ESTIMATION OF NOISE ENVIRONMENT IN AND AROUND AN INDUSTRY CONSIDERING WIND AND TEMPERATURE EFFECTS

Abstract

Prediction of noise levels in and around an industrial unit on account of its installation forms an essential • component of its environmental impact assessment as also due to any alterations in the form of addition of some plants, has become mandatory for the clearance of any major industrial project. This dissertation, briefly reviews the laws governing propagation of industrial noise out of doors. Various attenuation mechanisms, shielding effect of barriers, ground and vegetation effects have been discussed. Effect of temperature and wind gradients, which are known. to alter the noise propagation pattern significantly have also been discussed. A software has been developed for the prediction of out door noise environment in and around an industry which models the source and receiver locations in 3-Dimensions in accordance with German guideline VDI 2714NDI 2720). In addition it also accounts for the influence of temperature and wind gradients in line with Australian ENM procedure. For the validation of the software, a test industry was chosen and an extensive noise survey was carried out for characterising the source barriers, ground and vegetation etc. using the source and environment The predicted noise levels were then checked against several spot measurements which were not used in source characterisation