Category: 7. Community Noise and Vibration Sources

16.6.1 Community Noise Ordinances The major sources of noise in the community are caused by surface transportation, aircraft/airports, industry, and construction [72–80]. As discussed in this part of the book, the main contribution to community noise, in most countries, is caused by road and rail traffic. The annoyance caused by noise depends upon the level,…

16.5.1 Attenuation Provided by Barriers, Earth Berms, Buildings, and Vegetation Noise barriers are being used increasingly to protect residential communities from road traffic, rail and rapid transit noise. Chapter 9 of this book and Ref. [16] describes empirical formulas that can be used to predict barrier performance. Barriers are of limited use to protect residential areas from…

Environmental noise impact assessments (sometimes known also as environmental noise impact statements) are used to balance the negative noise impact of a proposed development versus the benefits that the development, such as a new highway industrial development area or recreation facility, could bring to a nearby community [1, 82–86]. Existing community noise exposure guidelines are consulted…

16.3.1 Traffic Noise Sources There are several reasons for the emergence of traffic noise as the main source of community noise annoyance in most developed countries. The power–weight ratio of trucks and cars has been constantly increased to permit higher payloads and more speed and acceleration; the resulting higher power engines are usually noisier than…

Several noise indicators and rating measures are in use. The equivalent sound pressure level Leq (see Section 6.8 of this book) is used in many countries for the assessment of road traffic noise, although the statistical 10% level L10 (see Section 6.11 of this book) is used in Australia, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom for target values and insulation regulations for new…

The main sources of urban community noise are (i) road traffic, that is, trucks, cars, and motorcycles, (ii) aircraft/airport noise, (iii) railroads, (iv) construction noise, (v) noise from light and heavy industry, and (vi) noise from recreation activities. Road traffic noise is the most important of these and is discussed in this chapter in some…