GAUGING THE ASSAULT. NOISE MEASUREMENT METHODS AND PROBLEMS ARISING FROM TRAFFIC NOISE

THE SCIENCE OF NOISE MEASUREMENT IS REVIEWED AND WAYS ARE SUGGESTED IN WHICH ANNOYANCE CAUSED BY NOISE CAN BE MINIMISED IN AREAS NEAR ROADS AND AIRPORTS. USE OF THE DB(A) UNIT FOR NOISE MEASUREMENTIS DESCRIBED AND A TABLE INDICATES THE METHOD OF CALCULATING THE DB(A) LEVEL OF TWO OR MORE NOISE SOURCES. A SUMMARY OF FIVE METHODS OF MEASURING NOISE LEVELS AND THEIR ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ARE GIVEN. THE METHODS INCLUDE A DATA LOGGER, A SOUND-LEVEL METER AND CHART RECORDER, AND A PRECISION SOUND-LEVEL METER DEVELOPED BY BRS. A METHOD OF PREDICTING TRAFFIC NOISE FROM THE TRAFFIC VOLUME OVER AN 18 HOUR PERIOD IS DESCRIBED BUT IT IS ONLY APPLICABLE TO FREE FLOWING TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM OF TRAFFIC NOISE IS CONSIDERED UNDER FIVE HEADINGS: (1) THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC VOLUME, (2) THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, (3) THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ROADS, PARTICULARLY MOTORWAYS, (4) NOISE CAUSED BY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEMES, AND (5) ALTERATION OF EXISTING ROADS. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR ALLEVIATING TRAFFIC NOISE FROM THESE SOURCES ARE SUGGESTED. METHODS OF REDUCING AIRCRAFT NOISE ARE CONSIDERED. /TRRL/