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NHI 142051 Highway Traffic Noise

NHI’s Revised Noise Training Course

by

William Bowlby, Bowlby & Associates, Inc., and Harvey S. Knauer, Environmental Acoustics, Inc.

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History Original 3-day course developed in 2004 – 2007

• Prime Contractor & Instructional System Design: University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research

• Subject Matter Experts: Bill Bowlby, Harvey Knauer and Soren Pedersen

Taught 15 times from 2007 – 2011, including FDOT pilot

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Recent Activity FHWA felt a need to streamline to two days while porting

some lessons to the Web

Course revision started in March 2012:

• Prime & Instructional System Design: UT Center for Transportation Research

• Subject matter experts: Bill Bowlby and Harvey Knauer

• Technical direction and review: Mark Ferroni and Adam Alexander, FHWA

Pilot to be taught this week, hosted by NC DOT

Course Goal

To provide an overview of:

• Legislation and regulations pertaining to highway traffic noise, and

• The requirements and techniques for noise analysis and abatement

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Target Audience

Generalists, reviewers, and future specialists

• State highway agency environmental specialists, designers, planners and engineers

• City/County planners, engineers and environmental coordinators or specialists

• FHWA staff with NEPA responsibilities

• Consultants

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Course Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the basic concepts of traffic noise and its generation, propagation and attenuation

• Describe necessary requirements to comply with the FHWA noise regulation, as codified in 23 CFR 772

• Discuss applicable noise measurement, analysis and reporting procedures

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Agenda – Day 1

• Introduction and Overview

• Lesson 1 Basic Traffic Noise Concepts

• Lesson 2 Noise Legislation, Regulations and Policies

• Lesson 3 Noise Study Requirements

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Agenda – Day 2

• Lesson 4 Noise Measurement

• Lesson 5 Basics of Traffic Noise Modeling

• Lesson 6 Applications of Traffic Noise Modeling

• Lesson 7 Barrier Acoustical Concepts and Design

• Lesson 8 Noise Study Documentation

• Exam, Course Evaluation and Wrap Up

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Related Web-Based Training Courses

• NHI 142063 Highway Traffic Noise: Basic Acoustics • NHI 142064 Highway Traffic Noise: Construction Noise • NHI 142065 Highway Traffic Noise: Public Involvement • NHI 142066 Highway Traffic Noise: Compatible

Planning and Development • NHI 142067 Highway Traffic Noise: Project-Related

Noise Abatement Free of charge at www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov

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Interactive Sound Information System (ISIS)

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Measuring Noise

• Six Larson-Davis LxT sound level analyzers available during the class

• Used in Lesson 4 with an ISIS recording of traffic noise

Lesson 1 Basic Traffic Noise Concepts

• Characteristics of sound

• Sound propagation

• Noise barrier basics

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Lesson 2 Noise Legislation, Regulations and Policies

Legislation, such as –

• National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

• Federal Aid Highway Act of 1970

• National Highway System Designation Act of 1995

Regulations – 23 CFR 772, Procedures for Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise and Construction Noise

Policies – Highway agency implementation of 2010 revisions to 23 CFR 772

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Lesson 3 Noise Study Requirements Small group activity and instructor-facilitated discussion

• Determining the tasks involved in conducting a traffic noise study

• Discussing why these tasks are important

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Lesson 4 Noise Measurement

• Reasons for measuring noise, including model validation

• Measurement procedures, including proper planning, execution and follow-through

• Basic instrumentation and accessories

• Group activities: Measuring Traffic Noise and Planning a Noise Measurement Program

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Lesson 5 Basics of Traffic Noise Modeling

• When to model and why

• Vehicle types and emission levels

• Modeling considerations – mapping, traffic data, analysis areas

• How to model receptors as FHWA TNM receiver points

• Class activity: Modeling Non-residential Receptors

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Lesson 6 Application of Traffic Noise Modeling

• FHWA TNM components and features

• Input data objects in FHWA TNM

• Understanding FHWA TNM results

• Group activities: Modeling Input Objects and Determining Noise Impacts from FHWA TNM Results

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Lesson 7 Barrier Acoustical Concepts and Design

• Acoustical principles, issues and criteria

• Applying FHWA TNM to the case study

• Class activity: Assessing Acoustical Feasibility and Reasonableness of a Noise Barrier Design

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Lesson 8 Noise Study Documentation

• Required information in environmental documents

• Noise Study Report content

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Upon Completion of Training

• CDs with Instructor Notes, Highway Construction Noise Handbook and Noise Barrier Design Handbook

• Certificate of participation from NHI

• Eligibility for CEUs – attendance at all sessions and passing of final exam

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Instructor Team FHWA • Adam Alexander

• Mark Ferroni

• Mike Roberts

• Mary Ann Rondinella

• Stephanie Stoermer

Volpe Center • Judy Rochat

• Roger Wayson

Consultants • Bill Bowlby (also Instructor

Coordinator) • Paul Burge, URS • Jim Cowan, URS • John Jaeckel, HNTB • Harvey Knauer, EAI • Darlene Reiter, Bowlby

Next Steps Teach a special 3-day version including the planned web-

based lessons at Columbia College Chicago, August 21-23

• Contact Ron Elling, relling@colum.edu

• Or visit:

www.colum.edu/Academics/Audio_Arts_and_Acoustics/NHI/index.php

Finalize 2-day course after the pilot

Schedule sessions of NHI 142051 Highway Traffic Noise • Visit the NHI web site: www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov

• Contact any of the instructors

NHI will finish porting the four lessons to the Web

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Acknowledgements NHI: Mila Plosky

FHWA : Mark Ferroni and Adam Alexander

University of Tennessee team

• Airton Kohls, Project Manager

• Jean Derco and Margaret Atkins, Instructional Systems Designers

• Tammy Enix, The One Who Gets Things Done

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Questions?

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