This article concerns the evaluation of miniature wireless devices known as "smartdust" for monitoring and detection of noise in the environment in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, north-west England. A sensor network of smartdust devices was placed on a busy road in the city centre, with a control device collecting the data and connected to a central computer. The equipment was tested in laboratory conditions to assess signal strength over distance and height, and taking into account physical barriers and signal orientation. Field tests were then conducted to measure noise at the roadside and from a moving vehicle, and collected information was put into the Calculation of Road Traffic Noise model to calculate noise level. The experiments demonstrated the feasibility of continuous communication and transfer of data but the technology needs further refinement.
Abstract