Noise and Vibration Report - Transnet

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ENVIRO-ACOUSTIC RESEARCHSCOPING NOISE REPORT – TRANSNET: SWAZI RAIL LINK – DAVEL YARD TO NERSTON RSA ROUTE1.3 PROJECT LOCATIONThe identified route (refer Figure 1-2 for red line) is regarded as favourable due to thelocation Davel in relation with the existing railway lines (yellow line). Thecurrent/proposed route is mostly situated in the Gert Sibande District Municipality.1.4 STUDY AREAThe study area is described in terms of environmental components that may contribute orchange the sound character in the area.1.4.1 TopographyThe terrestrial topography can be described as slightly irregular undulating plains andhills.1.4.2 Surrounding Land UseThe surrounding area ranges from commercial dryland, forest plantations to cattleranching activities.1.4.3 Roads and rail roadsThe most important roads that the rail route current or is proposed to traverse are theN11, N17 and R33 National and public routes.The existing rail line from Davel to Lothair is indicated in Figure 1-2 as a yellow line.1.4.4 Ground conditions and vegetationGround conditions may vary depending on section of rail under investigation (rural orurban). It is assumed that ground conditions could be classified as medium in terms ofacoustics (slightly acoustically absorbent). This specifically relates to the way that theground surface influence the propagation of the sound from the development as thefraction of sound that is reflected from the ground would be influenced as certainfrequencies would be absorbed by the ground surface. Ground conditions will be furtherinvestigated during the Environmental Noise Impact Assessment (EIA) phase.1.4.5 Other noise sourcesBesides the mentioned roads there could be a few other significant contributors of noise inthe study area of an industrial nature. Other major ambient noise contributors will beidentified and quantified during the ENIA phase.P a g e | 5
ENVIRO-ACOUSTIC RESEARCHSCOPING NOISE REPORT – TRANSNET: SWAZI RAIL LINK – DAVEL YARD TO NERSTON RSA ROUTE1.4.6 Residential areasResidential dwellings (also known as noise-sensitive developments, receptors or NSD’s)are defined in more detail in Section 1.6 and presented in Figure 1-3.1.4.7 Existing Background Ambient Sound LevelsBased on the desktop study ambient sound levels could range from rural to urban inacoustical character depending on the section of rail route under investigation.Measurements conducted during the ENIA phase would ambient sound levels moreaccurately.1.5 TERMS OF REFERENCESANS 10328:2008 (Edition 3) specifies the methodology to assess the noise impacts onthe environment due to a proposed activity that might impact on the environment. Thestandard also stipulates the minimum requirements to be investigated for Scopingpurposes. These minimum requirements are:1. The purpose of the investigation;2. A brief description of the planned development or the changes that are beingconsidered;3. A brief description of the existing environment;4. The identification of the noise sources that may affect the particular development,together with their respective estimated sound pressure levels or sound powerlevels (or both);5. The identified noise sources that were not taken into account and the reasons whythey were not investigated;6. The identified noise-sensitive developments and the estimated impact on them;7. Any assumptions made with regard to the estimated values used;8. An explanation, either by a brief description or by reference, of the methods thatwere used to estimate the existing and predicted rating levels;9. The location of the measurement or calculation points, i.e. a description, sketch ormap;10. Estimation of the environmental noise impact;11. Alternatives that were considered and the results of those that were investigated;12. A list of all the interested or affected parties that offered any comments withrespect to the environmental noise impact investigation;13. A detailed summary of all the comments received from interested or affectedparties as well as the procedures and discussions followed to deal with them;14. Conclusions that were reached;P a g e | 6
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Noise and Vibration Report - Transnet

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