A Real-Time Noise Monitoring System Based on Internet of Things for Enhanced Acoustic Comfort and Occupational Health
Gonçalo Marques, Rui Pitarma
Abstract
Environmental noise directly affects well-being and productivity. On the one hand, high sound levels are related to a variety of health symptoms such as high blood pressure and stress. On the other hand, acoustic comfort increases concentration, facilitates communication and promotes productivity. The main objective of this research is to propose a modular and scalable solution for enhanced health and well-being using Internet of Things and mobile computing technologies and also, to present a real-time monitoring system for enhanced acoustic comfort with mobile computing compatibility for data visualization, analysis and notification. The results indicate the proposed system as an adequate sound supervision for enhanced acoustic comfort and well-being. The system was tested in a laboratory for two months using real-time continuous data collection. The average sound levels range from 47.35 to 52.99 dBA and from 46.22 to 51.84 dBA grouped by the day of the week and time of day, respectively. Continuous real-time monitoring is relevant for enhanced living environments since the analysis of the noise pollution levels of the ecosystem where the patients live may be related to their health symptoms. Moreover, the proposed method presents advances in installation and configuration due to the use of wireless communications technology.