Acoustic mapping in the institute of biological science from UFMG - identification of the noise fonts and sound pressure levels in outdoor areas

This work evaluated the sound pressure levels in external areas inside the Institute of Biological Sciences – ICB on the Federal University of Minas Gerais – UFMG, Pampulha Campus, where students, teachers and employees pass by. The methodology adopted was accorded to the Brazilian standards revision project ABNT NBR 10151 and used Class 1 instrumentation, as accorded with IEC 61672-1, always registering the sound pressure levels in the domain of time and frequency, in bands of 1/3 octaves. The main sources of continuum noise found are related to refrigerators and air conditioning equipment, all located in the laboratories, auditoriums, halls and classrooms. As for the occasional sounds mainly consisted on traffic of heavy vehicles, overflight of aircraft and animal noises. The results were higher than what is recommended for humans. Besides the people who are part of this academic community, ICB has various laboratories with different fauna, also exposed to these noises. This research was motivated by people complaints and uncomfortable impression experienced by the community, which were registered. Also this work could complement further research inside the classrooms, laboratories and auditoriums, all distributed between the four floors from seventeen blocks which constitute the institute. The final results show that there is a demand for solutions in order to achieve the control and suppression of these noise fonts.