Integrating a Noise Modeling Capability with Simulation Environments

This paper describes the requirements for integrating a noise modeling capability into air transportation system simulations. In order to address community concerns, noise impact should be analyzed with appropriate models in simulation environments. Coupling a noise modeling capability with these simulators will lead to better understanding of what impact certain flight operations may have on local communities. Described within this paper are the general data requirements that a noise modeling tool must receive from a simulator. At a minimum, the simulator must provide data to the noise model that may be categorized under environmental conditions, flight path information including aircraft and engine performance, and grid set-up in order to analyze noise impact. An application of these requirements to the integration of a noise model with an air traffic control tower simulator is presented. Complexities in obtaining and adapting these data types from the simulator are examined. It is anticipated that the details of these requirements may be used to facilitate the integration of a noise modeling capability into other air transportation system simulation environments.