The Ministry of Environment plans to triple the number of sound cameras in operation over the next four years, to tackle the high number of noise complaints it receives, the ministry said.
The ministry last year received 108,000 noise complaints, of which 31,000 were caused by vehicles and 25,000 were caused by construction, it said.
To address the issue, it would increase the number of sound cameras from 200 to 600, it said, adding that it was also planning to develop a “noise map” to help it identify and tackle areas where the problem was particularly egregious.
Photo: Chen Chia-yi, Taipei Times
Noise complaints reached a high in 2023 at 128,000 cases, 36,000 of which were related to vehicle noise and 30,000 were about construction work.
Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭?明) on Sunday said that noise was the main source of public complaints the ministry handles.
To tackle the issue, the ministry proposed a plan that uses smart technology to make cities more liveable, he said, adding that the proposal has been submitted to the Executive Yuan.
Increasing the number of sound cameras and building a noise map are key initiatives of that proposal, Peng said.
“By analyzing when and where most noise complaints occur, authorities can strategically target offenders,” he said.
“Given that each noise camera costs NT$1 million to NT$2 million [US$30,452 to US$60,903], precise deployment is crucial. The government would also intensify inspections at noise hotspots,” Peng added.
Drilling at construction sites have been a major nuisance for residents, Peng said.
The government would work with industry stakeholders to incentivize construction companies to adopt low-noise construction methods, and to install soundproof barriers at construction sites, he said.
For noise generated by indoor renovations — which are a frequent occurrence in Taiwan, where most buildings are older — the ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of the Interior to establish noise-related regulations, and to set technical standards for soundproofing materials, Peng said.
The Ministry of Environment would budget NT$400 million for the proposal, he said
It would be funded by the ministry’s funding for pollution-control measures, the Executive Yuan’s budget for technology initiatives, public infrastructure budgets and other contributions from government agencies, he added.
“Through these measures, the government aims to significantly reduce noise pollution and improve quality of life across Taiwan,” Peng said.
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan's Hualien County at 2:23pm today, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The epicenter of the temblor was 5.4 kilometers northeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 34.9 km, according to the CWA. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was the highest in Hualien County, where it measured 2 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 1 in Yilan county, Taichung, Nantou County, Changhua County and Yunlin County, the CWA said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
‘WORSE THAN COMMUNISTS’: President William Lai has cracked down on his political enemies and has attempted to exterminate all opposition forces, the chairman said The legislature would motion for a presidential recall after May 20, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday at a protest themed “against green communists and dictatorship” in Taipei. Taiwan is supposed to be a peaceful homeland where people are united, but President William Lai (賴清德) has been polarizing and tearing apart society since his inauguration, Chu said. Lai must show his commitment to his job, otherwise a referendum could be initiated to recall him, he said. Democracy means the rule of the people, not the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but Lai has failed to fulfill his