The Boca Raton Airport Authority, along with Ricondo and Associates, has initiated a project to update the Airport’s Noise Exposure Map (NEM). This study will analyze the most recent annual aircraft operations and noise impacts to determine the levels of aviation related noise around the Airport, in accordance with federal guidelines. The Noise Exposure Map was last completed in 2001 with an update to the noise contours completed in 2017.

 

To describe the effects of environmental noise in a simple, uniform and appropriate way, the day-night average sound level (DNL) noise metric is used in the development of the NEM. DNL is a metric that reflects a person’s cumulative exposure to sound over a 24-hour period, expressed as the noise level for the average day of the year on the basis of annual aircraft operations. All the factors described above, plus many others, are calculated for the entire area surrounding an airport. An entire year’s worth of flights from the airport are examined using sophisticated aircraft noise modeling programs. Every aircraft’s weight, trajectory, flight path, and many other characteristics are input into the program. To account for a higher sensitivity to noise exposure at night (occurring between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.), DNL calculations add a ten decibel “penalty” to operations occurring at night.

 

FAA has adopted DNL 65 dBA as the threshold of significant noise exposure, below which residential land uses are compatible, but often also shows contours for DNL 65, 70 and 75 dBA noise levels on maps for reference. These are known as Noise Exposure Maps.

 

The update process will include public meetings as well as the development of a Noise Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) who will participate in workshops to discuss the focus of the NEM and to gain input from community representatives and members.

Pease check back periodically as updates regarding the NEM will be posted here as the project progresses.

 

For any questions, please contact the airport authority at airportauthority@bocaairport.com or 561-391-2202.