TagNoise(258)

A 2020 study evaluated the positive, negative, and neutral effects of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on six nearby cities — Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Tukwila — using data spanning 1997 to 2019. The study found that noise was the top public concern, followed closely by air quality issues from aircraft operations, along with traffic congestion and distrust of the FAA and Port of Seattle. Researchers attempted to distinguish between impacts directly caused by airport operations and those resulting from the broader regional population growth that roughly doubled over the same period.

This April 2020 FAA Report to Congress evaluates alternative noise metrics to the current Day-Night Level (DNL) 65 decibel standard used to measure community aircraft noise exposure, as required by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. The report reviews the history and definitions of various noise measurement tools, explains why no single metric can address all aviation noise situations, and examines the roles of both noise modeling and actual noise sampling. It was produced in response to congressional direction to assess whether better methods exist for capturing and addressing community concerns about airplane noise.

Arlington County, Virginia awarded a consulting contract (No. 20-042-RFP) to ABCx2, LLC in March 2020 to study aircraft noise generated by Reagan National Airport air traffic affecting Arlington County, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Maryland, and to recommend mitigation strategies. The fixed-price contract is valued at up to $250,000 and covers an initial 12-month term with the option for two additional one-year renewals through March 2023. Note: This contract pertains to Reagan National Airport and Arlington/Montgomery County communities, not Sea-Tac Airport.

On March 19, 2020, Arlington County, Virginia awarded a consulting contract (RFP 20-042-RFP) to ABCX2, LLC to study aircraft noise generated by Reagan National Airport air traffic affecting Arlington County, VA and Montgomery County, MD. The consultant is also tasked with developing recommendations for noise mitigation. This document is an official bid/proposal award notice from Arlington County's Procurement Office.

A comprehensive review examining the cardiovascular health impacts of traffic noise exposure, with particular emphasis on nighttime noise effects. The study discusses WHO guidelines, mechanistic pathways involving oxidative stress and vascular dysfunction, and epidemiological evidence linking noise exposure to heart disease, stroke, and other cardiometabolic conditions.

This document presents findings from a Sea-Tac Airport Ground Noise Study, shared at the Highline Forum on November 20, 2019. It explains how aircraft ground noise travels and changes with distance, noting that sound levels drop by 6 dB every time the distance doubles and are further reduced by atmospheric absorption and soft ground surfaces. The study also covers how temperature gradients affect noise, with sound bending upward in normal conditions and downward during temperature inversions, potentially increasing noise impacts on nearby communities.

This FAA Report to Congress examines the aging of federally funded sound insulation installed in homes near airports to reduce aircraft noise, focusing on treatments installed before 2007 such as window and door replacements, weatherstripping, and other upgrades. The report identifies key factors affecting long-term effectiveness, including product quality, installer workmanship, deterioration over time, and lack of homeowner maintenance. It draws on research covering over 143,000 residences treated since the early 1980s and offers recommendations for repairing or replacing insulation that has exceeded its effective lifespan.