Fed up Big Apple residents can now help monitor and police excessive ear piercing noise in their neighborhoods, thanks to a new «NYC Noise» app launched by the city Department of Environmental Protection.
Come on, feel the noise!
Fed-up Big Apple residents can now help monitor and police excessive ear-piercing noise in their neighborhoods through a new “NYC Noise” app launched by the city Department of Environmental Protection.
The free app, available to download Monday morning, allows users to record decibel levels and classify noise types that will provide valuable data to DEP, the agency that enforces annoying and unhealthy sound levels — by far the number one gripe New Yorkers have called out in the 311 system.
Locals in need of some quiet can use the app to document the time, date, location, and source of a bothersome noise by taking a simple five-second reading.
Noise types can be classified as alarms, construction work, dog/animal noise, HVAC/fan noise, loud music, sirens, traffic (cars, buses), or horns.
As more users record noise data, the DEP will eventually compile the information into a citywide noise map — allowing the agency to identify hotspots, trends by time of day, day of the week, season, and the types of noise most common in certain neighborhoods.
