2022 COMMENTS
COMMENTS 5/1/23
The noise monitor has been returned to service after being removed and prepared for operation via the Wilton Site Network. It is currently communicating via the mobile network and therefore remains erratic in it's operation - particularly in respect of real time data. Operation via the Wilton LAN requires a connection installation by Sembcorp. There were no incidents of note detected during the December period of operation.
The monitor has now been in operation for a full year and the data recorded provides a base line for the long term monitoring of Wilton noise emissions.
COMMENTS 8/12/22
Connection to the server via mobile networks has become increasingly erratic during November and a loss of data occurred after 27th November. The monitor has therefore been removed from Site in order to investigate alternative options for connection. It may be out of action for a few weeks. Options for replacing the existing monitor entirely are also being investigated.
There were no significant events shown in the time history traces for November.
COMMENTS 8/11/22
No significant events were triggered during the October monitoring period. Examination of the time history data shows some variability on the 1/11/22 and there would appear to be a clear incident at 04:30 on the 2/11/22. However closer examination of the detailed spectral data suggests that the variability on the 1st was probably weather related whilst the apparent incident on the 2nd, being high frequency intermittent, was probably local bird noise.
Otherwise noise levels during the monitoring period were within normal bounds.
COMMENTS 5/10/22
The noise monitor communicates with the server via the mobile phone network. Occasionally this connection is lost for periods which might last several days. In the event of a loss of communication the data is stored by the monitor and then uploaded when connection is re-established, however, real-time update of the website does not take place and any night time event triggering is also lost. An event was triggered on the 1/10/22 at 00:42hrs. The audio displays significant tonal components and sounds very much like decoking on Olefins 6. There may have been an event on the previous nights recording but this was not triggered and no audio is available.
COMMENTS 7/9/22
There was one significant event which started on 8/8/22 at approximately 22:25 and persisted for approximately 1 hour. This event did not trigger an audio recording as the event was in progress at the start of the main night time monitoring period. Otherwise monitoring during August followed the ongoing pattern of steady low noise levels interrupted only briefly by vehicle pass by or bird noise. One or two incidents triggered during the month were unusual but the duration was short. Audio recordings of any interesting triggered events have been archived and can be listened to on the web site.
COMMENTS 2/8/22
Noise levels remained low throughout July and the only incidents triggered were short term vehicle pass by or bird noise except for an event triggered just prior to the start of the monitoring period at 22:57 on the 13th July. This latter event is only very short and sounds like a vent noise.
Audio files of interesting events can be accessed and listened to via the Time History button on the web site.
There would appear to be evidence of a noise discontinuance at 23:45 on the 5th July when the noise level suddenly dropped by 3-4 dB.
The Site weather station remains out of service.
COMMENTS 5/7/22
Noise levels throughout June have been generally lower than normal which is not unusual for the summer months, There have been no significant night time events.
The noise monitor has functioned satisfactorily throughout June except that event audios are no longer being transmitted. This is a direct result of Googles decision to introduce 2 factor authentication on their GMail accounts. There are no alternative arrangements available at present. Whilst disappointing this is not critical since the trigger tended to pick up mostly short term events such as vehicle pass by or bird song. More significant excursions from normal noise levels are better detected by examination of the time history traces.
The Wilton Site weather station has now been out of service for many weeks with currently no planned date for repair.
COMMENTS 8/6/22
The noise monitor has been out of operation for approximately two weeks for its two yearly full, off site, calibration so there is limited data for the last monitoring period.
Whilst in operation there has been no indication of significant noise events although there was a sudden drop in noise level (~6dB) over a 3 1/2 hour period on 31/5/22 starting at midnight. This could have resulted from a plant trip.
Triggered short term events were all bird noise (mainly seagulls) or vehicle pass by.
COMMENTS 7/5/22
New software has been created to revise the 1 second data output to our standard 1 minute interval data. The web site has now been updated and now has complete data till early May.
In April the Site weather station anemometer failed and is now out of service. In view of this the Noise Monitor has also been taken out of service for it's two yearly full calibration.
During April all incidents triggered by the monitor were identified as vehicle pass by, helicopter or bird noise (seagulls have been much in evidence on some nights around midnight and in the following hour).
The time traces indicate that there was some disturbance from Site starting at approximately 01:45 on 25th April lasting for some hours.
COMMENTS 12/4/22
Due to human error the normal download of 1 minute data was not recorded for weeks 10 to 12. Data at 1s intervals was auto downloaded but requires analysis to convert to the adopted 1 minute data standard. The software to carry out the conversion will not be available for some time due to other commitments.
Meanwhile the only incidents triggered by the monitor (requires a rapid change in level from the current norm) were vehicle, weather or bird related (crows and gulls this period).
The time traces do however show a significant incident which lasted several hours. The incident started on 5/4/22 and ceased qt 03:00 on 6/4/22.
COMMENTS 11/3/22
The Wilton Site noise monitor has been relocated to the South Gatehouse where it has been operating succesfully since 12 December 2021. Data logged to date indicates that this location will provide a suitable night time monitoring location since the time history traces appear to be little affected by noise from the A174. Two or three incidents are triggered on the monitor each night which all appear to be vehicle pass by noise except for a very clear recording of a Tawny? Owl on 2nd March at 2:15.
The time history data indicates a real noise incident occurred on the 15th
February starting at 13:00 hours lasting for 1 hour.
Overview and time history data can be accessed directly via the website - gtac.pcenvironmental.co.uk. Spectral time history data at 1 second intervals is archived and available on request for any time period that the monitor is operational.
The location seems to be relatively sheltered from the wind and the monitor is less affected by direct wind noise that when it was located in Lazenby Village. This may change when foliage appears on the trees.
It will take some time to establish the long term base levels and the full effects of the wind at the new location.