Minimum measurement time interval to estimate a reliable sound pressure level of road traffic noise using two types of dynamic statistics

A new method to determine the minimum measurement time interval needed to obtain the equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level with a designated reliability is presented. This method considers variations in the noise emission from passing vehicles. To verify the validity and availability, simulation experiments based on our dynamic model are examined under various traffic conditions. A statistic quantity, the mean time interval between two maximum sound pressure levels consecutively observed during the reference measurement time interval, is introduced in the experimental analysis. Additionally, the theoretical analysis includes another statistic quantity corresponding to the mean time interval, the mean recurrence time of the maximum sound pressure level, when the transition probability, rate of heavy vehicles, and probability distribution of vehicles passing the observation point during the reference measurement time interval are known.