Noise measurement-decrease in sound intensity with distance

[Nau]

I am making a noise level meter, that would trigger an alarm, if the noise level has reached hazardous levels. However, one problem with noise is that it'd intensity decreases with distance, so that the meter would percieve a low sound near the meter and a high sound far away as equal. So does anyone have any innovative idea about how I can handle this problem?

 

[f95toli]

Why is this a problem?
You are presumably not trying to make a detector that can detect the level of noise far away from the sensor?

 

[Nau]

No my detector is sensitive enough to detect sounds at a distance. But ofcourse when the sound would have traveled a long distance, its intensity would have decreased, and the meter would also give a small reading. However, a low intensity sound near the meter might be giving the same reading. that is the problem.

 

[f95toli]

I am still not followíng you...
Isn't the purpose of the meter to warn agains high noise levels at the location of the meter?
If so, why is it a problem that it is not triggered by low noise levels near the meter?

 

[Proton Soup]

you need to either put the sensor closer to the source, or install multiple devices so that you can cover a wider area.