Ever wonder how loud that jackhammer is, or those guys doing donuts on your street at 2:00am? Now there's an app that will allow residents to record decibel levels of extreme noise and for city officials to analyze it.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection on Monday released NYC Noise, a new mobile application that will help both residents and DEP gain a deeper understanding of the city’s noise. Available for free on iPhone and Android, the app enables users to record decibel levels, classify noise types, and visualize noise levels in their surroundings while providing data to DEP.
Using the app, New Yorkers can document the time, date, location, and source of a noise by taking a simple five-second reading. Results appear in both map and table formats, showing average and maximum decibel levels along with user notes on noise type — such as construction, traffic or music. By allowing New Yorkers to measure and track noise in their neighborhood, DEP can better analyze citywide noise patterns and will help the DEP identify hotspots and guide targeted enforcement efforts, officials said.
“Noise is one of the most common quality-of-life issues New Yorkers face, and this new tool will help us better understand when and where those disturbances occur,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala.
Noise is the top source of 311 complaints citywide, and DEP is responsible for enforcing New York City’s Air and Noise Code. However, traditional complaints often lack precise data on decibel levels and timing, making enforcement more challenging. The data entered by users will not be used for specific enforcement actions, and the noise itself will not be recorded, just the decibel level. However, the metrics captured by the app will help fill key data gaps — showing how loud the noise is, when it occurs, and what type it is, officials said.
This data-driven approach will help DEP deploy inspectors more efficiently and focus enforcement efforts. For example, if user inputs show that jackhammering typically occurs at a certain location between 8:00am and 10:00am, DEP can schedule inspections during that window.
Noise types can be classified as alarms, construction work, dog/animal noise, HVAC/fan noise, loud music, sirens, traffic (cars, buses) or horns. Users can also review their noise history log, which displays the average and maximum decibel levels, date, duration, location, and noise type for each entry. As more users record noise data, DEP will eventually compile the information into a citywide noise map — allowing the agency to identify hotspots, trends by time of day, day of the week, season, and the types of noise most common in certain neighborhoods.
