Construction Noise Monitoring using AI to identify and filter noise events
AI filtering of non-construction related noise
Sixense’s NORA Noise Analysis tool uses artificial intelligence to determine whether or not particular sounds originate from construction sites. NORA allows contractors to identify excessive noise levels caused by the site activities, as opposed to those originating from the surrounding area.
Nora provides accurate, real-time access to noise monitoring data gathered from strategically placed sensors, enabling project managers and environmental teams to track compliance with local regulations and project-specific limits. With a clear and intuitive interface, NORA allows users to visualise noise trends over time, highlight exceedances, and easily interpret complex acoustic data.
One of NORA’s core strengths is its ability to integrate seamlessly with live monitoring systems, enabling automated alerts whenever noise levels exceed predefined thresholds. This proactive approach helps teams take corrective action quickly, whether that means adjusting working methods, communicating with stakeholders, or planning noisey activities at more suitable times. The tool can also incorporate contextual information such as weather data and site operations, helping users better understand noise sources and patterns rather than simply reacting to measurements.
NORA also supports transparent communication and reporting, which is essential for maintaining positive relationships with nearby communities and regulatory bodies. It generates clear and professional reports that can be tailored for technical audiences, local authorities, or the general public. For major infrastructure projects, this means stakeholders can have confidence that noise is being responsibly managed, with documented evidence of due diligence and ongoing performance. Ultimately, NORA helps organisations reduce risk, improve compliance, and deliver projects more sustainably and responsibly.
Nora applications
For your worksites:
Nora can be easily integrated into existing noise monitoring systems without significant modification.
Combined with the Beyond Monitoring platform, your acoustic monitoring becomes a valuable decision-making tool, allowing you to:
Reduce the risk of complaints, penalties and site stoppages
Present a strong Noise Management plan when negotiating worksite exemptions with the appropriate authorities (night works, extended hours, weekend shifts, extension of project durations, etc.)
Communicate with a greater transparency and accuracy to all stakeholders
For wind farms and industries:
Nora is installed like a simple sound level meter, however, it allows you to do much more than just regulatory control.
Nora detects specific acoustic phenomena that that may be disruptive for local residents (squeaking, whistling, shocks, degassing, etc.).
Combined with the Beyond Monitoring platform, your acoustic monitoring becomes a valuable decision-making and communication tool allowing you to:
Identify the origin of complaints
Optimise maintenance interventions
Communicate with stakeholders (local residents, project owners, local authorities, etc.) using factual data
For the rail industry:
Our R&D teams have adapted Nora to undertake regulatory acoustic measurements near railway tracks.
Thanks to machine learning technology, the identification of sound events related to train movements in the recorded datasets becomes automatic.
Get ahead of the curve with the automation of event-based indicators.
Quantify the improvement of rolling stock (replacement, improvement of braking systems).
Principle of operation and added value of Nora
The Nora solution gives you:
A clear indication of site compliance in real time
A genuinely automated sound recognition system. You no longer have to investigate the origins of noise level exceedances, because Nora does it for you. It allows you to focus on specific exceedances, react quickly and identify where maintenance or interventions are required.
Information that is immediately beneficial to the site management team: “Is the excessive noise coming from the site activity or not?”
Greater transparency and accuracy in your communication with all stakeholders, from local residents to project owners and local authorities.
The benefits of Nora
A unique "Noise" database
Populated with acoustic monitoring data generated from ongoing major international projects and currently contains more than 30,000 labelled samples.
A simple, ergonomic Beyond Monitoring interface
The ability to dynamically filter noise events generated by the site activities and play back the corresponding audio recordings.
Flexibility and adaptability
Compatible with most of noise monitoring systems, it can be activated, as and when required, to manage specific periods of site activities.
