AGR-IMPACTS-Environment ; AGR-PUBLIC AND TRIBAL LANDS-PUBLIC AND TRIBAL LANDS ; NTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-Environment Impacts ; NTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Pavement Management and Performance ;

Death Valley National Park provided an environment that allowed a demonstration of quieter pavement use. Sound measurements near the tire-pavement interface, near the road, and in areas of frequent human use were conducted and analyses performed in order to determine the general sound environment in the park and the potential benefit of using quieter pavements. Tire-pavement noise data were collected using the on-board sound intensity (OBSI) methodology, where sound levels for 15+ locations were identified. The OBSI levels for specific pavements in Death Valley were then used in a special research version of the FHWA Traffic Noise Model® (TNM®) in order to predict the potential effect of using quieter pavements at the park.

Volpe