The FHWA Expert Task Group (ETG) was a recommendation that came out of the 2004 FHWA Tire-Pavement Noise Strategic Planning Workshop. The purpose of the ETG is to establish and help guide tire/pavement noise measurements in the U.S. The primary purpose of the measurement guidance is to identify goal-based measurement methodologies and encourage consistency of the application of each type of methodology throughout the U.S.
The ETG has been charged with the following tasks:
Although provisional standards are being developed, at this time FHWA is not endorsing any particular methodology for measuring tire/pavement noise.
Although AASHTO provisional standards will be developed for several measurement methodologies, the ETG decided to look at the OBSI methodology first. As of June 2006, the first version of a draft AASHTO provisional standard for the OBSI methodology has since gone through several revisions based on input from ETG members, TRB ADC40 members, and others. The standard is currently divided into two parts: equipment specification and standard practice. The ETG will review the latest drafts once they are distributed.