Improved procedure for correlating blast noise events with complaint logs at U.S. Army installations

• Published in: Noise control engineering journal 2008-11, Vol.56 (6), p.451-459
• Main Authors: Nykaza, Edward T., Pater, Larry L., Luz, George A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustics; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Noise: its effects and control; Physics
• ISSN: 0736-2501; 2168-8710
• DOI: 10.3397/1.3001916

Regulations require Army installations to log and investigate complaints about the noise of military training and operations. A number of Army installations have sought to improve the investigation of complaints by installing monitors specifically designed for measuring impulsive sounds, but the relationship between measured impulse sound levels and noise complaints remains ill-defined. A previous analysis sought to define this relationship but was unable to find corresponding noise measurements for approximately one-third of the complaints. A new study, conducted at the same military installation, has made several technical improvements that have increased the correspondence between noise measurements and complaints. This paper describes the improvements and compares initial findings on the relationship between complaints and blast levels to work previously done. This article is a government work and as such, is in the public domain and not subject to copyright.