SSI 3013

INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN
SCIENCE
ASSIGNMENT 1: DATA LOGGER
LECTURER
: SIR AZMI IBRAHIM
GROUP
:C
GROUP MEMBERS:
NAME
SHARIFAH AWANIS BT SYED MOHD ASWAD
MAUREEN SANTIH ANAK AMBANG
HEIDI AMELDA ANAK LAGAT

INTRODUCTION

MATRICS NUMBER
D20141067053
D20141067070
D20141067088

Sensors are devices that convert a physical parameter such as room temperature,
blood pressure or wind speed into a signal that can be measured electrically.The data is
collected by the sensors and then transmitted to the computer. The computer uses software to
collect, display and store the experimental data. The software can then display this data in
different formats - such as graphs, tables or meter readings, which make it easier for the
students to understand the process and bring science to life.
Sensor technology provides teachers with an exciting alternative to the time
consuming task of manually logging and observing science experiments. Instead of using
stopwatches, thermometers and barometers, students are using sensors and powerful software
to collect and analyze data as they are carrying out their experiments. This provides more
accurate readings than the old manual methods and data is collected in a more exciting way.
The investigative approach to collecting and analyzing data is particularly useful for
students who find science difficult. Students can repeat experiments several times due to the
speed at which data is collected. This approach encourages higher order thinking while
allowing students to engage in authentic investigation rather than prescriptive experiments
that have pre-determined outcomes. As science syllabuses move away from content towards
process, the use of modern measuring tools should be evident in every classroom.

EXPERIMENT:

TRAFFIC NOISE MEASUREMENT

Objectives:
1.

Understand the fundamental concept in noise pollution

2.

Understand the technique used in traffic noise measurement

3.

Investigate some of the factors that can lead to noise pollution

Introduction:
Noise, commonly defined as unwanted sound is an environmental phenomenon to
which we are exposed before birth and throughout life. Noise can also be considered an
environmental pollutant, a waste product generated in conjunction with various
anthropogenic activities. Noise also can be defined as any sound independent of loudness that
can produce an undesired physiological or psychological effect in an individual and that may
interfere with the social ends of an individual group. These social ends include all of our
activities such as communication, work rest, recreation and sleep. Sound is essential to our
daily lives, but noise is not. Noise is generally used as an unwanted sound, or sound which

produces unpleasant effects and discomfort on the ears. It has been known that noise of
sufficient intensity and duration can induce temporary or permanent hearing loss, ranging
from slight impairment to nearly total deafness.
Sound is a form of energy that travels as waves. We can hear sound because our ear
responds to sound waves through vibration of eardrum. The sound pressure of the faintest
sound that a normal healthy individual can hear is about 0.00002 Pascal. Sound pressure
about one million time as great as threshold of hearing can be tolerated by the ear. At this
level considerable discomfort is caused and above this sound pressure level such as above
100 Pascals actual pain is felt. This wide range of pressure hearing by the human ear
represents a ratio of one trillion to one in energy since intensity varies as the square of the
pressure. Evidently the direct application of linear scales to the measurement of sound
pressure would lead to the use of enormous and unwieldy numbers. In order to cope with this
problem, a scale based on logarithm of the ratios of the measure quantities is used.
Measurements on the scale are called levels. The unit for these types of measurement scales
is the bel, which was named after Alexander Graham Bell:
L= log Q/Qo
Where;
L

= level, bels

= measured quantity

Qo

= reference quantity

Log

= logarithm in base 10

A bel turns out to be a rather large unit, so for convenience it is divided into ten subunit called
decibels (dB). Levels in dB are computed as follows:
L = 10logQ/Qo
Sound measuring instruments measure the root mean square pressure. Therefore the sound
pressure level is computed as follows:
Lp = 20 log Prms/ (Prms)o

The reference pressure has been established as 20 micropascals. Because of the logarithmic
nature of the dB, the average value of a collection of sound pressure level measurement
cannot be computed in the normal fashion. Instead the following equation must be used:

1
N
L

p= 20 log

j= N

10

( 20Lj )

j=1

Where;

Lp
N

= number of measurements
Lj

= average sound pressure level, dB re: 20Pa

= the jth sound pressure level, dB re: 20Pa

= 1,2,3,..N.

This equation is equally applicable to sound level in dBA.

It is noted that our response to sound is strongly dependent on the frequency of the sound.
Thus the ideal system must take frequency into account and yet represent noise exposure in a
meaningful way. One way to this is by measuring Leq. The equivalent continuous energy
level (Leq) can be applied to any fluctuating noise level. It is that constant noise level that,
over a given time period. It is expressed as follows:

i=n

Leq =10 log

i=1

Where;

L
(
10 )
10 t
i

= the total numbers of samples taken

Li

= the noise level in dBA of the ith sample

Ti

= fraction of total sample time

Materials:
Sound level meter type 2
Measuring tape
Method
1. The appropriate test site is chosen as follows:
a. The test site is leveled substantially with the surface is dry, the texture is set to not
to produce excessive tyre noise.
b. The space should be free of reflecting object, the centre of the track within a
radius of 50m.
c. The background noise should be at least 10dB below that produced by the vehicle
under test.
d. The microscope at height 1.2 m above the ground which is the height ear level of
an average human height is set up.
e. The distance between the microphone and the reference line on the track is set up
at 7.5m (Figure 6.1).
2. The sound level meter is set up as follows:
a. Too avoid the noise from over rapid fluctuation, response is set to Fast (F) so that
it can be measured.
b. Function to A weighting where very low frequencies are filters quite severely
compared to B and C weighting is set up.
c. High range where this range covers sound levels between 60 and 120dBA are
selected.
3. Sound level measurement at both sides of the road in each five minutes interval within
45 minutes was taken at the test site. The results are recorded.
4. Traffic composition and flow at each sides of the road are recorded at the same time.
Car, van, light truck<3.5 ton, truck or lorry > 3.5 ton, buses and motorcycles must be
included in traffic composition.
5. A graph which consisted of time (min) against sound level (dBA) is plotted and sound
pressure average (Lp) andequivalent continuous equal energy level (Leq) are calculated
based on the given equations.

Figure 6.1: Measurement set-up

Sensor : Sound level meter

Results:
Minutes

Sound level

(min)
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45

(dB)
71.4
68.3
70.3
68.2
74.2
71.4
77.7
71.9
77.7

Calculation:

Bus
1
2
1
1
2
2
4
4
4

Vehicles
Lorry
Motorcycle
1
1
-

2
2
2
3
5

Car
2
1
3
3
3
2
3

i=n

Leq =10 log

L
(
10 )
10 t
i

i=1

10

71.4
10

+10

68.3
10

+10

70.3
10

+10

68.2
10

+ 10

74.2
10

71.4
10

+10

Leq =10 log

+10

77.7
10

+ 10

71.9
10

+10

77.7
10

1
9

211250219.8)

9
10 log

= 10 log 23472246.64)
= 73.7 dB

sound level vs time

80
78
76
74
72
70
68
66
64
62

10

15

20

25
sound level

30

35

40

45

Discussions:
During conducting this experiment, we are using the sound level meter to measure the
noise at the test site (Bus station at DKP). Sounds that reach harmful levels can cause soundinduced hearing loss also referred to as noise-induced hearing loss and create vast damage to
peoples hearing if in the near vicinity of loud sounds. From the gathered data we during from
the experiment, the highestmeasured level of sound is 77.7 dB at minute 45. This is because a
lot of vehicles that passing by. Whereas the lowest measured level of sound is 68.2 dB at
minute 20 because the vehicle passing by at the test site is less.
Even though only one vehicle at minute 5, the sound level is 71.4 that higher than
68.2 dB. It is a little noisy because there are people surrounding us are talking and it can
affect the sound level meter to increase. It is the same minute 35, the sound level is 77.7 but
the vehicle that passing by is less than at the minute 45 because of the noise made by people
around us. From the recorded results it can be seen these measured noise level are under the
acceptable ranges because there are not so many vehicle in that test site.
From the data obtained, the equivalent continuous equal energy level (L eq) are
calculated.(Leq ) is the preferred method to describe sound levels that vary over time, resulting
in a single decibel value which takes into account the total sound energy over the period of
time of interest. The value of the equivalent continuous equal energy level (L eq) from this
experiment at our test site within 45 minutes is 73.7 dB. The noise measured is not so serious.
There are some errors occurred during conducting the experiment. The microphone
was not perpendicular to the height of ear level. In order to have solid data, the microphone
must be located at the level at the ears. Then, the sound level meter keep changing when we
took the reading of the sound level for every 5 minutes. It makes us hard to take the reading
and cause our not accurate.

Conclusion:
From this experiment, we had understood the fundamental concept in noise pollution.
We also learnt and understood the techniques used in the traffic noise measurement by using
sound level meter. The sound level meter will detect the sound and the reading will be shown.
We had investigated some of the factors that can lead to noise pollution when we measured
the noise. Then level of sound at test site is not serious.
Questions:
1.

Is the traffic noise measured faces a serious condition? Explain.

The traffic noise measured do not faces a serious condition. This is because it does not
exceed 85 dB.If the sound level exceeds 85 dB, it can cause damage on our ears. The
traffic is not busy because the vehicle around the test site is not so many.

2.

Suggest how to improve your method in such a way the result can represent the
real situation of noise at the site.
To improve my method in such way the result can represent the real situation of noise
at the site is by taking a picture at the site. For example, the pictures show a lot of
vehicle meaning that the site has a high level of sound.

CONCLUSIONS
Sensors gather data quickly and record it accurately, whether in the classroom, science
laboratory or on field trips. Sensor technology can store the data in memory, from where it
can be retrieved later for processing, analysis and presentation. Sensor technology can have a
huge impact on the way science is thought in the classroom. This technology can bring
valuable improvements in the teaching and learning of science and mathematics. As the
sensors are easy to use and understand, they can be used across a wide range of ages and
abilities. Sensor technology provides students with a means of seeing, interpreting, exploring
and communicating relationships graphically.

References:
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2015).Noise pollution. Retrieved from
http://www2.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/title-iv-noise-pollution

Lisa Goines& Louis Hagler. (2007). Noise pollution: a modern plague.Retrived from
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/554566_3
Khaled S. AlQdah. (2013). Experimental investigation of noise pollution level emerged from
the most common use car in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Energy Procedia, 36, 939947.
Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610213011934
Wei Ye& J. Heidemann. 07 November 2002. An energy-efficient MAC protocol for
wireless sensor networks. IEEE Xplore Digital Library.