Mitigating transit noise through urban planning and design

This thesis examines how urban design techniques can be used for path mitigation of transit noise. Noise problems from rail transit systems persist despite the existence of at-source noise reduction techniques for rail transit systems and substantial research on architectural acoustic solutions. Conventional planning literature suggests separating noise sources from residential parcels, a theory now seen as inadequate in dense urban environments. Because noise remains a problem, new techniques should be explored to find alternative means of reducing environmental noise. By using computer software to model the promulgation of environmental noise from rail transit, the effectiveness of eight urban design techniques were examined. In addition to the preliminary modeling of the eight techniques, four neighborhoods were modeled to examine how noise promulgates through real environments. Additional urban design elements were then added to the model to determine how these urban design techniques can mitigate noise. This thesis concludes that urban design techniques can be used to mitigate transit noise; however, noise should not be the only consideration when designing the urban environment. Furthermore, the thesis makes recommendations regarding land use policy and transit system management.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2003

Author dc:creator

• Marrella, Michael L.,. (Michael Louis), 1977-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kenneth Kruckemeyer.

• Urban Studies and Planning.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68393

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/68393