Review on Current Applications of Metamaterial in Hong Kong Noise Control and its Potential Application in Construction Sites

During the past few years, construction works for infrastructure and housing developments in Hong Kong have been brisk with economic growth. There are nearly two construction sites in every square kilometer of our limited urban/built-up land. Hence, noise from construction works is one of the major concerns to our community. Striking a balance between ever-tightening construction programme and quieter living environments is crucial to support our sustainable development. Typical construction noise control pinned on using noise barriers for meeting both noise standards and rising public expectations. However, conventional material of noise barriers cannot effectively address and reduce construction machinery noise with a characteristic spectrum under various engineering constraints, e.g. loading, space, construction time and cost, etc. Recently, an emerging technology, acoustic metamaterials, takes a new approach that allows optimization of noise reduction targeting the characteristic spectrum within the said constraints. This paper will briefly introduce the principle of acoustic metamaterial and its current applications in noise control industries. Perspective applications of acoustic metamaterial for construction noise control and the potential benefits will also be discussed.