Abstract:
The USAF has been required to conduct noise measurements to assess the impact of its flying mission. In 1984 as part of a Record of Decision to fly super-sonic flights over Valentine, Texas and Reserve, New Mexico, the USAF had to conduct sonic boom monitoring that cost over $1.5M. Validation studies have been conducted to increase the public's confidence in the noise models used for the Air Force Air Installation Compatible Use Zone program. In 1992 the USAF developed a noise monitor that could be put around the neck of an animal for studies to determine the effects of military overflights on wildlife. The USAF has started a new development program to consolidate all of its noise measurement requirements into a remote monitoring package. This package will use different sensors and data compression for various measurements but the same radio transmitter hooked to a long haul communications system to transmit the data back to a remotely located computer system for analysis. This capability will allow the USAF to do real-time monitoring of noise impacts for determining its mitigation effectiveness.