University leads £1.8m noise pollution project

The University of Surrey is to lead a £1.8m initiative into tackling noise pollution.

The research project will focus on the root cause behind noise pollution with the aim of creating quieter products, buildings and transportation systems.

Prof Abigail Bristow said: "We're at a pivotal moment in time where our environment is under threat, but we have the technology and expertise to make meaningful changes."

Prof Mark Plumbley, lead on the project, told the BBC that the 'Noise Network Plus' initiative is "interdisciplinary".

"You can't solve problems in just a single academic discipline," he said.

"You need to bring people together."

Prof Plumbley said the idea for the research project came from group discussions he was part of at The UK Acoustics Network.

The initiative is one of six research projects to receive a share of £10m from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council which focuses on tackling the most pressing issues facing the engineering sector.

The research will be completed by a team of engineers, policymakers, scientists and industry stakeholders.

The project is being led by the University of Surrey but is in collaboration with City St George's University of London, the University of Bath and the University of Salford.

The university hopes the project will be accessible to anyone interested, not just those in the academic sphere.

Prof Plumbley added: "One of the things we want to do is encourage the next generation of people to come into engineering to help to solve these problems."

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