Methods of correlating measured sound levels from an aircraft noise monitoring system with aircraft operations

Abstract

The Port of San Diego, owner and operator of San Diego International Airport (SAN), maintains a comprehensive aircraft noise control program that is designed to minimize noise impacts from aircraft operations at San Diego International Airport—Lindbergh Field. One element of this program involves continuous monitoring of noise at 24 remote monitoring terminals in the neighborhoods surrounding SAN and the acquisition of aircraft flight track data. This paper explores methods used by the SAN Noise Information Department staff to correlate, using algorithms in the aircraft noise and operations monitoring system (ANOMS), measured aircraft sound levels with actual aircraft operations. The paper will discuss the use of sound level rise and decay times, frequency filters, timing of noise events between monitors, passive secondary surveillance radar (PASSUR) to acquire aircraft flight tracks, and aircraft situation display (ASD) information to identify aircraft only noise events. The paper will also discuss how measured aircraft noise levels are compared to computed aircraft noise levels to verify the accuracy of the annual community noise equivalent level (CNEL) contours. The CNEL contours are submitted to the State Department of Transportation in response to the State of California aircraft noise regulation reporting requirements.