Improved Outdoor Sound Propagation model using Geographic Information Systems software and ISO 9613-2
Open Access
- Author:
- Ambaskar, Adwait Avinash
- Graduate Program:
- Acoustics
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- November 06, 2020
- Committee Members:
- Victor Ward Sparrow, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Peter Newman, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Brendan Derrick Taff, Committee Member
Nathan Reigner, Special Signatory
Victor Ward Sparrow, Program Head/Chair - Keywords:
- Outdoor sound propagation
ISO 9613-2
GIS
Anthropogenic noise
Natural Quiet
Acoustic model
Natural environments - Abstract:
- Anthropogenic or human caused noise can diminish the recreation benefits of natural environments. Several studies indicate a need for “natural quietness”, where sounds play a critical role in either enhancing or degrading visitor experience in many parks and protected areas around the world. Additionally, the sharp rise in the use of ATVs in the United States, indicating an increased demand for opportunities to partake in outdoor recreation, could lead to possible clashes in different recreation activities referred to as recreation conflicts. Building an acoustic model over a given terrain provides a pivotal tool to not only help in predicting the sound levels generated by anthropogenic noise sources but can aid in studying the extent of potential recreation conflicts, while providing a definite direction to mitigate such conflicts. An open source outdoor sound propagation model in concert with Geographical Information Systems software created by Nathan Tipton laid out a good foundation for mapping visitor experience affected by sound sources like gas compressors located in State Forest areas. The goal of this study is to troubleshoot the acoustic model created, make necessary changes and enhancements to the existing study, and finally implement the new version of the model to predict the extent of sound propagation from All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) across a set of different terrain inputs on an ATV trail system in Tiadaghton State Forest, Pennsylvania. The results thus produced present a preliminary version of the improved outdoor sound propagation tool, to assist parks and state forest services in making important management decisions to refine visitor experience.