Noise abatement through band-use planning

Abstract

Land-use planning is often used as a technique for achieving a suitable auditory living environment. Land use alone, however, cannot be the sole noise abatement measure; noise control at the source combined with compatible land-use planning can be most effective. Noise abatement strategies for planning in the environs of airports include operational changes, schedule restrictions, aircraft type restrictions, technological change, airport system change, traffic demand change, encouraging compatible land use, public use, relocation of incompatible use, sensitivity changes, airport environs planning, compensation legal action, regulation and administrative mechanisms, economic incentives, and information. Relative effectiveness and time effectiveness horizons of each are discussed. Alternate means of reducing conflicts between noise sources and surrounding activities are outlined. Implementation of noise abatement strategies and obstacles to implementation are addressed. Ten U.S. airports were studied, including several involved in the Metropolitan Aircraft Noise Abatement Policy Studies (MANAPS) jointly funded by the Department of Transportation and Department of Housing and Urban Development, in order to determine which noise abatement policies and strategies could be most productive.