Estimating parameter values in a model for rating shooting sounds from field survey data.

Area of Science:

• Acoustics
• Environmental Science
• Psychoacoustics

Background:

• Annoyance from shooting sounds is predictable using outdoor A- and C-weighted sound exposure levels (ASELs and CSELs).
• Previous laboratory studies recommended specific parameter values (α=47 dB, β=0.015 dB⁻¹) for the annoyance prediction formula: L_r,s = L_AE + 12 + β(L_CE - L_AE)(L_AE - α).

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-estimate the parameter values α and β in the annoyance prediction formula for shooting sounds.
• To compare subjective reactions to shooting and road-traffic noise in residential areas.

Main Methods:

• Collected subjective annoyance data from 400 respondents across 15 residential areas.
• Calculated noise dose for road traffic and quantified ammunition expenditure over 12 months.
• Determined outdoor ASELs and CSELs for impulsive noise sources in the studied areas.

Main Results:

• Re-estimated parameter values: α = 45 dB and β = 0.025 dB⁻¹ based on data from most residential areas.
• Bootstrap analysis yielded a 95% confidence interval for β between 0.013 dB⁻¹ and 0.037 dB⁻¹.

Conclusions:

• The re-estimated parameters provide an updated model for predicting annoyance from shooting sounds.
• The findings contribute to a more accurate assessment of noise pollution from impulsive sources in residential environments.