Abstract
Dose–response curves regarding the annoying impact of nocturnal aircraft
noise were calculated for the (1) maximum noise level LAS,max combined
with the number of aircraft noise events and for the (2) energy equivalent
noise level LAS,eq event by means of random effects logistic regression.
These parameters were compared according to their predictive properties
for annoyance ratings. Questionnaire surveys with 128 subjects of
a laboratory study performed at the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine
served as data basis. The laboratory results were compared to the
results of a field study carried out with 64 airport residents living
in the vicinity of the Airport Cologne/Bonn. In the laboratory setting
there was a significant rise of the portion of annoyed people depending
on LAS,max and frequency of fly-overs. Unlike previous studies, the
percent annoyed by aircraft noise also increased with LAS,max in
nights with less than 16, but louder aircraft noise events. The group
of annoyed subjects also significantly increased with the LAS,eq
event; however, above 50 dBA it decreased again since fewer but louder
events were presented in the underlying combinations of noise level
(45–80 dBA LAS,max) and number of noise events per night (4 to 128).
Data from the field study confirmed the trend of the laboratory dose–response
relationships. Nevertheless, the curves established in the laboratory
lay above the field-specific curves, i.e., subjects felt more annoyed
by aircraft noise in the laboratory setting than in their domestic
environment. This was most probably caused by the increased number
of awakenings in the laboratory compared to field conditions. The
findings of the studies indicate that not only the energy equivalent
noise level, as used in noise abatement rules of many countries,
but also the number of aircraft events are a major source of nocturnal
aircraft noise induced annoyance.
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