Recently published research shows that listening to the sounds of our soil can help determine how healthy it is. Researchers at Flinders University in Australia found that a the range and complexity of sounds in soils in Southern Australian grasslands were much higher in plots with vegetation than those that had been cleared, and where more organisms were living in the soil. They used ecoacoustic surveying - which detects the acoustic signals emitted by soil organisms which can then be analysed to determine the range and diversity of life in the soil.

The latest annual report from National Highways reports that in 2023 – 24 noise from roads was mitigated for 990 households.  Methods used to reduce noise were barriers alongside junctions 21a to 26 of the M6, low-noise surfacing on the A27 at Portfield and in-home noise insulation and ventilation for other noise affected homes. This exceeded their target for the year of 829 households. National Highways have a KPI to reduce noise for 7,500 households in noise important areas identified by Defra noise mapping, during 2020 – 2025.

Forthcoming IOA Certificate Courses in Autumn 2024

Subject to recruitment, the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) will be offering the following Certificate courses in Autumn 2024, on Workplace Noise Risk Assessment, Environmental Noise Measurement and Building Acoustics Measurements.

In December 2022 the Scottish Government pledged to introduce legislation by December 2024 “to introduce new minimum environmental design standards for all new build housing to meet a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard, in order to improve energy efficiency and thermal performance”. This stage 1 consultation seeks views on the form and approach that a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard, implemented through building regulations, should adopt.