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Quieted City Sounds during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Montreal

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel Steele

    (School of Information Studies, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1X1, Canada
    Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology, Montreal, QC H3A 1X1, Canada)

  • Catherine Guastavino

    (School of Information Studies, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1X1, Canada
    Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology, Montreal, QC H3A 1X1, Canada)

Abstract

This paper investigates the transformation of urban sound environments during the COVID-19 pandemic in Montreal, Canada. We report on comparisons of sound environments in three sites, before, during, and after the lockdown. The project is conducted in collaboration with the Montreal festival district (Quartier des Spectacles) as part of the Sounds in the City partnership. The analyses rely on continuous acoustic monitoring of three sites. The comparisons are presented in terms of (1) energetic acoustic indicators over different periods of time (L den , L d , L e , L n ), (2) statistical acoustic indicators (L 10 , L 90 ), and (3) hourly, daily, and weekly profiles of sound levels throughout the day. Preliminary analyses reveal sound level reductions on the order of 6–7 dB(A) during lockdown, with differences more or less marked across sites and times of the day. After lockdown, sound levels gradually increased following an incremental relaxation of confinement. Within four weeks, sound levels measurements nearly reached the pre-COVID-19 levels despite a reduced number of pedestrian activities. Long-term measurements suggest a ‘new normal’ that is not quite as loud without festival activities, but that is also not characterizable as quiet. The study supports reframing debates about noise control and noise management of festival areas to also consider the sounds of such areas when festival sounds are not present.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Steele & Catherine Guastavino, 2021. "Quieted City Sounds during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Montreal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-21, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5877-:d:565565
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. María Dolores Redel-Macías & Pilar Aparicio-Martinez & Sara Pinzi & Pedro Arezes & Antonio José Cubero-Atienza, 2021. "Monitoring Sound and Its Perception during the Lockdown and De-Escalation of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Spanish Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-19, March.
    2. César Asensio & Pierre Aumond & Arnaud Can & Luis Gascó & Peter Lercher & Jean-Marc Wunderli & Catherine Lavandier & Guillermo de Arcas & Carlos Ribeiro & Patricio Muñoz & Gaetano Licitra, 2020. "A Taxonomy Proposal for the Assessment of the Changes in Soundscape Resulting from the COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-9, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew Mitchell & Mercede Erfanian & Christopher Soelistyo & Tin Oberman & Jian Kang & Robert Aldridge & Jing-Hao Xue & Francesco Aletta, 2022. "Effects of Soundscape Complexity on Urban Noise Annoyance Ratings: A Large-Scale Online Listening Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Hind Abdelmoneim Khogali, 2023. "The Effect of Mosque Acoustic Design and the Surrounding Environment on Prayer Health in Riyadh City Post-COVID-19," Journal of Sustainable Development, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 16(4), pages 1-1, July.
    3. Francesco Aletta & Timothy Van Renterghem, 2021. "Associations between Personal Attitudes towards COVID-19 and Public Space Soundscape Assessment: An Example from Antwerp, Belgium," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Falk Hemker & Timo Haselhoff & Susanne Brunner & Bryce T. Lawrence & Katja Ickstadt & Susanne Moebus, 2023. "The Role of Traffic Volume on Sound Pressure Level Reduction before and during COVID-19 Lockdown Measures—A Case Study in Bochum, Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-16, March.

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