Assessment and prediction of noise from construction sites

Abstract

A study is described concerned with assessment and prediction of noise from large civil engineering construction sites. The relevance of this topic is demonstrated in the first chapter by reference to recent national and international standards and legislation. A combined noise and postal social survey was conducted around an urban highway construction site to determine the factors controlling construction noise annoyance. Dose response criteria were measured and compared for both construction and traffic noise and the importance of attitudinal factors in determination of construction noise annoyance was demonstrated. Other conclusions concern the utility of postal surveys to the execution of medium scale investigations of this type. Two chapters are concerned with the description and prediction of noise from common construction equipment and processes. Typical sound pressure-time traces and frequency spectra are presented which reveal that machines may be assigned to categories that have significant bearing on noise propagation. Assumption involved in exposure prediction and measurement were tested and an exposure prediction method for earthmoving operations developed and validated. Particular attention was paid to characteristics and measurement of noise from impact pile drivers A strategic method of exposure prediction was studied by reference to the example of 'cut and cover' tunnelling. This allowed the determination of four estimates of noise exposure which were related to different construction techniques and the assessment of the contribution of each machine type to the total exposure. A study was made of the degree of noise control available for each machine type. This information was used to determine the effectiveness of various extents of use of noise controlled equipment. Appendices are included which contain details of computer based data analysis methods, questionnaires and other results.

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