The Forensic expert kollegium performs calculations of aerodrome sanitary protection zones and carries out aircraft noise monitoring in areas located near aerodromes and along aircraft flight routes.

Among the issues related to protecting the population from urban noise, a significant place is occupied by problems associated with aircraft noise. The mutual development of a city and an aerodrome often results in the latter being located in close proximity to residential areas.

An aerodrome is a complex source of intensive intermittent noise generated by aircraft both on its territory and in the surrounding area. The continuous increase in aircraft engine power, as well as the growth in air traffic volume, leads to a significant deterioration of the acoustic environment around aerodromes.

It has been proven that prolonged exposure to aircraft noise results in decreased physical and mental performance among the population. Therefore, protection against aircraft noise associated with the operation of aviation equipment is becoming increasingly important.

For the purpose of protecting public health and the environment, permissible aircraft noise levels are established and sanitary protection zones are created when designing new residential developments, industrial enterprises, and other facilities located near aerodromes.

In accordance with Resolution № 35 of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus dated May 15, 2014, a sanitary protection zone is a territory with a special use regime, the size of which ensures a sufficient level of public health protection from the harmful effects (chemical, biological, and physical) of facilities both at and beyond its boundary.

The dimensions of a sanitary protection zone based on the noise impact factor for facilities that are sources of physical impacts on human health are established on the basis of calculations taking into account the location of the noise sources and the characteristics of the noise they generate. The size of the sanitary protection zone is determined individually for each specific case depending on the purpose of the facility. To establish the dimensions of the sanitary protection zone based on the noise impact factor, the calculated parameters must be confirmed by the results of field noise measurements. The dimensions of sanitary protection zones are determined in accordance with the permissible noise level standards established by the relevant technical regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Belarus.

The regulated parameters of aircraft noise in existing or planned residential development areas are the equivalent sound level and the maximum sound level, measured in dBA. The equivalent sound level is defined as the value of continuous steady noise that, within the regulated time interval, has the same root mean square sound level as the aircraft noise under consideration, whose sound level varies over time. The regulated time intervals are 16 hours of daytime and 8 hours of nighttime (from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.). Compliance with permissible noise levels is determined based on the results of multiple direct measurements conducted during daytime and nighttime periods, followed by averaging. Measurements are carried out under normal aerodrome operating conditions during periods of the most intensive traffic and during flights of the noisiest aircraft types at points located in representative areas of existing or planned residential developments near aircraft flight paths.

Aircraft noise measurement locations must be situated on a flat surface and comply with conditions that prevent excessive sound attenuation (such as tall grass, shrubs, or forested areas).

Aircraft noise monitoring in areas near aerodromes includes the following:

• measurement of maximum noise levels;
• measurement of equivalent noise levels with averaging over various time periods;
• monitoring of exceedances of permissible noise levels;
• obtaining source information on aircraft types.

The data obtained from field measurements are used to calculate noise impact zones.

All measuring instruments of the Forensic expert kollegium used for field noise level measurements are included in the State register of measuring instruments of the Republic of Belarus and have undergone proper state verification in accredited laboratories of the State Standardization Committee of the Republic of Belarus.

You can order calculations of aerodrome sanitary protection zones and aircraft noise monitoring at the Forensic expert kollegium at: Minsk, Zhukovskaga St., 11A, 4th floor

or by phone: +375 (17) 317 04 71; +375 (17) 317 04 72; +375 (17) 317 04 73; +375 (17) 317 04 74; +375 (17) 317 04 76; +375 (29) 109 60 11; +375 (29) 198 60 11; +375 (44) 588 60 11.