Contribution
Soundwalking in Scilly: Drone Noise Impact on Remote Soundscapes
* Presenting author
Abstract:
This paper presents the results of a study undertaken in the Isles of Scilly to assess the impact of a large Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) on the local soundscape. The Isles of Scilly are a remote archipelago located 45 km from Land's End in Cornwall, UK. Given their remote location, the community could benefit a great deal from the use of UAVs to facilitate postal and medical deliveries. This remoteness, however, also creates a unique sonic context that both locals and visitors value a great deal, as evidenced by the local laws prohibiting traffic from conventional aircraft on a Sunday. A series of soundwalks were conducted on St. Martin's, the northernmost inhabited island, involving both visitors and local residents. Participants were taken on a guided route to a series of listening locations, each location visited twice. At each stop, participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire based upon the ISO 12913-2 soundscape standard. A XAG P100 drone was selectively introduced to the scene, performing take-off, flyover, and landing events, at different altitudes and with different payload weights. This is a large model that represents the type of drone that could potentially be used for future delivery operations.