A source model for airborne noise from ship traffic in fairways

Noise from transportation is a major global health problem, and exposure is mainly dominated by road traffic noise, followed by railway noise and aircraft noise. Noise from shipping has mostly been investigated in relation to ships at berth, and is most often due to ships running their auxillary engines to provide power for necessary systems. To what extent noise from ships underway between ports may be a cause for annoyance or otherwise have a negative health impact is very poorly investigated. In a recent project airborne noise from ships underway in the fairway leading in to the Port of Gothenburg, Sweden, was recorded for a relatively large number of ships. The measurements indicated that for some low frewquency one-third octave bands, levels are high enough to exceed Swedish indoor low frequency noise regulation levels even at relatively large distances. In the current project the aim is to use detailed AIS data together with ship register database information in an attempt to create a source model for airborne noise from ship traffic in fairways, similar to what is available for other modes of transport. Such a source model could then be used to predict noise levels around ports and fairways.