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Volpe Center Highlights - September 1999

Human and Natural Environment

Director's Notes | Focus | Safety | Mobility | Human and Natural Environment |
Economic Growth and Trade | National Security

Protect and enhance communities and the natural environment affected by transportation.

Volpe Supports Alaska Hovercraft Demonstration Project (USPS)

Dr. Paul Valihura of the Environmental Engineering Division chaired a meeting of the Hovercraft Resolution Committee in Bethel, Alaska during the week of August 7. This Committee is made up of representatives from state and federal regulatory agencies, eight villages, the Association of Council Presidents, and the City of Bethel. It addressed Hovercraft operational and procedural concerns that could affect Native Americans and other residents of the Kuskokwin Delta of Alaska such as selecting landing sites and travel paths that are minimally intrusive to the inhabitants' subsistence activities. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has proposed a 2-year demonstration program to transport by-pass and non-priority mail by Hovercraft on a year-round basis on the Delta. The Volpe Center is supporting the USPS by providing environmental support to this demonstration program.

Volpe Staff Participates in Aircraft Noise Meeting in London, England (FAA)

Mr. Gregg Fleming of the Safety and Environmental Technology Division participated in a meeting of a Working Group of Committee A-21 on Aircraft Noise of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) held in London, England from August 9 to 12. This Group is responsible for reviewing and updating SAE Standards 1751 and 1906 that pertain to prediction of ground attenuation of aircraft noise. These standards will be reflected in a future update of the FAA's Integrated Noise Model, a computer model for airport noise prediction and analysis developed and maintained by the Volpe Center.

Volpe Experts Participate in Airport Noise Measurement Meetings at Grand Canyon (FAA)

Grand Canyon-Noise Measurement Equipment

During the week of August 15, Mr. Gregg Fleming and Mr. David Senzig, both of the Safety and Environmental Technology Division, participated in technical discussions with a panel of experts, including Mr. Thomas Connor, Chief, Noise Division, FAA Office of Environment and Energy; Mr. Robert Arnsparger, Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park; and Dr. Sheila Widnall, Institute Professor, MIT at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The group determined the scope of noise measurements to be performed in September for the validation of three computer models: the Integrated Noise Model (INM), developed by the Volpe Center; a derivative of NOISEMAP, developed by the U.S. Air Force; and NODSS - Noise Over Flight Decision Support System, developed by the National Park Service. A Blue Ribbon Panel chaired by Dr. Widnall will review the results of the validation. The Volpe Center is supporting the FAA by providing expertise in the development and maintenance of the INM, a computer model for airport noise prediction and analysis.

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