ISC V1.2 Dis-2 Noise: How SiteHive Can Help You Achieve It

For projects embarking on achieving the Dis-2 credit, it can be a significant amount of work, but SiteHive noise monitoring devices and software can make it easier.

Managing the impact of noise is a big part of almost every infrastructure construction project, whether it’s building new roads or rail, tunnelling underground, or creating new buildings. Noise impacts can be significant – for example affecting workers, residents and wildlife from a health perspective, or disrupting local businesses, schools and more. 

The ISC (Infrastructure Sustainability Council) credit Dis-2 Noise is designed to reward the management of noise impacts during infrastructure projects. To obtain the Dis-2 Noise credit, construction projects need to take into account both construction and operational phases. They must:

• Identify and implement noise mitigation measures.
• Monitor noise appropriately, including in response to complaints.
• Use modelling and monitoring to demonstrate the effectiveness of their noise management processes and goals.

The credit consists of three levels, each with its own specific criteria, and each requiring appropriate evidence to be provided. 

For projects embarking on achieving the Dis-2 credit, it can be a significant amount of work, but SiteHive noise monitoring devices and software can make it easier. From monitoring noise in real-time, to automated identification of noise sources, to sharing meaningful information with stakeholders, to mitigating noise exceedances efficiently, SiteHive can help teams to achieve the credit. This article breaks down the key areas where SiteHive can help.

Providing evidence

To achieve the IS ratings, projects must provide evidence that they meet the required standards. SiteHive Enviro makes this easier as it provides a comprehensive system of record that can be interrogated, reported on, and even shared with external parties.

With SiteHive Enviro you can:

• Generate summary and detailed reports easily: You can create a range of reports to meet your needs. For example, one-page summary PDF reports of key noise metrics can be produced with one click and can be shared easily as required. The reports can include weather data alongside your monitored data. Using SiteHive Enviro Pro, you can also customise your reports to provide the timing, data and metrics you want to show to demonstrate compliance with noise goals. Reports can be used to show ongoing monitoring as well as any specific monitoring conducted in response to complaints.
• Keep a complete record: SiteHive Enviro provides a complete system of record so you always have comprehensive information, which includes photos and audio files in addition to continuous data. This provides evidence to demonstrate compliance and mitigation measures. You are able to add in ad hoc or additional information through the Daily Notes feature. For example, this can be used to record mitigation measures taken, explain specific situations, or add any other relevant information.
• Share information with stakeholders and communities: the Stakeholder View in SiteHive Enviro Pro allows you to share information by providing a curated view of activities to stakeholders, external teams, clients, communities, contractors, the public, or anyone you choose. It can be used to provide information in response to complaints, and is an excellent and easy way to be transparent and build community trust. You can provide customised and summary views of monitoring data to address specific concerns.

Level 1: Laying the foundation

Mitigating construction and operational noise starts with identifying and implementing measures identified during the design phase of the project. The project’s measures and goals may come from an environmental impact assessment or similar process, including baseline studies and predictions to inform the management process and establish appropriate noise goals. The goals and measures must be documented in the project’s management plans. 

SiteHive Hexanode devices are ideal for establishing baseline data and identifying any potential issues or locations. They can be deployed quickly and easily, and require no expertise to set up. Once placed on site they are fully automated, delivering real-time noise data immediately. 

The devices can be moved easily at any time to address specific sensitive receivers and locations, and all data is recorded based on the monitoring point, so the same device can be easily used in multiple locations over short time periods.

Once the measures and goals have been set, SiteHive devices and software can also then help the process management process in areas including: 

• Keeping a clear record of control measures: The Daily Notes feature in SiteHive Enviro makes it easy to log noise mitigation measures used on-site and evaluate how effective they are.
• Manage exceedances with AI: The SiteHive Audio Classifier automatically identifies whether noise exceedances are related to construction activities or not, so you can quickly investigate and explain any exceedances.
• Generate clear reports:SiteHive Enviro software includes comprehensive reporting features that enable you to create elegant PDF reports and showcase key stats and trends over time to show your site meets the defined noise goals.

Monitoring is obviously a key component of any infrastructure project, and is used to show the measures and goals are being met. For the Dis-2 Noise credit, “appropriate” monitoring might include high risk activities (such as night work, for example) and must include monitoring in response to any complaints.

Real-time monitoring has a distinct advantage here, as it provides a continuous record and allows any issues to be identified immediately so that mitigation measures can be implemented. Record-keeping is vital too, as the project must demonstrate evidence to show it is meeting the Dis-2 requirements. 

As well as real-time monitoring at their core, SiteHive products include advanced features that make the monitoring process easier and more effective – particularly for meeting the IS requirements. Some key elements include: 

• Project lifecycle monitoring: By using SiteHive technology on your project, from collecting baseline data through construction and into the operational phase, you’ll have a single complete system of record of the entire project lifecycle. This digital asset can be handed over from each proponent to the next, ensuring continuity in approach and complete documentation history.
• Streamlined team collaboration: With SiteHive’s Daily Notes, everyone can easily add observations and explain noise events when needed. It’s a seamless way to keep everyone aligned and working smoothly together across different project phases.
• Monitoring at sensitive receptors: SiteHive Hexanode real-time monitoring devices monitor noise on a continuous, 24/7 basis. The devices are small and automated, so they can be placed in virtually any location and immediately start monitoring data.
• Identify noise sources easily: As well as continuous data on noise, SiteHive Hexanode devices provide images and audio files of any noise events so that the source of exceedances can be identified quickly. SiteHive Enviro software also provides an interactive map with direction-of-arrival mapping to show the source of noise clearly.
• Distinguish between construction and extraneous noise: SiteHive Enviro Pro includes an AI Classifier that immediately and automatically identifies the likely cause of the noise – such as a digger, or local traffic. It allows construction and non-construction noise to be identified easily and differentiated, which is a core requirement of the IS monitoring guidelines.
• Monitor high risk activities and complaints: The devices are highly mobile and can be located easily in most situations, including high risk activities such as tunnelling. They can be moved quickly and easily to monitor specific locations or issues as they arise, such as community complaints.
• Mitigate issues quickly: SiteHive Enviro automatically alerts you by SMS or email whenever there is a noise issue. Alerts are based on the thresholds and rules that you set.
• Respond to complaints: Evidence of community liaison and related monitoring can be recorded in SiteHive Enviro, along with images of site events and other environmental data. You can use SiteHive Enviro’s Events and Daily Notes features to track exceedances and document mitigation actions taken. This ensures you have the information you need to respond to any complaints and show compliance with IS requirements.
• Forecast and manage weather impacts: Weather aspects such as wind and rain can impact on noise. SiteHive Enviro provides automated weather forecasts and information from local BoM or site-based weather stations alongside monitored data.

Level 2: No recurring or major exceedances or divergences

The core measures and monitoring form the basis of all three levels, and so the features and activities already outlined above are highly relevant and useful at every level. What’s different about levels two and three is the standards that must be achieved.

And

In order to prevent any major or recurring divergences, real-time monitoring and immediate access to data and information are key.

SiteHive Hexanode devices provide data 24/7, so you have a continuous record of the situation, including after any mitigation measures. The Dashboard within SiteHive Enviro brings all this information directly to you in one screen, so that you can immediately see what’s happening on site from wherever you are.

Graphs, maps and reporting show noise levels, and can be summarised for any period or date. You can also deploy SiteHive Hexanode devices strategically at key locations and close to sensitive receptors, to get very location-specific data – for example, in response to complaints.

Real-time alerts allow you to be aware of issues before they become exceedances, while images, audio files and AI classification enable you to identify noise sources immediately, discount the non-construction noise, and act on the construction noise as required.

These innovative features in SiteHive allow you to manage noise proactively. They provide the information needed to identify issues, make informed decisions and take proactive action to prevent or mitigate exceedances.

Taking a proactive approach to noise management is much simpler with SiteHive, helping to demonstrate no major exceedances. You can: 

• Deploy SiteHive Hexanodes at strategic locations: Comprehensive noise monitoring at both sensitive receivers and on-site gives project teams a complete picture of site activity and what can be heard by receivers.
• Set up live alerts and notifications: You can set up email and SMS notifications so you instantly know when a threshold is exceeded and can act immediately.
• Understand exactly what’s happening: SiteHive Hexanode devices capture images and audio to give you eyes and ears across your site from wherever you are and in real time. With this, you can quickly identify noisy equipment or activity and intervene before issues occur.
• Keep a comprehensive record of your mitigation strategy: Use SiteHive Events to keep track of all your noise exceedances. With the Daily Notes, you can easily document all your event explanations and the measures taken to resolve them. 
• Prove you’re compliant: With the Audio Classifier, images and audio capture, you have all the context you need to show when a noise exceedance is not generated by construction work.

Level 3: No exceedances or divergences

And

To achieve Level 3 compliance, the standard moves to requiring no divergences and no exceedances. Projects must show a perfect record in terms of managing to the goals. Real-time data, immediate analysis, and proactive management are vital to achieving this level.

Teams must have access to immediate and high-quality information. It requires a proactive approach that identifies and mitigates issues before they occur. As well as providing real-time data as a given, some of the ways that SiteHive devices and software assist with this include:

• Highly mobile devices: SiteHive Hexanodes can be moved quickly and easily, so they can be set up where they are required and moved as needed.
• Customisable thresholds and real-time alerts: Set your rules and thresholds so that SiteHive Enviro automatically alerts you before exceedance levels are reached. You have time to address the issue before it becomes a problem.
• Use mapping, images and audio to make fast, accurate decisions: SiteHive Enviro provides valuable contextual information so you have everything you need to make the right decision, quickly. Maps show direction of arrival, so you can see where the issue is coming from; pictures and audio help you identify the cause quickly.
• Adjust mitigation strategies: Real-time data allows you to adapt your strategies as you go with current data, helping to make better decisions and mitigating risk and exceedances.
• Factor in weather: SiteHive Enviro provides weather forecasts and real-time weather conditions alongside monitored data. You are able to project and mitigate likely weather impacts and see when weather has affected conditions.
• Knowledge sharing and team collaboration: all teams, sub-contractors and stakeholders can access information within SiteHive Enviro, from wherever they are, so everyone can be informed and ready to take action.
• Real-time engagement: By providing real-time data, SiteHive products allow you to manage noise issues proactively and act on concerns early, actively preventing complaints and delays. For more details, see this blog article on using real-time monitoring to proactively manage site impacts.

Meet the highest standards of efficiency and accountability with SiteHive.

monitoring devices and software, which provide real-time monitoring, rich contextual info, and immediate analysis and reporting. They enable proactive management of noise impacts, which is particularly important for meeting the higher-level IS requirements. 

Whether you’re working toward Level 1 or aiming for Level 3, SiteHive devices and software can help you get there with less effort while ensuring a better environment for all.If you’re tackling the IS Dis-2 Noise credit and want to see how SiteHive can help, get in touch today!