NOISE PROJECT UPDATE 6/14/03

Tests of “Noise Gun”, HIGGINS LAKE, Michigan

    Encouraging initial tests of the Michigan State University prototype sound measurement device held April 21, 2003 were followed by extended trials on June 14.  A large group of participants included Dr. Clark Radcliffe, Professor of Engineering and graduate student Sean Vidanage, Ned Wickes, MSU/Michigan Lake & Stream Associations Boat Noise Project Coordinator, law officials and an important support corps from the Higgins Lake Property Owners Association and the Higgins Lake Foundation.  The owner/operator of a powerful motorboat used in the tests was Kevin Elliott of Higgins Lake.  The objective was to demonstrate the accuracy and repeatability of the device and to give law enforcement officers a first opportunity for hands-on-use.

     The noise gun is user friendly.  All functions recording sound and distance from a suspect boat, are automated.  It compensates for envronmental conditions: ambient (background) noise from nearby watercraft, wind, reflective surfaces (docks, etc.)  Officers only need to point the device at a target boat for a sound level recording which can be used as evidence in a court of law.  Thus, problems of current enforcement, which require cooperation of the suspect boater under complex, controlled test conditions, are simplified.  As the noise gun’s trigger is depressed a uni-directional microphone, sensitive to only narrow beam of sound and a laser range finder are integrated to provide a continuous reading of noise and distance to target boat.

     The test runs revealed that the target boat’s bearing is important.  The Elliott boat was equipped with a “captain’s choice”, an option to run the engine with or without a muffler.  Unmuffled boat noise increased from about 90 decibels at closest passage to about 97 decibels as the boat was going away.  The test demonstrated effectiveness of the boat’s muffler.  Despite 10-15 mph ambient wind noise the device-achieved measurements over a wide range of distances with accuracies of better than 3 decibels.

      Roscommon County Sheriff Francis Staley, and Antrim County Sheriff Terry Johnson each operated the noise gun which they found very workable and were able to make repeat measurements of the test boat’s noise, an essential for successful wide usage.  The test demonstrated the need for measurements at distances over 300 feet.

      The test boat provided a consistent level of noise from which to gain a baseline for development of the prototype device.  It passed at a speed of approximately 40 mph at various distances from the recording/observation pontoon boat owned and operated by Ken Dennings, President, Higgins Lake Property Owners Association.  Data recorded by MSU investigators is summarized as follows:

            23 Noise Gun Measurements, Higgins Lake Michigan, June 14, 2003

     In summary the day of testing was very successful. Lessons learned will help further refine the current prototype in preparation for commercial production.  Future plans include a final test series in Northwest Michigan.  State legislators and additional county sheriffs will be invited.

     We are close to seeing this projects’ founder and coordinator, Higgins Lake’s Ned Wickes’ hopes fulfilled:  equipment and procedures to enforce motorboat noise violations that help preserve the quality of life on Michigan’s inland waters.

      Special thanks for help in on-lake test to:

Randall Stevenson, Undersheriff, Roscommon County

Bob Boyle, Marine Patrol Supervisor, Roscommon County Sheriff Department

Mike Mol, MDNR Law enforcement Division (retired)

Bill Case, Executive Director, Higgins Lake Property Owners Association

Stan Cook, Higgins Lake Property Owners Assn., test course patrol boat

Herb Weatherly, Gerrish Township Trustee, Higgins Lake Property Owners Assn.