Use case 'Night noise'

In our living environment, we are constantly exposed to noise, both during the day and at night. Night-time noise can disturb sleep, and consequently have a negative impact on health. Within the innovative government assignment, Ghent University (WAVES) and the Provincial Institute of Hygiene worked together to validate a set of measuring devices that register to what extent citizens are exposed to environmental noise during the night and to what extent this disturbs sleep. The study was commissioned by the Flemish Environmental Planning Agency of the Department of Environment, with support from PIO.

During the study, the implementers drew up a protocol for measuring noise exposure and the biological response to noise. Indoor and outdoor noise was measured simultaneously so that the impact of environmental noise could be identified. The biological response was captured via a monitor on the torso that measured both heart rate and movement of the subject. The low impact of the protocol on the subject allows the efficient quantification of objective sleep disturbance from environmental noise in the subject's own sleep environment in large target groups - order of magnitude hundreds. This protocol offers an innovative measurement method to understand the short- and long-term effects of environmental noise exposure. It can be applied in further research on the health effects of 'night noise' among others in the Human Biomonitoring Programme.

The results of this assignment are included in the final report available on the FRIS portal.

Use case ‘Monitoring network’

This study developed a Proof of Concept for a large-scale citizen science monitoring network in Flanders for the efficient measurement of noise exposure and nuisance perception among and by citizens. Using an innovative, distributed citizen science approach, sensors are managed and passed on between citizens via local networks such as schools and associations. The pilot demonstrated that this method is technically feasible, strengthens local involvement and reduces the operational burden on the central team. Successful upscaling requires a central management platform and a layered and user-friendly visualisation and reporting structure.

The results of this assignment are included in the final report, which is available on the FRIS portal.

Other use cases

Due to savings in the research budget for 2026, it is not feasible (in the short term) to market the research for the two other use cases (linking to health effects, best-in-class sensors at strategically selected locations).