Noise is an important environmental consideration for highway planners and designers. Transportation agencies measure different aspects of highway noise to determine or predict community impacts during urban planning. However, measurement instrumentation and procedures have varied from program to program and agency to agency. Precise, uniform, field measurement practice allows for valid comparison of results from similar studies performed by a variety of transportation practitioners and researchers. Guidance is provided within this page on determining existing-noise in the vicinity of a highway or determining vehicle noise emissions for use with highway noise prediction models; highway barrier insertion loss; noise reduction due to buildings in the vicinity of a highway, and Highway-related occupational noise exposure.
Abstract: This report replaced a previous report titled "Sound Procedures for Measuring Highway Noise: Final Report," dated August 1981. The report incorporates improvements and changes in noise measurement technologies that have occurred over time and documents recommended procedures for the measurement of the following: (1) existing noise; (2) vehicle noise emissions; (3) noise barrier insertion loss; (4) construction equipment noise; (5) noise reduction due to buildings; and (6) occupational noise exposure. The report should be useful to all individuals involved with measurement activities related to highway traffic noise. Publication Year: 1996 - Distribution Memorandum - Date: January 2, 1997