Characterization of Noise and Vibration in a Ground Ambulance by Road Classification

In order to receive acute care in a regionalized health care system, many patients require transportation to higher care facilities, exposing them to vibration and noise within the transport environment. Transportation by road ambulance has been analysed with respect to noise and vibration exposure for neonatal patients in previous studies, which mainly focused on the overall route or a single section of road. The characterization of vibration and noise by road classification is lacking. This paper analyses on-road data for five road classifications and compares the resulting vibration and noise levels. Vehicle speed and surface roughness were found to significantly impact vibration, while vehicle speed was found to have the greatest impact on noise. Provincial highways displayed relatively low vibration while arterial roads had the highest vibration levels. With respect to noise, provincial highways had the highest levels while local roads had the lowest levels. Quantifying vibration and noise is an important first step in supporting transport equipment design and operation. A better understanding of how road classifications impact the levels of noise and vibration can also inform route selection, leading to safer patient transport.