What is a Noise Exposure Map?
Noise Exposure Maps are developed using a specialized computer model developed by the Federal Aviation Administration known as the Integrated Noise Model, or INM. Often called “contour” maps, because they define bands of points of equal day-night average sound level (DNL), noise exposure maps illustrate where aircraft noise occurs in and around an airport and at what sound level. The FAA has specified criteria for the presentation of Noise Exposure Maps in Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 150. Aircraft noise contours generally follow the flight paths of aircraft. DNL values are calculated by the INM using data supplied by a technician. Specific data “fed into” the INM include the number and type of aircraft flying in and out of the Airport, runway use (i.e, which runway does the aircraft use), flight paths (the path that pilots fly to arrive at and depart from the airport) and flight profiles. A 10 decibel (10 dBA) penalty is applied to flights that occur during the hours of 10:
