EFFECTIVENESS OF SIX NOISE BARRIERS ON I-495

Noise measurements were taken to evaluate the effectiveness of six barriers along I-495. The measurement program was designed so that the effectiveness of the barriers could be correlated with the public's perception of their effectiveness. The drop-off in noise level from a point above the barrier (one microphone) to the measurement site near the home of a respondent (four microphones arranged vertically) was measured. The distance effect between the same two points was modeled. The barrier insertion loss was determined by subtracting the total measured drop-off from the modeled distance effect. It was found that the barriers were performing as they were designed to do. It appears that many individuals may react to non-acoustical factors, such as problems of maintenance of the areas behind barriers. Also, the perception of the barriers' effectiveness tended to be negative when the ear level of a person standing at the door of his house was much closer to the same elevation as the top of the barrier than was the ear level of the person who responded positively. (FHWA)

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• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/18938
• Corporate Authors:

  Virginia Highway and Transportation Research Council

  Charlottesville, VA  United States 

  Virginia Department of Highways

  Traffic and Planning Division, 1221 East Broad Street
  Richmond, VA  United States  23219

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Haviland, J K
  • Noble, D F
• Publication Date: 1982-3-31

Media Info

• Pagination: 42 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Measures of effectiveness; Noise barriers; Noise control; Perception
• Identifier Terms: Interstate Highway System
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness; Noise reduction
• Old TRIS Terms: Subjective
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00373076
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/VA-82/50 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: 1791
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1983 12:00AM