Road Noise Calculator

Formula

To calculate the road noise level:

\[ \text{NL} = 70 + 10 \log_{10}(S) - 20 \log_{10}(D) \]

Where:

\(\text{NL}\) is the Noise Level (dB)
\(\text{S}\) is the Speed of the Vehicles (mph)
\(\text{D}\) is the Distance from the Road (feet)

What is Road Noise?

Road noise is the sound generated by vehicles traveling on roadways. It is a type of environmental noise that can be disruptive to nearby residents and wildlife. Factors that contribute to road noise include vehicle speed, traffic volume, road surface, tire design, and the distance from the road. Understanding and calculating road noise levels can help in the design of noise barriers and other mitigation strategies.

Example Calculation 1

Let's assume the following values:

Speed of the Vehicles (\(\text{S}\)) = 60 mph
Distance from the Road (\(\text{D}\)) = 50 feet

Using the formula:

\[ \text{NL} = 70 + 10 \log_{10}(60) - 20 \log_{10}(50) \]

Calculate the intermediate steps:

\(\log_{10}(60) \approx 1.78\)
\(\log_{10}(50) \approx 1.70\)

Plugging in the values:

\[ \text{NL} = 70 + 10 \times 1.78 - 20 \times 1.70 = 70 + 17.8 - 34 = 53.8 \, \text{dB} \]

The Noise Level is approximately 53.8 dB.

Example Calculation 2

Let's assume the following values:

Speed of the Vehicles (\(\text{S}\)) = 30 mph
Distance from the Road (\(\text{D}\)) = 100 feet

Using the formula:

\[ \text{NL} = 70 + 10 \log_{10}(30) - 20 \log_{10}(100) \]

Calculate the intermediate steps:

\(\log_{10}(30) \approx 1.48\)
\(\log_{10}(100) = 2\)

Plugging in the values:

\[ \text{NL} = 70 + 10 \times 1.48 - 20 \times 2 = 70 + 14.8 - 40 = 44.8 \, \text{dB} \]

The Noise Level is approximately 44.8 dB.