An interesting approach has been used in a recently completed project,
Train Station St. Gallen in Switzerland. Imagine you're standing on
track 1, waiting for your train to Zurich to arrive. The track is
changed from track 1 to say track 4, and an announcement is being made -
how else would you know about it? At that moment though, an incoming
train on track 2 is hissing and breaking and makes all sorts of noise.
This sudden high ambient noise would make the track change announcement
unintelligible, unless the volume of the announcement was increased
to overcome the loud noises from track 2.
Guess what - this is exactly what is being done at St. Gallen train station - and completely automated! The announcement sound level is adjusted in real time by an ambient noise compensation algorithm (integrated in the DSP software, which "listens" to the ambient sound by specially installed listening microphones).
As soon as the noise level drops to normal levels, the announcement is set back to regular volume. A special timing option offers abation of the volume correction at night in consideration of the quality of life of the local residents.
Sleep well!
Dirk Noy, WSDG
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