Challenges in siting a highway noise barrier with constraints of cost, zoning, and wetlands management

Abstract

A noise barrier has been planned to reduce the impact of highway noise on a private property with restrictions on construction due to wetlands management, and stringent building code requirements, with respect to cost. Using the constraints of the site and local ordinances, an application of a genetic algorithm was designed in order to find the optimal barrier placement that complied with all site constraints. Fitness criteria were developed according to the area of the constructed barrier, as well as the amount of attenuation provided according to a Maekawa based screen attenuation calculation determined in a 3-D model of the terrain.