AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF TRAFFIC NOISE IMPACT EVALUATION AND ITS RELEVANCE TO TRAFFIC NOISE CONTROL

The index commonly in use by state road authorities to assess the impact of traffic noise on residential communities is the l (10) (18h) index. To date, some states have favoured the British practice of taking the number of residences subjected to traffic noise levels exceeding an L (10) (18h) of 68 db(a) as a measure of impact. This paper describes an alternative method of assessing community noise impact, which accounts for impact occurring at levels both above and below 68 db(a). Using a hypothetical example of a limited access roadway passing through a suburban community (of typical density) in Brisbane, it is shown that traffic noise impact above and below 68 db(a) can be evaluated meaningfully, that this impact can generally be expected to occur within a relatively narrow band of housing (three to four rows) contiguous with the facility, and that impact reduction by noise barriers, although often necessary, has practical and financial limits unless supplemented and enhanced by options applied outside the roadway reservation boundary. The implications for a policy on traffic noise control are discussed and it is concluded that low cost, selective property acquisition, in conjunction with low, efficient noise barriers, may provide a reasonably effective, realistic and fair adjunct to traffic noise control at the source - at least until the practicability of other abatement options is proven under Australian conditions (A). (TRRL)

• Record URL:
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• Availability:
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• Corporate Authors:

  ARRB

  Melbourne, Victoria  Australia 
• Authors:
  • Hollingworth, G H
• Publication Date: 1979-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 3-12
• Serial:
  • Australian Road Research
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: ARRB
  • ISSN: 0005-0164

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Environmental impacts; Evaluation and assessment; Impact studies; Land use planning; Location; Methodology; Noise barriers; Noise control; Residential areas; Sound; Sound level; Standards; Suburbs; Traffic; Traffic noise
• Uncontrolled Terms: Vicinity
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ITRD Terms: 8006: Australia; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 9112: Impact study; 9102: Method; 307: Residential area; 6748: Sound; 6747: Sound level; 304: Suburbs; 755: Traffic; 393: Vicinity
• Subject Areas: Environment; Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00310180
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 8 1980 12:00AM