Preliminary considerations for addressing SBBH/PLU Airport noise in adjacent neighborhoods

Abstract

Excessive sound pressure levels resulting from operations a central airports have a significant impact on the health and well-being of residents in areas adjacent to airport sites. This article presents preliminary considerations on the sound impact caused by Carlos Drummond de Andrade/Pampulha Airport (SBBH/PLU), located in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in a predominantly residential, mixed urban area. The research method involved a survey of the annoyances reported by residents, followed by an investigation into the repercussions of urban expansion towards the proximity of SBBH/PLU operations. For this, a study area was delimited by estimating exposure curves to airport noise, through the application of two simplified geometric methods, one of them from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of the United States of America, and another from the Civil Aviation Department (DAC) of Brazil. There is a mismatch between municipal urban planning, noise zoning plans and the actual occupation of the territory, which has resulted in the inconveniences that have been reported by residents. In addition, the study identified sound sources and receivers sensitive to aircraft noise within the delimited study area.