The aim of the thesis is to determine smartphones accuracy and precision when used for noise investigation and to find out if they are even appropriate for these kind of measurements. The findings are important for determination of reliability of international projects investigating environmental noise control, that use smartphones to collect data.
The thesis is made up of a theoretical and an experimental section.
First section introduces the theoretical concepts on which second section experiments are based on. First we explain acoustical, physiological and psychological characteristics of humans, associated with sound perception and cognition, followed by a detailed physical sound characterization, noise definition, equipment description and measurements methods.
Experimental section covers two experiments conducted by Multimedia communications students in Great Hall of SNG Nova Gorica under current thesis mentor, with accurate results description and analysis. Measurements were carried using a free software application named "Sound Meter" installed purely on Android smartphones. Reference measurements were taken with a professional calibrated sound level meter.
Results analysis took us to the conclusion that actual smartphones do not provide sound accurate and precise measurement, so current smartphones are in most cases not suitable for sound levels measurement.
|
