National Academies Press: OpenBook

Technology for a Quieter America (2010)

Chapter: Front Matter

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2010. Technology for a Quieter America. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12928.
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Technology for a Quieter America

Committee on Technology for a Quieter America

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING
OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS

Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2010. Technology for a Quieter America. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12928.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
500 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001

NOTICE: To arrive at the findings and recommendations of this report, the National Academy of Engineering has used a process that involves careful selection of a balanced and knowledgeable committee, assembly of relevant information, and peer review of the resultant report.

Support for this project was provided by a generous gift from NAE member William W. Lang, the National Academy of Engineering Fund, and the Federal Highway Administration. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the supporting organizations.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Technology for a quieter America / National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-309-15632-5 (pbk.) — ISBN 978-0-309-15633-2 (pdf)

1. Noise control—Technological innovations—United States. 2. Noise pollution—United States. I. National Academy of Engineering.

TD893.T43 2011

363.740973—dc22

2010037657

Copies of this report are available from the

National Academies Press,

500 Fifth Street, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (888) 624-8373 or (202) 334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area); online at http://www.nap.edu.

Copyright 2010 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2010. Technology for a Quieter America. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12928.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine


The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.


The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It isautonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.


The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.


The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.


www.national-academies.org

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COMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY FOR A QUIETER AMERICA

GEORGE C. MALING, JR. (NAE) (chair),

Institute of Noise Control Engineering of the USA, Inc. (retired), Harpswell, Maine

ROBERT J. BERNHARD,

University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana

ROBERT D. BRUCE,

CSTI Acoustics, Houston, Texas

BETH A. COOPER,

Glenn Research Center, NASA, Cleveland, Ohio

PATRICIA DAVIES,

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

CARL E. HANSON,

Harris Miller Miller and Hanson, Burlington, Massachusetts

ROBERT D. HELLWEG, JR. (consultant),

Wellesley, Massachusetts

GERALD C. LAUCHLE,

Pennsylvania State University (retired)

RICHARD H. LYON (NAE),

RH Lyon Corp., Belmont, Massachusetts

IAN A. WAITZ,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

Project Staff

CAROL R. ARENBERG, Senior Editor,

National Academy of Engineering

VIVIENNE CHIN, Administrative Assistant,

Program Office, National Academy of Engineering

LANCE A. DAVIS, Executive Officer,

National Academy of Engineering

PROCTOR P. REID, Director,

Program Office, National Academy of Engineering

RICHARD TABER, Program Officer,

Program Office, National Academy of Engineering (until February 2009)

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Preface

Noise emissions are an issue in industry, in communities, in buildings, and during leisure activities. As such, the audience for a report on noise control is broad and includes the engineering community; the public; government at the federal, state, and local levels; private industry; labor unions; and nonprofit organizations. These stakeholders should find something of interest in this report.

In the past few decades advances have been made in noise control technology, instruments for noise measurement, and criteria for noise control. These advances need to be recognized in our approach to the control of noise and public policy designed to improve the noise climate in the United States. This, together with increasing worldwide interest in reducing noise, makes it necessary to examine American interests in the production of low-noise products with a view toward remaining competitive. Reducing product noise emissions and achieving noise reductions in our factories, office buildings, classrooms, homes, and the environment are challenging problems.

This study was undertaken by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) to emphasize the importance of engineering to the quality of life in America, in particular the role of noise control technology making possible a quieter environment. This report was prepared by a study committee and five supporting panels of experts appointed by the NAE and reviewed by an independent panel appointed following NAE procedures. Implementation of the recommendations in the report will result in reduction of the noise levels to which Americans are exposed and will improve the ability of American industry to compete in world markets where increasing attention is being paid to the noise emissions of products.

Key areas where recommendations have been made include cost-benefit analysis of noise reduction, especially related to road traffic noise; improved metrics for noise control; lower limits for noise exposures in industry; “buy quiet” programs; wider use of international standards for noise emissions; airplane noise reduction technology; and noise control in structures such as schools, hospitals, and office buildings. Also recommended is improved cooperation between industry and government agencies involved with noise and, in particular, an expanded role for the Environmental Protection Agency, which can be undertaken under existing law.


George C. Maling, Jr.

Chair

Committee on Technology for a Quieter America

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Acknowledgments

This report was reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the committee and NAE in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The reviewers’ comments and the draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their reviews of this report:

Lewis M. Branscomb, Emeritus, Harvard University, and Adjunct Professor, University of California, San Diego

Mahlon D. Burkhard, Consultant

William Cavanaugh, Cavanaugh Tocci Associates, Inc.

Malcolm J. Crocker, Sound & Vibration Research Laboratory

Tony F.W. Embleton, Retired, National Research Council of Canada

David K. Holger, Iowa State University

Alice Suter, Consultant in Noise and Hearing Conservation

István L. Vér, Consultant in Acoustics, Noise, and Vibration Control

Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations and did not see the final draft of the report before its public release. The review of this report was overseen by James L. Flanagan, Retired Vice President for Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Appointed by NAE, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and NAE.

In addition to the reviewers, the committee extends its sincerest gratitude to the members of the five expert panels that supported this study (Appendix K), and to the individuals who participated in the project’s eight fact-finding workshops (Appendix L) for sharing their expertise, insights, and best ideas to the study. The committee also wishes to thank the consultants to the committee—Leo L. Beranek, Stephen H. Crandall, Kenneth M. Eldred, and William W. Lang—who provided invaluable advice throughout the project. The committee also thanks the project staff. NAE executive officer Lance Davis and NAE senior editor Carol Arenberg substantially improved the readability of the report. Study director Richard Taber managed the project through January 2009, and NAE program director Proctor Reid managed the project from February 2009 to completion. Vivienne Chin managed the committee’s and panels’ logistical and administrative needs.

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2010. Technology for a Quieter America. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12928.
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 Engineering Controls,

 

36

   

 “Buy Quiet” Programs,

 

40

   

 Hearing Protection Devices,

 

42

   

 Hearing Protection Versus (or as Augmentation of) Engineering Noise Control,

 

43

   

 Hearing Protection Devices: Technologies and Effects on Audibility,

 

45

   

 Hearing Protection Devices: Effects on Signal and Speech Audibility,

 

45

   

 Emerging Technologies,

 

47

   

 Summary,

 

49

   

 Findings and Recommendations,

 

49

5

 

Technology

 

55

   

 Aerospace and Aeroacoustics,

 

55

   

 New Technologies for Reducing Noise from Road Traffic,

 

66

   

 Rail Noise,

 

71

   

 Noise Control in Buildings,

 

75

   

 Modeling, Simulation, and Data Management,

 

80

   

 Consumer Products,

 

80

   

 Active Noise Control,

 

83

   

 Summary,

 

84

6

 

Standards and Regulations for Product Noise Emissions

 

89

   

 Immission versus Emission,

 

90

   

 Determining Product Noise Emissions,

 

90

   

 International Organization for Standardization,

 

93

   

 International Electrotechnical Commission,

 

94

   

 Accreditation and Certification of Noise Emissions,

 

94

   

 U.S. Accreditation,

 

94

   

 International Accreditation,

 

95

   

 Labeling of Noise Emissions,

 

96

   

 Findings and Recommendations,

 

98

7

 

Cost-Benefit Analysis for Noise Control

 

101

   

 Environmental Economic Analysis,

 

102

   

 Cost-Benefit Analysis of Aircraft Noise,

 

103

   

 Cost-Benefit Analysis for Highway Noise,

 

105

   

 European Cost-Benefit Analyses,

 

109

   

 Findings and Recommendation,

 

110

8

 

The Role of Government

 

113

   

 Noise-Related Activities by Federal Agencies,

 

113

   

 Noise-Related Activities by States,

 

118

   

 Local Noise Control Programs,

 

118

   

 Summary,

 

119

   

 Findings and Recommendations,

 

119

9

 

Education Supply and Industry Demand for Noise Control Specialists

 

121

   

 Undergraduate Education in Noise Control Engineering,

 

121

   

 Graduate Education in Noise Control Engineering,

 

122

   

 Continuing Education and Skill Development,

 

123

   

 Supply-Side Challenges,

 

125

   

 Demand from Industry,

 

127

   

 Does Demand Exceed Supply?,

 

128

   

 Findings and Recommendations,

 

128

Page xiii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2010. Technology for a Quieter America. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12928.
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10

 

Public Information on Noise Control

 

131

   

 Working Toward an Informed Public,

 

132

   

 Summary Findings and Recommendations,

 

134

11

 

Summary Findings and Recommendations

 

137

   

 Improve Environmental Noise Metrics,

 

137

   

 Strengthen the Regulatory Framework for Hazardous Noise,

 

138

   

 Promote the Use of Engineering Controls to Reduce Hazardous Noise,

 

138

   

 Develop and Deploy Technologies for Noise Control,

 

139

   

 Develop Product Noise Emission Standards and Regulations,

 

140

   

 Use Cost-Benefit Analysis as a Tool for Noise Mitigation,

 

140

   

 Strengthen the Role of Government,

 

141

   

 Educate More Noise Control Engineers,

 

141

   

 Improve Public Information on the Effects of Noise and Noise Control,

 

142

 

 

Appendixes

 

 

   

 A  Basic Concepts in Acoustics and Noise

 

145

   

 B  International Activities Relative to Quiet Areas

 

147

   

 C  Additional Information on Standards Activities

 

149

   

 D  Relevant Portions of the U.S. Code

 

153

   

 E  Modern Instrumentation for Environmental Noise Measurement

 

157

   

 F  Guidance for Environmental Economics

 

163

   

 G  Regulations and Voluntary Use of Hearing Protection Devices

 

167

   

 H  Acronyms and Abbreviations

 

171

   

 I  Glossary of Selected Terms

 

175

   

 J  Biographical Sketches of Committee Members

 

181

   

 K  Expert Panels

 

185

   

 L  Workshop Agendas

 

187

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Tables and Figures

TABLES

1-1

 

Sound Pressure Levels Generated by Various Noise Sources,

 

6

4-1

 

Number of Workers Exposed to Noise of >85 dB(A),

 

31

4-2

 

Hazardous Noise Exposures as a Function of Exposure Time for 3-dB and 5-dB Exchange Rates (based on exposure to 85 dB for 8 hours),

 

33

4-3

 

Action Points, References, and Type of Sound Level,

 

33

4-4

 

Worldwide Regulations for Exposures to Hazardous Noise in the Workplace,

 

34

4-5

 

Noise Reduction and Productivity in a Beverage Can Manufacturing Plant,

 

40

5-1

 

Team Members Available to Work on European Noise Reduction Programs,

 

64

7-1

 

Relationship between Day-Night Average Sound Level and Impacts,

 

104

7-2

 

Noise Barrier Construction by State, through 2004,

 

107

7-3

 

Summary of Barrier Construction and Costs, by State,

 

107

7-4

 

Noise Values for Selected European Countries,

 

111

E-1

 

Hardware Options for Brüel & Kjær Monitoring Systems,

 

159

E-2

 

Software Options for Brüel & Kjær Monitoring Systems,

 

160

FIGURES

1-1

 

Comparison of A-weighted sound levels in common outdoor environments,

 

6

3-1

 

Variability in survey results. ▼ = road traffic. = air traffic. ♦ = rail traffic,

 

22

3-2

 

Three versions of a Schultz curve,

 

22

3-3

 

Comparison of the present dose-response curves with results from Miedema and Vos,

 

26

4-1

 

Systems approach to reducing noise exposures,

 

43

4-2

 

Comparative noise reduction ratings for various earplugs,

 

44

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2010. Technology for a Quieter America. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12928.
×

4-3

 

Comparative noise reduction ratings based on manufacturers’ laboratory tests and real-world “field” performance of different types of hearing protection devices,

 

46

4-4

 

Spectral attenuation obtained with real-ear attenuation at threshold (REAT) procedures for three conventional passive earplugs (premolded, user-molded foam, and spun fiberglass) and two uniform-attenuation, custom-molded earplugs (ER-15, ER-20),

 

47

5-1

 

Breakdown of typical noise sources for fixed-wing aircraft,

 

56

5-2

 

Breakdown of typical noise sources for a rotorcraft configuration,

 

57

5-3

 

Noise sources for 1960s and 1990s jet engines,

 

57

5-4

 

QTD2 noise reduction technologies,

 

58

5-5

 

Toboggan landing gear fairings for reducing landing gear noise tested in QTD2,

 

58

5-6

 

Goals of the N+1 and N+2 generation aircraft,

 

59

5-7

 

Noise reduction objectives and technology plans set by ACARE,

 

59

5-8

 

Aircraft noise research initiatives undertaken in Europe under the Framework Programs,

 

61

5-9

 

Engine/nacelle noise reduction technologies,

 

61

5-10

 

Aircraft noise reduction technologies,

 

62

5-11

 

Negatively scarfed intake reflects fan noise away from the ground,

 

62

5-12

 

SAX-40 silent aircraft,

 

62

5-13

 

SAX-40 engine design,

 

63

5-14

 

Schematic drawing of contra-rotating turbo fan design to be studied in VITAL,

 

63

5-15

 

Hybrid wing/body aircraft with vertical tails on either side of the engines to shield jet noise,

 

64

5-16

 

U.S. average pass-by noise levels under cruise conditions for light vehicles, medium trucks, and heavy trucks measured at a distance of 15 meters,

 

67

5-17

 

Typical levels for noise sources in light vehicles,

 

68

5-18

 

Acoustic images of typical noise source regions for light vehicles and heavy trucks obtained with acoustic beaming,

 

68

5-19

 

Range in one-third octave band sound intensity levels for tires measured at 97 kilometers per hour on a dense, graded, asphalt-concrete roadway,

 

69

5-20

 

One-third octave band pass-by noise levels for the same car and tires operating on different pavements at 97 kilometers per hour,

 

69

5-21

 

Example of a double-layer porous asphalt pavement used in the Netherlands,

 

71

6-1

 

Permissible sound power levels (dB(A)) for lawn mowers, based on width of cut,

 

92

7-1

 

Contour map showing noise levels around Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.,

 

102

7-2

 

Relationship between percentage of population highly annoyed and DNL level, in decibels,

 

104

7-3

 

(left) Noise depreciation indices (percentage of property value loss per decibel); (right) willingness-to-pay values (Euros/household/dB/year) based on a number of North American, European, Japanese, and Australian studies of aircraft noise,

 

104

7-4

 

Cost of barriers per square meter in Maryland for all projects (upper) and for precast concrete (lower),

 

108

7-5

 

Cost of barriers per square meter in Virginia for all projects,

 

108

Page xvii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2010. Technology for a Quieter America. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12928.
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9-1

 

U.S. noise control programs in university departments,

 

126

E-1

 

Screen display of discrete frequency analysis for Type 2270 monitor,

 

157

E-2

 

Type 2270 meter in use,

 

158

E-3

 

Type 3639 monitoring station,

 

158

G-1

 

Comparison of hearing protection device NRRs by device type: manufacturers’ laboratory data versus real-world “field” data,

 

169

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Exposure to noise at home, at work, while traveling, and during leisure activities is a fact of life for all Americans. At times noise can be loud enough to damage hearing, and at lower levels it can disrupt normal living, affect sleep patterns, affect our ability to concentrate at work, interfere with outdoor recreational activities, and, in some cases, interfere with communications and even cause accidents. Clearly, exposure to excessive noise can affect our quality of life.

As the population of the United States and, indeed, the world increases and developing countries become more industrialized, problems of noise are likely to become more pervasive and lower the quality of life for everyone. Efforts to manage noise exposures, to design quieter buildings, products, equipment, and transportation vehicles, and to provide a regulatory environment that facilitates adequate, cost-effective, sustainable noise controls require our immediate attention.

Technology for a Quieter America looks at the most commonly identified sources of noise, how they are characterized, and efforts that have been made to reduce noise emissions and experiences. The book also reviews the standards and regulations that govern noise levels and the federal, state, and local agencies that regulate noise for the benefit, safety, and wellness of society at large. In addition, it presents the cost-benefit trade-offs between efforts to mitigate noise and the improvements they achieve, information sources available to the public on the dimensions of noise problems and their mitigation, and the need to educate professionals who can deal with these issues.

Noise emissions are an issue in industry, in communities, in buildings, and during leisure activities. As such, Technology for a Quieter America will appeal to a wide range of stakeholders: the engineering community; the public; government at the federal, state, and local levels; private industry; labor unions; and nonprofit organizations. Implementation of the recommendations in Technology for a Quieter America will result in reduction of the noise levels to which Americans are exposed and will improve the ability of American industry to compete in world markets paying increasing attention to the noise emissions of products.

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