The City of Eagan, MN is one of the jurisdictions over which the new MSP Runway 17/35 flight corridor passes. To address residents' concerns about aircraft noise prior to the runway opening, the City of Eagan commissioned a study of existing and future noise levels.

The first goal of this noise study was to provide the City of Eagan with a comprehensive description of the existing "baseline" noise environment throughout the City. Wyle measured noise levels at ten locations in the community for a seven-day period in June, 2005. The locations were mostly in areas where there are currently no nearby flight operations.

The second goal was to more completely analyze the future noise impact of Runway 17/35 on the City of Eagan, using the Integrated Noise Model (INM) input data from the MSP Part 150 noise study. Fifty noise modeling "grid points" were identified jointly by City officials and Wyle. Wyle conducted a detailed analysis of noise exposure at these locations using the Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) metric, supplemented by metrics that focus on the noise impact of individual aircraft overflight events. This analysis helped the City of Eagan official and the community better understand the predicted future noise environment, in advance of the runway opening.

Wyle analyzed the number and duration of forecast aircraft operations that exceed a range of selected sound level thresholds at the fifty grid points, using the Time Above and the Number-of-events Above metrics. Results were presented to the public prior to the opening of the new runway with very positive feedback. The vast majority of citizens indicated they found the supplemental metrics gave them a much clearer understanding of what to expect.

acousticsgroup@wylelabs.com