring of structural and foundation vibration levels.

Measurement of operational deflection shapes.

Regular attended or unattended monitoring of vibration levels.

Supply of custom systems for on-line monitoring, including e-mail and SMS alerts.

Investigation of excessive vibration levels in machines and structures using the Soundbook multi-channel analyser.

Applied research and development to suit the particular needs of clients for new information or application data.

Research has been conducted into noise levels from rainwater tank pumps, swimming pool and spa pumps, and aircraft noise levels on building facades.

Research directed by Mr J Savery (prior to establishing Savery & Associates) included acoustic measurements to detect faulty wheel bearings in rail wagons, noise exposure levels of underground coal miners, whole body vibration exposure and control for both underground and open cut coal miners, and new methods for monitoring the condition of conveyor rollers.

Current R & D interests include noise logging using 1/3 octave noise logging instrumentation, low frequency noise in rural environments, truck noise in rural environments, long term noise monitoring using remote real-time one-third octave monitoring systems.

Field or laboratory testing of new products and certification of acoustic and vibration performance in accordance with relevant Australian and international standards, or guidelines.

Customisation of noise and vibration monitoring systems using the Soundbook family of multi-channel analysers, SAMURAI software and transducers, utilising mains power or solar power, as appropriate.

Systems involving synchronisation of multiple monitoring stations may be designed and implemented.