U.S. Department
of Transportation
Federal Highway
Administration |
Measurement of Highway-Related Noise
|
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FHWA-PD-96-046
DOT-VNTSC-FHWA-96-5 |
Cynthia S.Y. Lee
Gregg G. Fleming
U.S. Department of Transportation
Research and Special Programs Administration
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
Acoustics Facility, DTS-75
Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA 02142-1093
Final Report
May 1996
This document is available to the public through the
National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 |
|
Prepared for
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Environment and Planning
Washington, D.C. 20590 |
Prepared by
U.S. Department of Transportation
Research and Special Programs Administration
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
Acoustics Facility, DTS-75
Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA 02142-1093 |
FOREWORD
Noise is an important environmental consideration for highway planners and designers. It can annoy and cause psychological or physiological harm, depending on frequency characteristics and loudness. The U.S. Department of Transportation and State transportation agencies are charged with the responsibility of optimizing compatibility of highway operations with environmental concerns. Highway noise problems have been addressed by numerous investigations, including evaluations of the following:
- noise sources and highway noise reference energy mean emission levels;
- noise impacts at receptor locations;
- effects of site geometry, meteorology, ground surface conditions, and barriers on noise propagation; and
- alternative methods of mitigating noise impacts.
Precise, uniform, state-of-the-art, highway traffic noise measurement procedures for assessing impacts in the vicinity of roadways, and designing effective, cost-efficient noise barriers, are a recognized need in the highway noise community.
This report provides Federal, State, and local transportation agencies with a set of standardized procedures for measuring and assessing highway-related noise. It replaces "Sound Procedures for Measuring Highway Noise" published by the FHWA in 1981.
NOTICE
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers' names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of this document.
REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE
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Form Approved
OMB No. 0704-0188 |
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| 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) |
2. REPORT DATE
May 1996 |
3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED
Final Report January 1995 - May 1996 |
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
MEASUREMENT OF HIGHWAY-RELATED NOISE |
5. FUNDING NUMBERS
HW666/H6008 |
6. AUTHOR(S)
Cynthia S.Y. Lee, Gregg G. Fleming |
7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)
U.S. Department of Transportation Research and Special Programs Administration John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center Acoustics Facility Cambridge, MA 02142-1093 |
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER
DOT-VNTSC-FHWA-96-5 |
9. SPONSORING/MONITORING
AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Office of Environment and Planning Washington, D.C. 20590 |
10. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER
FHWA-PD-96-046 |
11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
FHWA Program Managers: Robert E. Armstrong and Steven A. Ronning, HEP-41, Office of Environment and Planning; FHWA Contacts: Howard A. Jongedyk, HNR-20, Office of Engineering Research and Development. |
12a. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 |
12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE |
13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Special Programs Administration, John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), Acoustics Facility, in support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of Environment and Planning, has developed the "Measurement of Highway-Related Noise." This document reflects significant improvements and changes in noise measurement technologies that have evolved since the 1981 FHWA publication, Sound Procedures for Measuring Highway Noise.
This report documents the recommended procedures for the measurement of (1) existing noise; (2) vehicle noise emissions; (3) barrier insertion loss; (4) construction equipment noise; (5) noise reduction due to buildings; and (6) occupational noise exposure. |
14. SUBJECT TERMS
Noise, Highway Noise, Noise Measurement, Noise Prediction, Traffic Noise Model, FHWA TNM, Noise Barrier, Parallel Noise Barrier, Insertion Loss, Existing Noise, Vehicle Noise Emission, REMEL, Building Noise, Construction Noise |
15. NUMBER OF PAGES
189 |
| 16. PRICE CODE |
17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
OF REPORT
Unclassified |
18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
OF THIS PAGE
Unclassified |
19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF ABSTRACT
Unclassified |
20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT |
NSN 7540-01-280-5500
Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2-89)
Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239-18
298-102
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Special Programs Administration, John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), Acoustics Facility, in support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of Environment and Planning, has developed the "Measurement of Highway-Related Noise."
Major contributors of the Acoustics Facility staff members are: Amanda S. Rapoza, Dave R. Read, and Christopher J. Roof who provided field measurement and data reduction and analysis expertise.
Thanks also go to Rudolph Hendriks (Caltrans), Grant S. Anderson (Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc.), and Frank Iacaveno (Acentech Inc.) for their field measurement and analysis expertise and input.
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