Validation of Aircraft Noise Prediction Models

To better estimate noise exposure experienced by communities living both near and some distances away from airports, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been sponsoring research to enhance aircraft noise modeling capabilities for future integration in the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT). In recent years, the noise research focus is shifted to validating models. In contrast to common perceptions, model validation is often more complex than comparison of a prediction with a measurement. A large part of the complexity is associated with the nature of the noise model and its applications. Further, it is often a challenge to identify and acquire a good set of measurement data suitable for validating models. Ideally, a special measurement is desired to collect data specifically needed for validating the models. But in reality, data sets from other sources are often used, in which case a good understanding of the data and associated limitation becomes very important. Another effort involved in model validation is handling of input data used in prediction models when matching the modeled scenarios to the measured ones. This paper discusses those considerations needed in planning aircraft model validation studies through examples and also analysis of sample data.