Research into the human response to vibration from railways in residential environments

This paper describes progress in research being carried out at the University of Salford to develop a method by which resident's annoyance to the vibration they experience in their residential environments can be assessed. The objective of this study is to yield a robust relationship between vibration exposure and human response (i.e. annoyance levels), therefore providing a reliable basis for the development of standards and guidance for the assessment of vibration in residential buildings. The vibration sources to be considered are those affecting residents that are outside their control, such as construction, road and rail activities. In addition, noise is also a consideration as it frequently accompanies vibration exposure. The protocol involves the measurement of vibration outside and inside individual residences and a social study questionnaire based on face-to-face interviews with householders. Work so far has concentrated on the response of people in their own homes to railway noise and vibration. Approximately 1000 case studies have been obtained and examples of early field measurements and results are presented. This work is likely to be of interest to acoustical consultants and environmental health officers involved in the assessment of vibration complaints, and to planners and practitioners involved in the design of buildings. [Work funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) UK].