According to the World Health Organization, harms of excessive noise include interference with daily activities at school, work, and home, sleep disturbances, cognitive and hearing impairment, and adverse cardiovascular, metabolic, psychophysiological, and birth outcomes. As recognition of the long-term impacts of noise pollution on human health increases, Shenzhen is adopting a tech-based strategy to create quieter and healthier communities.
Noise made by square dancing has increasingly come under fire from the public. The practice, which involves groups of people, especially seniors, dancing to loud music in public squares and parks for exercise, is especially popular on summer evenings and during other warm periods of the year.
To tackle the issue, Shenzhen has started deploying directional speakers that emit sound in a concentrated beam. This technology allows the audio to be heard only by those within the speaker's targeted range, sparing individuals outside the beam. Currently, more than 80 directional speakers have been installed in over 20 communities across the city, according to the local ecology and environment bureau.
"Small devices make a big difference," a resident of the Taoyuanju community in Bao'an District told reporters. "We used to keep our windows closed during square dance hours to block out the noise. Now, with the new system in place, we enjoy a quieter environment and it has lifted everyone's spirits."
This innovative tech solution has also been embraced by schools. Binhai Middle School in Bao'an has installed eight directional speakers to manage campus noise, earning accolades from local residents.
To combat construction noise pollution, Shenzhen has implemented an integrated intelligent monitoring system at construction sites that acts as a remote "patrol officer." The system is capable of identifying and immediately halting operations that generate excessive noise, which can be followed by enforcement actions if necessary.
By the end of last year, over 200 construction sites in the city had adopted this system, a practice that is now being recognized and promoted nationwide by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
In 2023, Shenzhen saw an increase in enforcement, with 1,476 cases filed against noisy construction sites — a 11.48% increase year on year. The total fines imposed amounted to 47.925 million yuan (US$6.76 million), a year-on-year increase of 13.43%.