00196650

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...s/trr/1978/685/685-005.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...nser&publication_year=1978

The purpose of this paper is to compare and assess the measured and calculated attenuations obtained from earthen sound berms and also to assess the perceived effects of selected berms on adjacent residential neighborhoods by means of an attitudinal survey. Simultaneous sound readings were taken before and after construction of the berms. It was found that they produced median sound-level attenuations of 5 dB(A) at the right-of-way line and 3 dB(A) at a distance corresponding to the front sidewalk of the homes along the freeway. The attitudinal survey, conducted before and after the construction of sound berms, indicated that residents immediately adjacent to the freeway perceived a reduction in sound levels and increased privacy both indoors and outdoors. The study concluded that even minor attenuations of freeway noise of 5 dB(A) or less are discernible within adjacent neighborhoods and, based on the subjective responses of the attitudinal survey, are perceived to be greater than actually measured. Also, the increased privacy afforded by sound berms should be a consideration in the evaluation of proposals for the construction of future sound-attenuating devices. /Author/

Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Geometric Design and Committee on Roadside Environment. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

01414337

pp 23-29

1978

Transportation Research Record

0309028302

Print

Figures (3) ; Photos; References (6) ; Tables (7)

Attitudes; Berms; Data collection; Earthwork; Noise barriers; Perception; Residential areas; Sound level; Surveys

Subjective analysis

Design; Environment; Highways; Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors

TRIS, TRB

Sep 15 1979 12:00AM

• COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF DRIVEWAY SLOPE IMPROVEMENTS
• DETERMINING DESIGN FLOWS FOR CULVERTS AND BRIDGES ON UNGAUGED STREAMS: A WATERSHED RATIONALE. ABRIDGMENT
• EDGE-OF-PAVEMENT PROFILES
• HYDRAULIC AND SAFETY CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECTED GRATE INLETS. ABRIDGMENT
• PAVEMENT WIDTH STANDARDS FOR RURAL TWO-LANE HIGHWAYS. ABRIDGMENT
• RAINFALL INTENSITY-DURATION-FREQUENCY CURVES DEVELOPED FROM (NOT BY) COMPUTER OUTPUT
• SUPERELEVATION AND CURVATURE OF HORIZONTAL CURVES