Abstract
Noise Network Plus is a new interdisciplinary network designed to address the grand challenges for noise pollution for the next 10-15 years, supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC).
Noise – unwanted sound – has a major impact on public health, society and wildlife. Noise has a profound effect on human health and wellbeing, causing heart disease, high annoyance and sleep disturbance. Road noise in England alone is estimated to cause £7-10bn of health costs, with 130,000 healthy life years lost each year. Noise pollution affects wildlife, including birds and marine mammals, damaging wildlife health and reproduction. Noise also affects AI systems and sensors, including sonar echo sounders and underwater acoustic modems.
As well as existing sources of human-made noise, such as road, rail, and air transport, new technologies such as drones, air taxis and air source heat pumps could introduce new sources of noise. However, noise is often neglected until late in the engineering design process, resulting in products, systems and buildings that may create or transmit unnecessary noise.
To address these challenges, we will create a new research and innovation network, bringing together diverse, dynamic teams from across disciplines to promote dialogue, co-design missions, form lasting and inclusive collaborations, and build unprecedented noise research capabilities. The Network will support pilot projects to test new research ideas, gather missing evidence and carry out feasibility studies. We will also reimagine the education and training of engineers, to include systems thinking in general, and sound and noise in particular, across engineering education.
By understanding the complex systems that build noise into the world, we will begin a long-lasting programme of research and engagement to reduce noise and its impact on people, the environment, and the economy.
Bio
Prof. Mark Plumbley is Project Lead for Noise Network Plus. He is Professor of Signal Processing at the Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP) at the University of Surrey, in Guildford, UK. He is an expert on analysis and processing of audio, using a wide range of signal processing and machine learning methods. He led the first international data challenge on Detection and Classification of Acoustic Scenes and Events (DCASE), and is a co-editor of the book "Computational Analysis of Sound Scenes and Events" (Springer, 2018). He currently holds a 5-year EPSRC Fellowship "AI for Sound" on automatic recognition of everyday sounds. He is a Member of the IEEE Signal Processing Society Technical Committee on Audio and Acoustic Signal Processing, and a Fellow of the IET and IEEE.
Details
As usual, we will be heading to the pub after the talk to catch up and continue the conversation. It would be great to see as many people in person as possible.
To attend you MUST register for security access. The link to register for in person and online attendance can be found below:
https://www.cpdtag.com/app.php?event=3EE2ADF07217B497E731F1879BBE794
Please arrive at 5.45pm for prompt 6pm start. The nearest Tube stations are Aldgate East and Aldgate.
Registration for in person attendance closes on Monday 12th May at 17:00.