Noise Dosimeter for Low-Level Blast and Impulsive Noise in Realistic Operational Settings

A noise dosimeter must handle three types of noise: (1) continuous, (2) intermittent, and (3) impulsive, all of which may occur simultaneously. By nature, impulsive noise is highly dynamic with potentially extreme peak levels. The measurement of impulsive noise therefore requires a microphone that can detect very-high sound pressure levels with enough accuracy to determine total energy. The Department of Defense (DoD) Design Criteria Standard, Noise Limits sets the requirements for noise limits for all military acquisitions. In its most recent revision, the standard sets recording requirements that cannot be met with currently available off‑the-shelf devices. Creare proposes to develop a complex noise dosimeter that is specifically designed to record and compute the total noise exposure dose in the presence of mixed‑continuous, intermittent, and impulsive noises. The dosimeter is designed to be mounted on the person, on or near the shoulder. It is completely self-contained, without cables or wires, and records the dose for a 12-hour day. The dosimeter communicates wirelessly with a mobile device to provide real-time data visualization, and to allow for control and configuration of the device before a field measurement. We have assembled an expert team that is uniquely positioned to develop this technology thanks to its active involvement in the development of innovative devices for hearing assessment, hearing protection, and dosimetry for individuals working in hazardous noise.