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Virginia Tech

Determination of Backup Alarm Masked Threshold in Construction Noise

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Sound transmission devices have advanced filtering abilities that theoretically protect the ear from harmful Masking noise while amplifying the sounds that need to be heard, such as backup alarms. Therefore, such devices should provide improved signal detection in noise when compared to their passive counterparts. The masked threshold of a vehicular backup alarm was determined for audiometrically normal and non-normal hearers using two types of sound transmission devices and their passive counterparts within pink noise and milling machine noise at intensities of 75, 85, 95 and 105 dBA. Results indicated that the sound transmission devices did not have any statistically significant advantages over the passive devices with respect to masked threshold of a backup alarm. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that these devices offer advantage over similar passive devices with respect to signal detection. Additionally, ratings of comfort and the ability to detect the alarm for each device were gathered. Both scales did not show any significant differences between the two device types.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2008

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Muchenje, Lovejoy
Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Casali, John G.
  • Lancaster, Jeff A.
Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Smith-Jackson, Tonya L.

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-06042008-203917
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33419

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Muchenje, Lovejoy. Determination of Backup Alarm Masked Threshold in Construction Noise. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/33419