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

640000 642000 644000 646000 648000

4916000

4918000

4920000

4922000

4924000

4926000

4928000

640000 642000 644000 646000 648000

4916000

4918000

4920000

4922000

4924000

4926000

4928000

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 outliers40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80

Monitored Sound Level (Ld)

Mo

del

ed S

ou

nd

Lev

el (

Ld

)

1:1

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Household Level Detail

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GIS Analysis

Cumulative Frequency - Daytime and Nighttime Noise Levels

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

0 20 40 60 80 100

Traffic Noise Level (dBA)

Per

cen

t o

f H

om

es U

nd

er L

evel

Day

Night

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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?