Papers by Richard Perkins
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff was commissioned by the United Kingdom (UK) Government Department of E... more WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff was commissioned by the United Kingdom (UK) Government Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to undertake a review of research into the effects of and response to the acoustic character of wind turbine noise known as Amplitude Modulation (AM). More specifically the review dealt with the increased level of modulation of aerodynamic noise as perceived at neighbouring dwellings, with a view to providing protection where it is justified within the planning regime. This paper describes how the literature review was undertaken and the key findings from the review of those papers on the state of knowledge of AM, its effect on people, and the dose-response relationships that exist. It goes on to highlight the gaps in the knowledge base, the risks of bias in the studies reviewed, and how those deficiencies can be overcome in the short term in the absence of a new dose response study. Also described are potential methods to control AM, an approach to quanti...
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff led a research project on behalf of the UK Government, reviewing the h... more WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff led a research project on behalf of the UK Government, reviewing the human exposure-response to amplitude-modulated (AM) wind turbine noise (WTN). The review included identifying the potential effects on health, and recommendation of a scheme for use in development planning to control the potential impact of AM WTN on communities situated near to wind farms. This paper focuses on the findings of the review, including effects on community annoyance and health, with reference to the results of recent field studies. The control scheme for AM is described, and emerging measures for mitigation are discussed. Also examined is the range of non-acoustic factors that influence responses to WTN, and potential future approaches to addressing these complex issues are considered.
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff was commissioned by the United Kingdom (UK) Government Department of E... more WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff was commissioned by the United Kingdom (UK) Government Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to undertake a review of research into the effects of and response to the acoustic character of wind turbine noise known as Amplitude Modulation (AM). More specifically the review dealt with the increased level of modulation of aerodynamic noise as perceived at neighbouring dwellings, with a view to providing protection where it is justified within the planning regime.
This paper describes the approach taken and key findings from the review of those papers on the state of knowledge of AM, its effect on people, and the dose-response relationships that exist. It goes on to highlight the gaps in the knowledge base, the risks of bias in the studies reviewed, and how those deficiencies can be overcome in the short term in the absence of a new dose response study. Also described are potential methods to control AM and the recommended method suggested to DECC, and how that control could be implemented in accordance with UK planning policy.
Acoustics Bulletin, 2017
This article sets out a proposed wording for a planning condition addressing noise from wind farm... more This article sets out a proposed wording for a planning condition addressing noise from wind farms or individual wind turbines in development planning within the UK.
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff was commissioned by the then UK Government Department of Energy and Cl... more WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff was commissioned by the then UK Government Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in 2015 to undertake a review of research into the effects of and response to the acoustic character of wind turbine noise known as Amplitude Modulation (AM), or more specifically an increased level of modulation of aerodynamic noise as perceived at neighbouring residential dwellings, with a view to providing protection where it is justified within the planning regime. This paper summarises the key findings from the review of those papers on the state of knowledge of AM, its effect on people, and the dose response relationships that exist. The paper will describe the potential methods proposed to control AM, the recommended factors for a method suggested to DECC, how that condition may be written in accordance with UK Planning Policy, and the feedback received to date follow publication of the research report by DECC.
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff led a research project on behalf of the UK Government, reviewing the h... more WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff led a research project on behalf of the UK Government, reviewing the human exposure-response to amplitude-modulated (AM) wind turbine noise (WTN). The review included identifying the potential effects on health, and recommendation of a scheme for use in development planning to control the potential impact of AM WTN on communities situated near to wind farms. This paper focuses on the findings of the review, including effects on community annoyance and health, with reference to the results of recent field studies. The control scheme for AM is described, and emerging measures for mitigation are discussed. Also examined is the range of non-acoustic factors that influence responses to WTN, and potential future approaches to addressing these complex issues are considered.
Acoustics Bulletin, 2017
A summary of a proposed control for amplitude modulation in wind turbine noise developed on the b... more A summary of a proposed control for amplitude modulation in wind turbine noise developed on the basis of a review of exposure-response research evidence. Matters raised in response to the recommendation are addressed, specifically the nature of the control within the planning framework, the noise metric employed and the issue of an additional penalty for night-time AM.
In response to growing concerns about the impact of excessive AM on residents, WSP | Parsons Brin... more In response to growing concerns about the impact of excessive AM on residents, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff was commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change to undertake a review of research into the effects of and response to AM and, if considered necessary, to recommend a control method suitable for use as part of the planning regime.
The aims of the study are to review the evidence on the effects of AM in relation to wind turbines, the robustness of relevant research into AM, and to recommend how excessive AM might be controlled through the use of a planning condition, taking into account the current policy context of wind turbine noise. The work included working closely with the Institute of Acoustics’ AM Working Group, who have proposed a robust metric and methodology for quantifying and assessing the level of AM in a sample of wind turbine noise data.
The study has involved the collation and critical review of relevant literature on the subject of AM, which included published papers on dose response studies, case studies, existing planning conditions, and current planning guidance. Key points from the reviewed evidence have been extracted and summarised upon which to draw the reports’ conclusions.
The review has concluded that there is sufficient robust evidence that excessive AM leads to increased annoyance from wind turbine noise, and that it should be controlled using suitable planning conditions. Key elements required to formulate such a condition have been recommended.
Updated and extended version of an article that appeared in the Acoustics Bulletin Vol 42 No 2 Ma... more Updated and extended version of an article that appeared in the Acoustics Bulletin Vol 42 No 2 Mar-Apr 2017 A summary of a proposed control for amplitude modulation in wind turbine noise developed on the basis of a review of exposure-response research evidence. Matters raised in response to the recommendation are addressed, specifically the nature of the control within the planning framework, the noise metric employed and the issue of an additional penalty for night-time AM.
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff was commissioned by the United Kingdom (UK) Government Department of E... more WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff was commissioned by the United Kingdom (UK) Government Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to undertake a review of research into the effects of and response to the acoustic character of wind turbine noise known as Amplitude Modulation (AM). More specifically the review dealt with the increased level of modulation of aerodynamic noise as perceived at neighbouring dwellings, with a view to providing protection where it is justified within the planning regime. This paper describes how the literature review was undertaken and the key findings from the review of those papers on the state of knowledge of AM, its effect on people, and the dose-response relationships that exist. It goes on to highlight the gaps in the knowledge base, the risks of bias in the studies reviewed, and how those deficiencies can be overcome in the short term in the absence of a new dose response study. Also described are potential methods to control AM, an approach to quantifying the potential impact on energy yields during periods of control, the recommended method suggested to DECC, and how that condition may be written in accordance with UK Planning Policy.
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Papers by Richard Perkins
This paper describes the approach taken and key findings from the review of those papers on the state of knowledge of AM, its effect on people, and the dose-response relationships that exist. It goes on to highlight the gaps in the knowledge base, the risks of bias in the studies reviewed, and how those deficiencies can be overcome in the short term in the absence of a new dose response study. Also described are potential methods to control AM and the recommended method suggested to DECC, and how that control could be implemented in accordance with UK planning policy.
The aims of the study are to review the evidence on the effects of AM in relation to wind turbines, the robustness of relevant research into AM, and to recommend how excessive AM might be controlled through the use of a planning condition, taking into account the current policy context of wind turbine noise. The work included working closely with the Institute of Acoustics’ AM Working Group, who have proposed a robust metric and methodology for quantifying and assessing the level of AM in a sample of wind turbine noise data.
The study has involved the collation and critical review of relevant literature on the subject of AM, which included published papers on dose response studies, case studies, existing planning conditions, and current planning guidance. Key points from the reviewed evidence have been extracted and summarised upon which to draw the reports’ conclusions.
The review has concluded that there is sufficient robust evidence that excessive AM leads to increased annoyance from wind turbine noise, and that it should be controlled using suitable planning conditions. Key elements required to formulate such a condition have been recommended.
This paper describes the approach taken and key findings from the review of those papers on the state of knowledge of AM, its effect on people, and the dose-response relationships that exist. It goes on to highlight the gaps in the knowledge base, the risks of bias in the studies reviewed, and how those deficiencies can be overcome in the short term in the absence of a new dose response study. Also described are potential methods to control AM and the recommended method suggested to DECC, and how that control could be implemented in accordance with UK planning policy.
The aims of the study are to review the evidence on the effects of AM in relation to wind turbines, the robustness of relevant research into AM, and to recommend how excessive AM might be controlled through the use of a planning condition, taking into account the current policy context of wind turbine noise. The work included working closely with the Institute of Acoustics’ AM Working Group, who have proposed a robust metric and methodology for quantifying and assessing the level of AM in a sample of wind turbine noise data.
The study has involved the collation and critical review of relevant literature on the subject of AM, which included published papers on dose response studies, case studies, existing planning conditions, and current planning guidance. Key points from the reviewed evidence have been extracted and summarised upon which to draw the reports’ conclusions.
The review has concluded that there is sufficient robust evidence that excessive AM leads to increased annoyance from wind turbine noise, and that it should be controlled using suitable planning conditions. Key elements required to formulate such a condition have been recommended.