Interdisciplinary Noise Research

Dear Colleagues,

Noise is a pervasive problem impacting diverse environments and influencing various receivers across different spatial and temporal scales. Noise as a pollutant poses threats to human health and well-being in urban settings. It threatens biodiversity and environmental health by altering and disrupting the natural rhythms of animal communication. Additionally, noise stands as a negative soundscape characteristic, diminishing the overall quality. Finally, noise is a pressure that affects underwater and marine environments, necessitating systematic understanding and mitigation strategies.   

The issue of noise is multidimensional and can be examined through various scientific lenses, including acoustics, ecoacoustics, bioacoustics, underwater acoustics, acoustic ecology, architectural acoustics, and psychoacoustics. These disciplines collectively contribute to a holistic understanding of the complex issue of noise, offering diverse perspectives and methodologies towards the reduction of its magnitude and the minimization of its effects.  

This Special Issue promotes interdisciplinary work in sound and acoustics research examining the assessment and management of noise in urban and built environments and in natural terrestrial and underwater environments.

Relevant topics for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following subjects:

• Acoustics: Investigating the fundamental properties and behavior of sound, how it propagates through different environments, and actions of mitigation.
• Soundscape Studies: Examining the perceptual construct of the sound environment in order to understand the collective perception of built and natural environments.
• Ecoacoustics: A growing interdisciplinary field that investigates the ecological significance of sound and studies the impact of noise on animal communication, behavior, and habitat.
• Bioacoustics: Exploring the production, dispersion, and role of sound in the context of biological systems, providing insights into animal communication and behavior.
• Underwater Acoustics: Examining the characteristics and sources of underwater noise, its impacts on marine life, and the development of mitigation strategies.
• Acoustic Ecology: Studying the interplay between humans and their sonic environment.
• Architectural Acoustics: Designing spaces to minimize noise intrusion and enhance acoustic comfort, including the use of materials, structures, and soundproofing techniques.
• Psychoacoustics: Understanding the psychological effects of noise, including annoyance, stress, and sleep disturbance, and how these effects vary among individuals.

Researchers from a range of disciplines are invited to contribute with original research, case studies, and comprehensive review papers in order to initiate a transdisciplinary scientific dialog, with particular emphasis on noise.

Dr. Yiannis G. Matsinos
Dr. Aggelos Tsaligopoulos
Dr. Stella Sofia Kyvelou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Environments is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• environmental noise
• noise assessment
• noise mapping
• noise modeling