third environmental pollution symposium: noise

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THIRD ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION SYMPOSIUM: NOISE DONALD A. MILLER 13076 Vista de Valle, Los Altos, Calif. 94022, U.S.A. Introduction The third Environmental Pollution Symposium at SRI was sponsored by the Peninsula Professional Societies representing ACS, AIAA, AIChE, ASME, and SAE. It focussed on the subject of noise. The expressed intent was to bridge the gap between technology (the area of expertise of professional society members) and the average citizen (which we all are). Earlier symposia had considered water and air pollution, and were quite successful in providing a forum for exchange of data and information related to those forms of pollution. An attempt to identify resultant actions that emerged from those prior conferences led[ to the conclusion that it was impossible to identify direct actions that resulted from the symposia. The decision was made therefore, that this sympo- sium should limit its scope to one subject, noise; that it should try to reach non- technical as well as technically-oriented persons; and it should stress action as an out- put of the symposium. The format chosen for the symposium was structured to stress four aspects of noise in four sessions: Session I - The Nature of Noise Session II - The Effects on Society Session III - Specific Noise Problem Areas Session IV - Potential Actions to Curb Noise The first two sessions followed the classical 'presentation' technique, with selected speakers providing prepared talks, followed by a limited number of audience-gener- ated questions. These papers are presented herewith in complete form. The third session employed a 'workshop' technique wherein simultaneous, separate sessions explored five types of noise: industrial, aviation, household, vehicle, and highway. The prepared talks which were presented at these sessions are printed in their entirety. Attendees at the symposium were free to move between workshop sessions, but most chose to limit activity to a single topic session, perhaps recognizing that all session papers would be available later in printed form. An additional method was employed to provide 'cross-coverage' of the workshop proceedings; workshop Chairmen provid- ed oral summaries and action plans during the concluding session of the symposium. These remarks are included in the symposium printed record. The mechanism of having multiple, concurrent sessions enabled a more thorough subject coverage than could be achieved otherwise in the time span. While the summaries by the Chairmen cannot equal active participation by attendees, these statements do provide basic data for action by holders of the symposium notes. An early evaluation of the effectiveness of the symposium indicates that attendees Water, Air, and SoilPollution 2 (1973) 253-254. All Rights Reserved Copyright © 1973 by D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordreeht-Holland

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T H I R D E N V I R O N M E N T A L P O L L U T I O N S Y M P O S I U M : N O I S E

DONALD A. MILLER 13076 Vista de Valle, Los Altos, Calif. 94022, U.S.A.

Introduction

The third Environmental Pollution Symposium at SRI was sponsored by the Peninsula Professional Societies representing ACS, AIAA, AIChE, ASME, and SAE. It focussed on the subject of noise. The expressed intent was to bridge the gap between technology (the area of expertise of professional society members) and the average citizen (which we all are). Earlier symposia had considered water and air pollution, and were quite successful in providing a forum for exchange of data and information related to those forms of pollution. An attempt to identify resultant actions that emerged from those prior conferences led[ to the conclusion that it was impossible to identify direct actions that resulted from the symposia. The decision was made therefore, that this sympo- sium should limit its scope to one subject, noise; that it should try to reach non- technical as well as technically-oriented persons; and it should stress action as an out- put of the symposium.

The format chosen for the symposium was structured to stress four aspects of noise in four sessions:

Session I - The Nature of Noise Session II - The Effects on Society Session III - Specific Noise Problem Areas Session IV - Potential Actions to Curb Noise

The first two sessions followed the classical 'presentation' technique, with selected speakers providing prepared talks, followed by a limited number of audience-gener- ated questions. These papers are presented herewith in complete form. The third session employed a 'workshop' technique wherein simultaneous, separate sessions explored five types of noise: industrial, aviation, household, vehicle, and highway. The prepared talks which were presented at these sessions are printed in their entirety. Attendees at the symposium were free to move between workshop sessions, but most chose to limit activity to a single topic session, perhaps recognizing that all session papers would be available later in printed form. An additional method was employed to provide 'cross-coverage' of the workshop proceedings; workshop Chairmen provid- ed oral summaries and action plans during the concluding session of the symposium. These remarks are included in the symposium printed record. The mechanism of having multiple, concurrent sessions enabled a more thorough subject coverage than could be achieved otherwise in the time span. While the summaries by the Chairmen cannot equal active participation by attendees, these statements do provide basic data for action by holders of the symposium notes.

An early evaluation of the effectiveness of the symposium indicates that attendees

Water, Air, and SoilPollution 2 (1973) 253-254. All Rights Reserved Copyright © 1973 by D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordreeht-Holland

254 INTRODUCTION

considered it to be a beneficial forum for education and for exchange of view and opinions. The ultimate measure of the effectiveness of the sessions will be the extent to which attendees, participants, and holders of the record of proceedings implement those actions which will help fight noise pollution.