Reliable techniques have been used throughout Australia for someyears now for the prediction, measurement, assessment and control of road traffic noise. However, these techniques are all based on theassumption of freely flowing traffic conditions. In many cases whenthe traffic flow is interrupted, for example in the vicinity of intersections, this assumption is invalid and the established techniques are generally unsuitable. The present report has therefore concentrated on the generation of traffic noise under interrupted flow conditions, with particular emphasis on a signalised intersection. A descriptive and predictive model, which is both theoretically and empirically based, has been developed and evaluated. The noise generationcharacteristics of the intersection have been identified while the effects of other relevant factors, such as roadside observer location, have also been demonstrated. By evaluation against a variety of empirical data the model was found to be a good predictor of roadsidenoise histories generated under both interrupted and free flow conditions. This report then proceeds to describe how traffic noise may be predicted at a simple, signalised intersection by means of a userfriendly, interactive computer package. This package was developed following evaluation of the model. It provides several outputs whichinclude noise/ time histories and histograms, along with the conventional indices such as L(sub)10 and L(sub)eq. Sample outputs from the package are also included (A).
Samenvatting