Modeling propagation of aviation noise under range-dependent conditions, using a hybrid parabolic equation-fast field program method

Based on the Parabolic equation method, a model for sound propagation over uneven terrain, with mixed ground impedance and range-dependent meteorological conditions, has been developed to improve prediction of the impact of aviation noise on communities. Intended to enhance the noise prediction capabilities for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Aviation Environmental Design Tool in support of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), the model uses a hybrid parabolic equation-fast field program approach for computing aviation noise contours. These methods ensure that the low-frequency content, a factor in community impact, is propagated accurately. The model can accommodate a broadband, moving sound source, traveling along a user-specified path, over three-dimensional terrain. A test case, designed to represent simple but realistic propagation conditions, is described, and results for a source traveling along a simple flight path are presented and discussed.