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NEWS: Coastal wetlands are unable to adapt to the rate of sea-level rise and are constrained by infrastructure

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Wetlands, precious ecosystems that shield coastlines, safeguard drinking water from saltwater contamination, and nourish diverse wildlife, face a dire threat from the accelerating pace of sea-level rise, driven by global warming. Wetlands have historically adapted to rising sea levels by expanding upward and inland. However, predictions indicate that the waterline will soon shift far too rapidly for wetlands to keep pace. Consequently, future decades may witness the tragic loss of these vital wetland ecosystems. Wetlands along coastlines have historically played valuable roles for people and wildlife, but are now facing the threat of sea-level rise. As temperatures rise, sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, and wetlands are unable to keep pace by building upward and migrating inland. This is due to human-induced climate change and the burning of fossil fuels, which has warmed the oceans and melted glaciers. Sea levels are now rising at about 10 millimeters per year, and are
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How can the construction industry reduce noise levels to manage its carbon footprint?

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There are many ways to reduce the carbon footprint of construction companies. One way of doing this is to reduce the levels of noise that comes from construction sites.

How can construction companies assess, monitor and control environmental noise to reduce their carbon footprint?

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Construction Noise

There are a range of ways to assess, monitor and control environmental noise and the outcome of these efforts should be a well-managed, safe environment for the crews that work on them and the residents in the local area.

Environmental Noise Risk in the Construction Industry

Construction sites are typically very noisy places, with many people working on different aspects of a build and needing to use tools and machinery to get their job done effectively. This is something that needs to be taken into consideration when running a construction site, since noise reduction has been shown to help porpoises and other wildlife.

A noise risk is posed when the levels of construction sounds go beyond what is expected because of a combination of the following noise sources:
  • Construction taking place
  • Machinery being used
  • On-site traffic
  • Workers traffic when arriving and departing from the site
  • Communication between the crews
  • Industrial processing
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 in the UK set out the requirements of construction sites to reduce the exposure of noise for workers to avoid ill-health and ongoing medical needs. There is also the requirement to ensure that residents are not left harmed by the ongoing noise from the site. Of course, these changes are also great for helping reduce environmental harm as well.

There is a range of ways to do this, but you must understand the risks that are posed in order to reduce the impact of them. With so many different noise sources, it is easy to see how noise can become an issue on a construction site and so it is vital that appropriate noise assessments take place to monitor the impact and reduce the issue.

How to Assess Environmental Noise?

To successfully monitor the impact of noise that comes from a construction site, you need to be able to assess the noise effectively. To do this, you can use a combination of the following measurement tools to get the most exact picture:

Noise Meters – these handheld devices allow you to measure the level of sound from anywhere on the construction site. They are easy to use and provide immediate feedback so that you can be confident that your noise targets are being met.

Sound Meters – these larger devices are installed on a tripod and left in-situ for a specific period. During this time, they are programmed to take regular noise readings and provide you with a clear overview of the changing noise levels throughout the day. Many of these devices allow you to store and download the results so that you can analyse it at a time that suits you.

Outdoor Noise Measuring Kits – these are weatherproof devices that provide long term noise measurement capability and can be installed to remain on site until construction has finished. You can monitor the levels of noise over a long or short period and ensure that the noise limits you set are being adhered to during the entire day.

How To Limit and Control Environmental Noise

When it comes to limiting and controlling the noise on a construction site, you can implement the following things:
  • Hiring low-noise machinery
  • Using equipment correctly
  • Installing sound barriers
  • Putting distance between the noise and the workers
  • Reducing the number of people that can access noisy areas
  • Providing hearing protection equipment
  • Scheduling effectively to reduce the time workers are around noise
  • Training workers to understand the risks posed by loud noises
Once you have a range of controls in place, you must continue to monitor them alongside the noise levels to ensure maximum effectiveness. You will also need to have a range of supervisory tools in place to ensure that rules are being followed and equipment is kept in the best condition.

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