Kentucky Transportation Noise Exposure

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Map Information

How to Use This Map

Zoom in to explore potentially noise-sensitive areas. Clicking features in the map:

• Displays general information.
• Updates the legend readout to noise levels at click.
• Dynamically calculates noise distance decay estimates (roadways only).
• Displays noise levels that meet or exceed EPA long-term guidance threshold of 55.0 dB.

Key Terms

dB

Decibels. This is the unit used to describe sound level. Higher dB values indicate louder sound.

AADT

Annual Average Daily Traffic. This is the average number of vehicles that travel along a roadway segment in a typical day over the course of a year.

BTS Mapped Value

The modeled transportation noise level shown by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics noise surface at the clicked location.

Distance Decay

The general reduction in sound level as distance from a source increases. In this map, simplified assumptions are used to estimate how roadway noise may decrease over distance.

Noise-Sensitive Features

Places where noise exposure may be especially important to consider, such as homes, schools, libraries, parks, and natural areas.

Overview

This map shows modeled transportation (railway, aviation, and highway) noise, traffic count information, and screening-level distance-based exposure estimates. Noise-sensitive and noise-emitting sites are shown in the map.

Noise-emitting features include:

• Roadways
• Airports
• Railway
• Industrial Sites

Noise-sensitive features include:

• Residential Homes/Areas
• Schools
• Libraries
• Parks/Natural Areas

Transportation Noise Surface

Noise values shown on the map are based on the U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics National Transportation Noise Map Data, downloaded for the state of Kentucky.

Traffic Counts

Roadway traffic is a critical environmental noise pollutant. Traffic data shown is derived from KYTC's ArcGIS REST Services TrafficCounts. Where available, AADT, single-truck (box truck, buses) AADT, and combo-truck (tractor-trailer) AADT are shown.

Estimated Noise Range

Noise ranges in road popups are estimated from the mapped noise value and simple distance-decay assumptions. Distance-decay assumptions are based on decay rates for hard ground (3.0 dB per doubling of distance) versus soft ground (4.5 dB per doubling of distance).

Note: Distance-decay estimates are simplified screening tools and may not align exactly with the modeled noise surface, which represents broader transportation noise exposure. These values are intended to help identify potentially noise-exposed areas, particularly for sensitive land uses. Actual noise conditions can vary based on local factors and should be verified through field measurements and detailed analysis.

More Information

For more information, please read further here: Background