Predicting outdoor sound

This is a highly practical yet academically rigorous reference for acoustic engineers, especially those working on major projects where noise control is a key issue, such as the design and construction of Heathrow Terminal 5. Including software allowing the user to make noise calculations, this book brings together various theories and data to give both researchers and practitioners the basis for deciding which model to use in a given situation. Chapter topics include ground impedance models and data, methods of measuring ground impedance, ground effects in homogenous atmospheres, sound propagation in refracting and turbulent atmospheres, sound propagation from moving sources, the performance of outdoor noise barriers, the effects of tall vegetation and both numerical and empirical methods for predicting the various influences on outdoor sound. International in its applications, and written by those who have been key in many of the recent advances, Predicting Outdoor Sound is the definitive reference for the acoustic engineer.

Introduction. The Propagation of Sound Near Ground Surfaces in a Homogeneous Medium. Predicting the Acoustical Properties of Outdoor Ground Surfaces. Measurements of the Acoustical Properties of Ground Surfaces and Comparisons with Models. Predicting Effects of Source Characteristics on Outdoor Sound. Predictions, Approximations and Empirical Results for Ground Effect Excluding Meteorological Effects. Influence of Source Motion on Ground Effect and Diffraction. Predicting Effects of Mixed Impedance Ground. Predicting the Performance of Outdoor Noise Barriers. Predicting Effects of Vegetation, Trees and Turbulence. Analytical Approximations including Ground Effect, Refraction and Turbulence. Prediction Schemes. Predicting Sound in an Urban Environment.