NYC Noise Control Project

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The Challenge

Develop a comprehensive noise control and monitoring plan addressing all construction-related noise
Ensure the plan is sensitive to residents’ needs, balancing construction requirements with community comfort

The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) has been working to restore and repair New York City’s aging water distribution system. In doing so, the DDC constructed a new water tunnel, City Tunnel No. 3. The W. 60th Street project is one of eleven such planned projects in Manhattan that connect new shaft distribution chambers to Tunnel No. 3.

Geocomp worked with Waterworks JV to install and connect the water mains to provide noise control and monitoring. Challenging the team was developing a noise control and monitoring plan that not only accounted for all construction-related noise, but that also was sensitive to the needs of residents.

The Solution

Geocomp had a 5-year contract to provide noise control and monitoring as part of the reconstruction work that the DDC conducted to rehabilitate New York City’s water distribution system. Serving as the noise control specialist for Waterworks JV, Geocomp developed a site-specific noise control and monitoring plan that integrated our web-based iSiteCentral® database for real-time monitoring with our expertise in noise monitoring. Geocomp designed and installed an automated monitoring system that monitored indoor and outdoor noise at four construction sites.

The project consisted of the construction and installation of various size water mains (48-inch, 36-inch, 20-inch, and 12-inch) for connection to Water Tunnel No. 3. As part of the noise control and monitoring plan, Geocomp performed equipment noise certifications and installed our SMLS-800 automated noise meters for remote construction noise monitoring. With both noise meters and traditional handheld monitoring in place, Waterworks JV was able to conduct work without causing disturbance to area residents, avoiding possible noise complaints.