Volpe Center Acoustics Facility Staff Biography
Michael C. Lau
Michael C. Lau joined the Acoustics Facility at the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center as a co-op student in September 2000 and became a full time employee after earning his degree in Computer Engineering in January 2002.
In support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), he is part of the FHWA's Traffic Noise Model (TNM) development team performing TNM designing, testing, and providing technical and website support. TNM is the FHWA's software program used to predict highway noise and aid in highway noise barrier design. As part of this work, Mr. Lau also participates in performing field measurements to validate the software's noise prediction accuracy.
In support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), he provides support to measurement programs designed to enhance FAA's Integrated Noise Model (INM) algorithms as well as add newer aircraft to its database. FAA INM is a PC-based computer model used for noise impact analysis in the vicinity of airports.
Mr. Lau has also provided field measurement expertise in support of numerous studies, including studies of behind start of take-off roll aircraft noise, aircraft noise model database development, aviation air quality, asbestos, electric vehicle emissions, and long-term performance of quiet pavement technologies. Mr. Lau is also responsible for technical training guides for software programs and field equipment, construction and operations of the team's differential Global Positioning System (dGPS) and administration of division computer servers.
