Ahmed El-Aassar, Ph.D., P.E.Kevin Switala, GISP

FHWA’s Innovative New Traffic Noise Model Applications

Presentation Outline

• Background

• Challenges

• Solution Overview

• Project Approach

• TNM 3.0 Capabilities

• Lessons Learned

• Next Steps

Background - What is Traffic Noise Modeling

• Theory behind noise modeling in general

• Applications to traffic

Background - What is Traffic Noise Modeling

Noise Control Act of 1972 issued by EPA

Background - FWHA’s Role and Responsibilities

How long FHWA and State DOT have been overseeing traffic noise modeling

Background - TNM for Highway Design Projects

Background - Legacy TNM Software History

Challenges - Policy

• Feasibility and reasonableness established in the regulation

• States required to establish noise reduction design goal

• Noise measurements required for model validation

• States must establish methodologies for analysis of various land uses

• States may implement cost averaging among common noise environments

Challenges - Operational

• Who conduct noise studies (DOTs or Consultant)

• How DOT’s work with engineering firms

• Who is qualified to do noise analysis and mitigation

• Challenges to noise analyst- Availability of accurate CAD plans

- Traffic Volume

- Only DXF files

Challenges - Technical

• Limitations of TNM 2.5

• Deployment/Licensing challenges

• New user requirements (enhanced 3D, snapping, etc.)

Solution Overview - Operational

Solution Overview - Technical

Standalone

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Web

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Ap

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Cross Cutting

Common

Common Desktop

Cross Cutting

Use

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ace

Se

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Da

ta

ArcGIS Desktop Extension

Use

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ace

H

ost

S

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s

AutoCAD Extension

Use

r In

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S

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H

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Microstation Extension

Use

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H

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S

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Legend

Tie

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System, Sub-System

Product

Core Application Business Logic

Noise Model API

TNM Acoustics Library

Application Database

External Data

Validation

Logging

Exception Handling

Configuration

Help

Setup

Main Application User Interface

User Interface Management Services

Common Components Integration Services

Data Integration Services

Mapping User Interface

3D User Interface

User Interface Management Services

ArcGIS Runtime

ArcGIS Runtime Plug-in

Common Components Integration Services

Mapping User Interface

3D User Interface

ArcGIS Desktop

ArcGIS Desktop Plug-in

3D User Interface

AutoCAD

AutoCAD Plug-in

Mapping User Interface

3D User Interface

Microstation

Microstation Plug-in

User Interface Management Services

Common Components Integration Services

User Interface Management Services

Common Components Integration Services

User Interface Management Services

Common Components Integration Services

Main Application User Interface

Mapping User Interface

IIS Web Server

ArcGIS Server Advanced Enterprise

SQL Server/Oracle based Enterprise GeoDatabase

Links to External Data and Services

User Interface Management Services

Common Components Integration Web Services

Enterprise Integration Web Services

Validation

Logging

Exception Handling

Configuration

Help

Setup

Security

Mapping User Interface

ReportingReporting

SQL Server

Express

Internal User Interface Component

Internal Component

External Component

External Component Wrapper

Dependency Direction

Project Approach – Software Development Lifecycle

• Initial requirements gathering

• Design/Development/Internal testing

• Beta tester review/feedback

• Release updates

TNM 3.0 – Functions and Capabilities

TNM 3.0 – Functions and Capabilities

TNM 3.0 – Functions and Capabilities

TNM 3.0 – Functions and Capabilities

TNM 3.0 – Functions and Capabilities

TNM 3.0 – Functions and Capabilities

TNM 3.0 – Functions and Capabilities

TNM 3.0 – Functions and Capabilities

TNM 3.0 – Functions and Capabilities

TNM 3.0 – Functions and Capabilities

TNM 3.0 – Functions and Capabilities

Lessons Learned - Technical

• Roadmap – transition Cesium to Esri Javascript API 4.0

• Project data structures – one composite vs separate

• 3rd party toolset for section visualization

Lessons Learned - Operational

• Teaching new processes are different and better

• Need for pre-beta testing education/training on new methods to complete old workflows

• Need for improving model calculation speeds

• Redundant object attribute editing options

• Increase number and variety of online help workflow examples

Next Steps

• Performance Optimization

• UI improvements based on beta tester feedback

• Marketing and Training Campaign

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