The Association of Acoustic and Non-Acoustic Factors with Severe Aircraft Noise Annoyance - Results of the Survey of Noise Impacts on Canadian Communities

Abstract

Many Canadians are affected to various extends by environmental noise. Those living near airports and flight paths are exposed to aircraft noise that can cause severe disturbance and annoyance amongst the population. Annoyance is the most common effect of aircraft noise exposure, and as such, is a key metric in regulations and guidelines. However, it is anecdotally understood that annoyance from aircraft noise cannot be attributed to a measured noise level alone and that there are other contributing factors. Thorough understanding of noise annoyance and all possible acoustic and non-acoustic contributors is critical to its management. The Survey of Noise Impacts on Canadian Communities 2021 (SONICC 2021) was a questionnaire distributed around Toronto Pearson International Airport, which sought to identify both acoustic and non-acoustic factors associated with severe noise annoyance. While the analysis in this paper noted that prevalence of severe annoyance increased with higher noise exposure, noise levels alone were not the best predictor of a respondent’s likelihood of being highly annoyed. Consideration of situational, personal, and attitudinal factors such as perceived change in noise, habituation, feeling of unfairness, and noise sensitivity significantly improved the ability to predict severe annoyance. This paper shares the results of SONICC 2021 and suggests how these findings can inform a more holistic approach to annoyance prediction and mitigation.