Tools for Expedited Regional Transportation Noise Modeling

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Tools for Expedited Regional Transportation Noise
Modeling

• Jim Cowan and Ken Kaliski
• Resource Systems Group, Inc.
• White River Junction, VT

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The Noise Map
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The Ingredients

• Road traffic volumes and speeds
• Rail traffic volumes and speeds
• Roadway and rail geometry
• Aerial Photography
• Topography
• Residential database (E-911)

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Road Traffic and Speeds

• Volumes, Speeds, and Road Geometry from the 2005
  PM Peak Hour MPO TransCAD Travel Demand Model
• Adjusted to AADT using 10 K-Factor
• Truck Percentage and Time of Day Distribution
  using Cadna/A Defaults for Federal Highways
  (German Standards)
• Cadna to include TNM beginning Fall 2006

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Rail Traffic and Speeds

• Data supplied from rail authorities (NECR and
  VTR)
• Volumes
• Speeds
• Number of cars
• Number of locomotives
• Schedules

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Aerial Photography

• Source
• USGS/Microsoft TerraServer
• Vermont Mapping Program
• Use
• Visualization
• Identification of Building Densities

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Terrain
USGS Digital Elevation Models Contoured using
Surfer
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Other Data

• Town Boundaries
• Roadways/Rail Lines
• Residence Locations
• Built-up Areas

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The Result
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Calibration Results

• 17 locations monitored
• Short and long term
• Regression shows good fit
• Mean error 2.1 dB
• Standard deviation 4.3 dB
• 50th percentile error 1.1 dB
• Some significant outliers

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Household Level Detail
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GIS Analysis
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Implications

• 20 of households live with daytime levels
  exceeding 55 dBA
• This is the WHO criterion for serious annoyance
• This compares with 40 in Europe
• 45 of households live with nighttime levels
  exceeding 45 dBA
• This is the WHO sleep disturbance criterion
• Sleep disturbance does not necessarily mean
  waking up

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Impacts of Noise

• Interference with communication
• Interference with learning
• Social behavior
• Annoyance
• Sleep disturbance
• Attendance at TRB meetings

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Why Do Noise Mapping?

• Establish basis for noise management strategies
• Assess land-use planning success
• Identify compatible land uses
• Analyze impacts of new sources
• Determine extent of noise exposure
• Evaluate high risk groups and areas
• Assess effectiveness of noise policies
• Because we can

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How Can a Municipality Use the Noise Map?

• Baseline level for future area-wide planning
• Quick assessment of land-use forecast impacts and
  changes to transportation network
• Development of community noise standards
• Supplement to community noise surveys
• Basis for development planning
• Test policies (traffic calming, etc.)
• Support zoning
• Help developers plan better residential
  development
• Raise awareness of noise issues

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Questions?