The proposed project would result in changes to three types of noise: construction-related noise, aircraft-related noise, and traffic-related noise. The methods used for describing existing noise conditions and forecasting the future noise environment rely extensively on computer noise modeling. The noise environment is commonly depicted in terms of lines of equal noise levels, or noise contours.
The FAA's Integrated Noise Model (INM) Version 7.0b was used to model aviation operations for the Airport for purposes of identifying the extent of aircraft noise exposure. The INM is a large computer program developed to plot noise contours for airports. The program is provided with standard aircraft noise and performance data for over 100 civilian aircraft types that can be tailored to the characteristics of an airport, as well as a database of military aircraft types. Version 7.0b includes an updated database that includes some newer aircraft, the ability to include run-ups in the computations, the ability to include topography in the computations, and the increased differentiation between different types of aircraft (civil, military, and helicopter). Noise contour files from the INM were loaded into the ArcView Geographic Information System (GIS) software for plotting and land use analysis.
The INM program requires the input of the physical and operational characteristics of an airport. Physical characteristics include runway coordinates, airport altitude, and temperature and, optionally, topographical data. Operational characteristics include various types of aircraft data. This includes not only the aircraft types and flight tracks, but also departure procedures, arrival procedures, and stage lengths (flight distance) that are specific to the operations at an airport. Aircraft data needed to generate noise contours include:
• number of aircraft operations by type;
• types of aircraft;
• day/night time distribution by type;
• flight tracks;
• flight track and runway utilization by type;
• flight profiles;
• typical operational procedures; and
• average meteorological conditions.