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Environments
Special Issues
Interdisciplinary Noise Research
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Interdisciplinary Noise Research

A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 3642

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yiannis G. Matsinos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environment, University of the Aegean; Sector of Ecosystems Management, University Hill, Xenia Building, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
Interests: ecological modelling; individual-based modeling; soundscape assessment; biodiversity conservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Aggelos Tsaligopoulos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mitilini, Greece
2. Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, 38122 Trento, Italy
Interests: noise modeling and assessment; soundscape assessment; noise mapping; circular economy; construction and demoli-tion waste management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Stella Sofia Kyvelou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Economic and Regional Development, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, 17671 Athens, Greece
Interests: urban geography; territorial development; sustainable spatial and urban planning; ecosystems thinking; eco-urbanism; urban design; built heritage; marine/maritime spatial planning; underwater cultural heritage

Special Issue Information

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.

Keywords

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

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 2358 KB  
Article
Sonic Contrasts at Sea: A Comparative Case Study of Noise Exposure and Crew Fatigue on a Conventional Ferry and a High-Speed Craft
by Fernando Crestelo Moreno, Rebeca Bouzón Otero, Luis Alfonso Díaz-Secades and Yolanda Amado-Sánchez
Environments 2025, 12(9), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12090335 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2025
Abstract
This study provides a comparative analysis of noise exposure and its occupational implications for two types of vessels operating in the Strait of Gibraltar: a conventional steel roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry (Ro-Pax) and an aluminium high-speed catamaran (HSC). A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating [...] Read more.
This study provides a comparative analysis of noise exposure and its occupational implications for two types of vessels operating in the Strait of Gibraltar: a conventional steel roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry (Ro-Pax) and an aluminium high-speed catamaran (HSC). A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating objective acoustic measurements with subjective assessments of fatigue, workload, and circadian typology using validated survey instruments. The comparative framework is based on International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution A.468(XII), which establishes design-based noise limits for both vessel types. This framework is supported by the High-Speed Craft (HSC) Code and European Union (EU) Directive 2003/10/EC, both of which address occupational exposure. While both vessels comply with IMO design standards, the HSC consistently exceeds the noise limits set out in the HSC Code and European regulations in the accommodation and bridge areas. These elevated noise levels correlate with higher fatigue and workload scores among HSC crew, particularly in the engine and deck departments. In contrast, the Ro-Pax ferry demonstrates better acoustic insulation due to its steel construction, resulting in lower overall exposure and improved rest conditions. The results highlight the inadequacy of applying uniform noise standards to structurally distinct vessels, emphasising the importance of vessel-specific acoustic management strategies. Crucially, the study reaffirms the importance of maintaining compliance with both IMO design standards and EU occupational health regulations to ensure the comprehensive protection of seafarers’ well-being and safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Noise Research)
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20 pages, 2495 KB  
Article
Monitoring Postfire Biodiversity Dynamics in Mediterranean Pine Forests Using Acoustic Indices
by Dimitrios Spatharis, Aggelos Tsaligopoulos, Yiannis G. Matsinos, Ilias Karmiris, Magdalini Pleniou, Elisabeth Navarrete, Eleni Boikou and Christos Astaras
Environments 2024, 11(12), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11120277 - 4 Dec 2024
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Abstract
In recent decades, climate change has significantly influenced the frequency and intensity of wildfires across Mediterranean pine forests. The loss of forest cover can bring long-term ecological changes that impact the overall biodiversity and alter species composition. Understanding the long-term impact of wildfires [...] Read more.
In recent decades, climate change has significantly influenced the frequency and intensity of wildfires across Mediterranean pine forests. The loss of forest cover can bring long-term ecological changes that impact the overall biodiversity and alter species composition. Understanding the long-term impact of wildfires requires effective and cost-efficient methods for monitoring the postfire ecosystem dynamics. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has been increasingly used to monitor the biodiversity of vocal species at large spatial and temporal scales. Using acoustic indices, where the biodiversity of an area is inferred from the overall structure of the soundscape, rather than the more labor-intensive identification of individual species, has yielded mixed results, emphasizing the importance of testing their efficacy at the regional level. In this study, we examined whether widely used acoustic indicators were effective at capturing changes in the avifauna diversity in Pinus halepensis forest stands with different fire burning histories (burnt in 2001, 2009, and 2018 and unburnt for >20 years) on the Sithonia Peninsula, Greece. We recorded the soundscape of each stand using two–three sensors across 11 days of each season from March 2022 to January 2023. We calculated for each site and season the following five acoustic indices: the Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI), Acoustic Diversity Index (ADI), Acoustic Evenness Index (AEI), Normalized Difference Soundscape Index (NDSI), and Bioacoustic Index (BI). Each acoustic index was then assessed in terms of its efficacy at predicting the local avifauna diversity, as estimated via two proxies—the species richness (SR) and the Shannon Diversity Index (SDI) of vocal bird calls. Both the SR and SDI were calculated by having an expert review the species identification of calls detected within the same acoustic dataset by the BirdNET convolutional neural network algorithm. A total of 53 bird species were identified. Our analysis shows that the BI and NDSI have the highest potential for monitoring the postfire biodiversity dynamics in Mediterranean pine forests. We propose the development of regional-scale acoustic observatories at pine and other fire-prone Mediterranean habitats, which will further improve our understanding of how to make the best use of acoustic indices as a tool for rapid biodiversity assessments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Noise Research)
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