Case study: power facility noise measurement surveys before and after new equipment installation

A Southern California power provider needed documentation of outdoor ambient noise levels prior to and following installation of new high-voltage equipment at a large converter station near residential properties with equestrian trails. In order to meet client objectives, extensive coordination was necessary to ensure successful data collection and potential identification of anomalies. Noise measurements were conducted at twenty-six (26) locations around the facility's perimeter, in 2017 and again four years later in 2021. A broad overview of the project and purpose, details on the mobilization and measurement efforts, and a comparison of noise level data before and after equipment installation, with thoughts on changes to the measurable ambient sound environment, will be provided.