Noise Barriers - Natural and Man Made
Noise Barriers - Natural and Man Made
Noise Barriers - Natural and Man Made
Noise barriers also called - soundwalls, sound berms, sound barriers, or acoustical barriers It is an exterior structure designed to protect inhabitants of sensitive land use areas from noise pollution.
Reflective barriers may be constructed out of any dense material Partially absorptive barriers usually have a perforated skin and a chamber behind into which the sound waves enter and get dispersed.
When the line of sight is blocked between the noise source and the receiver, a reduction of a least 5 dBA is achieved. For each additional metre above line-of-sight, a reduction of an additional 1.5 dBA is achieved
BENEFITS
The benefits of noise reduction far outweigh aesthetic impacts for residents protected from unwanted sound. These benefits include lessened sleep disturbance, improved ability to enjoy outdoor life, reduced speech interference, stress reduction, reduced risk of hearing impairment, and a reduction in the elevated blood pressure created by noise that improves cardiovascular health.
Aesthetic impacts for motorists and neighbors, particularly if scenic vistas are blocked Costs of design, construction, and maintenance Necessity to design custom drainage that the barrier may interrupt
Natural
Man made
Natural noise barriers use natural barriers such as plants and trees to reduce and absorb noise
A thick hedge of evergreen trees can from a nearby noise source Two or three rows of plants can cut down noise by more than seven decibels.
PLANT QUALITIES
Evergreens with thick leaves and dense foliage soften the most noise. When planting a hedge to reduce noise, it is most effective to choose plants that have branches extending all the way to the ground. Gardeners who choose to plant trees with branches that do not grow near the ground should consider also planting a row of shorter hedges in front of the trees to block sound waves near the ground.
EXAMPLES
The sound tube in Melbourne, Australia, designed to reduce roadway noise without detracting from the area's aesthetics.
Noise barrier earth berm along Highway 12, Sonoma County, California
With regard to construction costs, a major factor is the availability of excess soil in the immediate area which could be used for berm construction. If the soil is present, it is often cheaper to construct an earth berm noise barrier than to haul away the excess dirt, provided there is sufficient land area available for berm construction.
Can reduce the loudness of traffic noise by as much as half Do not completely block all traffic noise Can be effective, regardless of the material used Must be tall and long with no openings Are most effective within 61 meters (200 feet) of a highway (usually the first row of homes) Must be designed to be visually appealing Must be designed to preserve aesthetic values and scenic vistas Do not increase noise levels perceptibly on the opposite side of a highway Substantially reduce noise levels for people living next to highways.