A comparison of indexes summarizing exposure to aircraft noise

Abstract

<p>People living around airports are severly impacted by aircraft noise they experienced daily, which may damage their hearing, may produce interference with the activities of their daily lives, and may degrade the quality of their life-style.</p> <p>Noise can be reduced at sources by improved engine technology and by more considerate modes of aircraft operation. Another way of solving the aircrafts noise problem is by the use of planning control and here the measurement of noise exposure has an important role to play.</p> <p>The objective of this study is to test whether any of the noise metrics (the Noise Exposure Forecasr (NEF), the Equivalent Sound Level (L_eq) and the Day-Night Average Sound Level (L_dn)) is significantly better as a predictor of the effects of aircrafts noise than others. The study used the FAA Integrated Noise Model (INM) to calculate aircraft noise measures. The response data were derived from the social survey conducted for a research of which this thesis is one part. The study is a necessary step towards standardizing noise measurements. In addition, the study is an aid for airport authorities to assist government for accurate land use planning.</p>