Noise Monitoring
Environmental | Transportation & Infrastructure
Location | Colorado
The Challenge
The client required nighttime noise monitoring to verify compliance with a municipal Department of Public Health and Environment (DPHE) noise variance during ongoing construction activities for a Municipal Rapid Transit Project. Because the arch installation work was scheduled during nighttime hours (9:00 PM – 7:00 AM), it was essential to ensure that sound levels remained within the permitted thresholds to avoid disruption to nearby residential areas and maintain adherence to DPHE regulations. The challenge involved capturing accurate, real-time sound data in an active construction zone with multiple variable noise sources, differentiating between construction-related and ambient noise, and providing verifiable documentation to support compliance reporting.
The Solution
Halker implemented a targeted monitoring program using precision, Type 1 sound level meters that were fully calibrated before deployment to ensure measurement accuracy. Monitoring stations were strategically positioned near sensitive residential receptors and key work areas to capture both directional construction noise and background environmental sound. Real-time measurements were recorded throughout the night to track overall equivalent sound levels (Leq) and maximum sound levels (Lmax), enabling the team to identify any exceedances relative to DPHE variance limits.
Data was continuously logged and reviewed to distinguish construction-generated noise from ambient sources such as vehicular traffic, mechanical equipment, and neighborhood activity. Halker’s field personnel maintained close communication with construction crews to note specific noise events, equipment operation times, and work sequencing, ensuring clear correlation between field activity and noise readings.
Upon completion, a detailed report summarized monitoring methods, data trends, compliance verification, and any exceedance events, supported by graphical sound level analyses. This documentation provided the client with a defensible compliance record and actionable insights for noise mitigation planning during future nighttime operations.