Constraints
General
In designing a noise mitigation measure for a particular situation, one has to consider a number of factors. Some of them are as follows:
(a) | the amount of noise reduction provided by the noise mitigation measure; |
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(b) | structural/foundation
requirement of the noise mitigation measure
require; |
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(c) | land/space
requirement of the noise mitigation measure; |
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(d) | any
obstruction to the use of road and pedestrian
walkway caused by the noise mitigation measure; |
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(e) | any
potential hazard caused by the noise mitigation
measures by obstructing or depriving enough
emergency access, blocking drivers' view
and so on; |
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(f) | other
undesirable effects caused by the noise
mitigation measure, such as insufficient
ventilation, loss of sunlight and so on; |
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(g) | visual
impact of the noise mitigation measure; and |
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(h) | the
capital and maintenance cost of the noise
mitigation measure and how they compare
with the same for other alternative measures. |
In the next sections, we will look at some of the constraints on the use of noise barriers and noise enclosures and on the applicability of road resurfacing using low-noise materials.
Constraints on the Use of Noise Barriers and Enclosures
Some of the constraints are:
(a) | The
need to provide adequate emergency access
as a crucial safety factor in densely populated
or developed areas; |
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(b) | The
proposed barriers or enclosures should not
obstruct the operation of emergency vehicles
such as fire engines and ambulances or equipment
and plant such as valves and fire hydrants; |
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(c) | The
proposed barriers or enclosures should not
become a road hazard or reduce the degree
of road safety in any respect; |
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(d) | The
need to avoid obstructing pedestrian flows
or interfere with street-level activities
such as loading and unloading, vehicular
access to buildings, commercial and recreational
activities; |
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(e) | Ease
of maintenance; |
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(f) | Disruption to traffic; |
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(g) | Loss of road space; |
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(h) | Degradation of air quality; |
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(i) | Structural
requirements; |
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(j) | Loss of sunlight; |
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(k) | Landscape impact; and |
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(l) | Visual impact. |
Constraints on the Use of Open-Textured Road Surfacing for Existing Roads
The use of road surface made of open-textured material instead of a brushed concrete one may help to ease impact of traffic noise by reducing noise from road/tyre interaction. For a quick review of the principle and application, please click here.
But an open-textured road surface is only effective under the following circumstances :
(a) | The
road should be originally be paved with
brushed concrete or other similar non-open
textured suface. |
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(b) | Traffic
noise from the road is the dominant noise
sources. For example, highway will be preferable. |
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(c) | Flat
roads are best because slopes take too much
force from vehicles braking and climbing
for the less-solid road surface to withstand. As such, local roads with sharp bend would not give satisfactory result.
Open-textured road surface gives the best
result in reducing noise on flat road with
smooth high-speed traffic because of the
domination of road/type noise. |
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(d) | Fewer heavy vehicles would also be preferable because engine noise, instead of road/type noise, will dominate with the increase of heavy vehicle proportion. |