Volpe Center Acoustics Facility Staff Biography
Christopher J. Roof
Mr. Roof joined the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center as an Electronics Engineer in 1993. As a member of the Environmental Measurement and Modeling Division, he has been involved in numerous transportation-related acoustics projects. His experience includes measurement, modeling and analysis of noise for various modes of transportation. Mr. Roof's primary expertise is aircraft noise.
Mr. Roof provides technical support to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Office of Environment and Energy (AEE). Included in his role is leading the development of the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT), an environmental model that combines noise and emissions modeling capabilities at the global and local levels, including the integration of economic and future-technology predictive capabilities. Previously, Mr. Roof was a team leader in the development and maintenance of the Integrated Noise Model (INM), a PC-based computer model used for noise impact analysis in the vicinity of airports. He has also partnered with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in conducting measurement programs designed to enhance the INM's algorithms and add newer aircraft to its database. In support of FAA AEE, Mr. Roof undertakes technical analyses for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aircraft Noise Committee (A-21). Mr. Roof has also provided support to the FAA in the development of a National Rule for aircraft overflights of National Parks. This support has included the conductance of dose-response and low-level ambient sound level measurements in many parks throughout the country, and specialized measurements of high altitude jet flyovers.
Mr. Roof also provides noise-related support to other agencies. He has investigated the potential impacts of hovercraft noise on humans and wildlife in remote areas of Alaska for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Other activities include work on: the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) National Magnetic Levitation Transportation Technology Deployment Program; the Federal Highway Administration's Traffic Noise Model (TNM); the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) analysis of potential noise impacts of increased safety inspections of Mexican motor carriers within the United States; the Department of Energy (DOE) analysis of electrical transmission lines, and the Federal Interagency Committee on Aviation Noise (FICAN) assessment of noise modeling tools in the National Parks.
