Comparison of Results From The STEAM Rail Noise Model to Potential Alternatives

Authors

  • Ian Matthew CAA
  • Anthony Amarra

Abstract

The “Sound from Trains Environmental Analysis Method” (STEAM) for rail noise prediction, created by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (now the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks), has been in use in Ontario since 1990 and is endorsed not only at the provincial level in Ontario but also by the Canada Transportation Agency (CTA) for use in sound level predictions as they relate to complaint resolution for federally regulated railways.

This paper presents a high-level comparison of the sound level predictions from the STEAM model to those currently in use in the United States – namely the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Railway Administration (FRA) models.  The comparison looks at the sensitivity of the models to a number of variables with a focus on sound emission characteristics.  The investigation gives specific consideration to the impact of source selection (type of locomotive, type of car, etc) on the sound level predictions.

Author Biographies

Ian Matthew, CAA

Valcoustics Canada Ltd.

Anthony Amarra

Valcoustics Canada Ltd.

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Published

2019-10-16

How to Cite

1.
Matthew I, Amarra A. Comparison of Results From The STEAM Rail Noise Model to Potential Alternatives. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2019 Oct. 16 [cited 2021 Oct. 16];47(3):68-9. Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/3349

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 3 (2019)

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada

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