Development of a free online database related to a one-year experimental campaign for wind turbine noise

Abstract. The PIBE project represents the first collaborative research project in France specifically focused on wind turbine noise variability. A primary objective of the project was to assess in situ the experimental variability of acoustic indicators and influencing environmental parameters, and to compare these observations with the variability predicted by sound emission and propagation models. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive one-year measurement campaign was carried out over 410 consecutive days around a wind farm comprising eight turbines (80 m hub height, 90 m rotor diameter). Acoustic recordings were made using five class 1 sound level meters located at distances ranging from 325 to 1400 meters from the wind farm, continuously recording third-octave band spectra as well as A- and Z-weighted equivalent sound levels (L_eq), and statistical noise levels (L₁₀, L₅₀, and L₉₀). Simultaneously, several meteorological parameters were collected, in particular by using three 3D ultrasonic anemometers and a wind lidar system monitored meteorological conditions, including wind and temperature vertical profiles, which significantly influence sound propagation. Additional information was collected about extraneous noise (train, aircrafts, wind noise) that could contaminate measured wind farm noise. All collected data were post-processed and stored in a scalable database system optimized for fast querying access. To facilitate data exploration and analysis, a web application was developed, providing interactive and free access to the database with specific query, processing and visualization tools for end users (scientists, engineers, stakeholders, etc.).