APPLICATION OF INDICATORS IN NOISE CONTROL

Abstract

Indicators provide a foundational basis for offering essential data and describing changes in the environment at national, regional, or local levels. An indicator created to highlight the cause of change, the consequences of changes, the state of the environment, or the significance of implementing protective measures may be considered relevant for research. An adopted indicator, as part of the National List of Indicators, forms the basis for developing strategies, creating national policies, and establishing legal norms. Serbia’s National List of Environmental Indicators includes two noise indicators, which belong to the sixth thematic section and are classified as indicators of state. The overall noise indicator, designated as 6.40 and part of the sixth thematic section entitled “State”, describes noise disturbance over a 24-hour period, including the day-evening-night segments. According to the regulation, the day period lasts from 6 AM to 6 PM, the evening period from 6 PM to 10 PM, and the night period from 10 PM to 6 AM. The night noise indicator, also under the “State” category, with the designation 6.41, specifically describes noise disturbance during the night period (10 PM to 6 AM). This paper analyzes the use of indicators in noise control at both local and national levels. The use of indicators in noise control is a significant prerequisite for systematically and internationally accepted determination of the state of the environment, and for creating conditions to compare noise level values on an international level. Indicators are based on highly reliable data, which must be monitored in accordance with statistical correctness and internationally recognized methodology. The value of these indicators, published in the Report on the State of the Environment, becomes publicly available and is subject to comparative analysis.