HMMH Announces Two Promotions
Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc. (HMMH) is pleased to announce the promotions of Jason Ross and Diana Khera.
Mr. Jason Ross has been promoted to Principal Engineer. Mr. Ross manages HMMH's acoustics and vibration laboratory, has an extensive background in rail and other ground noise and vibration, and has developed data acquisition and analysis software. Mr. Ross has conducted extensive noise and vibration measurements including reference vehicle measurements of vehicles such as aircraft, trains, automobiles and snowmobiles and long-term ambient noise and atmospheric data collection in remote locations such as the Grand Canyon National Park. He is currently managing a locomotive cab noise project and supporting rail noise projects in Houston. Mr. Ross has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts.
Ms. Diana Khera has been promoted to Principal Consultant. Ms. Khera has expertise in airport and airspace planning and has supported many high-profile Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). She has a strong understanding of the National Airspace System and hands-on experience with modeling tools. For several years, she has supported the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) primarily in the area of policy development. Ms. Khera has a Masters degree in Business Administration in Aviation and is an instrument rated private pilot.
Jason Ross has been active in the field of acoustics and vibration for over ten years, all of which have been with HMMH. Diana Khera joined HMMH in 2007 with nearly ten years in aviation consulting.
"We are very excited to announce these promotions. Jason and Diana have very different skill sets and work in very different markets, but they are both high caliber consultants providing excellent service to clients. In addition, they both have served on HMMH's Board of Directors and have keen strategic minds that no doubt will help us achieve larger corporate objectives. I am proud to have them as colleagues." -- Mary Ellen Eagan, President
Article helps explain new ANSI standard
Mr. Nick Miller (of Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc.) with Mr. Paul Schomer (of Schomer and Associates, Inc.) published an article in the April 2009 issue of Acoustics Today that explains the value of the new ANSI sleep awakening standard. It explains the standard and provides examples of how it can help quantify the changes in awakenings likely to occur when night aircraft operations change or when homes are sound insulated.
The article is titled "How many people will be awakened by noise tonight?"
"Imagine telling a judge or planning body," These increases in noise will cause twenty percent of the population to move ten percent more in their sleep'" (excerpt). The article emphasizes that the use of awakenings, rather than "motility" or physical movement as emphasized in the European Union, is easier to understand for decision-makers and it is awakenings that are predicted by the standard.
"ANSI/ASA S12.9/Part 6--2008 provides a pragmatic general method for estimating the awakening effects of nighttime noise events. By applying this method to the two dose response relationships described in the standard, this article demonstrates the ease of making predictions and illustrates typical relative differences that can be expected between the two relationships" (excerpt).
Stephen Barrett Elected to EBC Board
Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc. (HMMH) is pleased to announce Stephen Barrett's election to the Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC) Board of Directors.
Mr. Barrett has participated in EBC since 1998, in varying capacities, including as the Chairman of the Wind Energy Committee since 2008, and as a moderator and a panelist for the EBC's renewable energy programs.
The EBC is a nonprofit organization established to support and foster the development of the environmental industry by enhancing business and job growth of both established and emerging environmental and energy businesses.
Visit the EBC website at: http://www.ebcne.org/. Mr. Barrett recently joined HMMH as Director of Clean Energy.
HMMH Attends Taiwan Aviation Conference
Phil DeVita, HMMH's Director of Air Quality, recently spoke at the International Conference on Aviation and Safety in Taiwan. Mr. DeVita's presentation focused on greenhouse gas emissions and its implications on aviation in the United States. At the conference, there was an international panel presenting on aviation topics ranging from aviation safety in Taiwan, lessons learned from the trade liberalization and open sky agreements, airport terminal designs, and airline markets in east Asia.
Recently, HMMH commenced the noise, air quality, and risk assessment analyses in support of an Environmental Impact Assessment for the addition of a third runway at Kuala Lumpur International airport.
HMMH's hires a new Director of Clean Energy
Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc. (HMMH) is pleased to announce that Mr. Stephen Barrett has joined the firm to serve as Director of Clean Energy. Steve's experience with real estate and industrial projects as well as the power industry will greatly enhance the company's existing environmental and energy capabilities and its growing list of services to clients. Steve will be based out of HMMH's headquarters in Burlington, MA.
Mr. Barrett has a Masters Degree in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Virginia and is a LEED Accredited Professional. He has over fifteen years' experience with renewable energy, including wind and solar projects, sustainability planning, LEED analysis and coastal policy and management. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Environmental Business Council (EBC) of New England and Clean Power Now, and is Chair of the EBC's Wind Energy Committee.. At HMMH, he will work on environmental assessments, sustainability initiatives, and various climate and energy projects.
"We are thrilled to have Steve join us" said Mary Ellen Eagan, HMMH's President. "Many of our clients are interested in developing on-site clean energy capabilities, and Steve will be a valuable resource helping them to navigate the complex regulatory landscape."
HMMH assists LAWA with a Precedent-setting Study at Van Nuys Airport
In 2005, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) retained HMMH to conduct a precedent-setting study at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) under Federal Aviation Regulation Part 161, "Notice and Approval of Noise and Access Restrictions." The VNY Part 161 is the first to simultaneously address multiple restrictions (a total of nine), several of which would limit noisier aircraft operations.
In July 2006, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners directed LAWA staff and HMMH to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), under the California Environmental Quality Act, for a seven-year phaseout of noisier aircraft under a Part 161 provision that exempts ("grandfathers") rules proposed before October 2, 1990. In March 2009, LAWA released the final EIR for public review and the FAA notified LAWA in writing that a version of the phaseout that exempted Stage 3 and 4 aircraft would be grandfathered, since it was based on a June 1990 Board resolution initiating the phaseout proposal. On May 4, 2009, the Board approved this version of the phaseout (which was an EIR alternative) and recommended the Los Angeles City Council take steps necessary to adopt the phaseout as a City ordinance.
The phaseout will complement LAWA's other diverse and innovative noise abatement and mitigation initiatives at VNY, and represent the first new airport use restriction in the U.S. since HMMH assisted Naples (Florida) Municipal Airport to ban Stage 2 aircraft operations in November 2000.
HMMH Supports Commercial Space Project
HMMH is assisting the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) under a contract with Aerospace Corporation and the US DOT. HMMH's acoustical experts cataloged existing aviation noise and sonic boom models and evaluated their applicability to the commercial space industry. This project supports AST efforts to update environmental guidance provided to applicants for licenses and permits for commercial space operators.
HMMH Team Places in Top 3 for for Schiphol Barrier Competition
SPF: architects placed in the top three in its category in the "Schiphol: Create a Barrier of Silence" competition. HMMH provided acoustical support to the SPF team. Out of 97 submissions, nine were shortlisted, three in each of three categories. The SPF team's submission, M.A.S.H. (Mobile Absorptive Sound Harness), for the "Design Category" was the only non-European entry to be shortlisted.
The Amsterdam Airport Schiphol held an international design competition for a noise barrier to be built west of Runway 18R-36L (Polder runway). The Airport explains that "the residents of the town of Hoofddorp-Noord, which is situated close to the airport, have been complaining about ground noise sign the polder runway was opened in 2003. To find a solution to this problem, Schiphol has decided to allot a 60 hectare triangular area just to the west of the Polder runway, which will be designed in such a way that ground noise will be reduced by 10 decibels." In addition to providing substantial reduction of low-frequency noise, the contest required the chosen design to be trendsetting, sustainable, innovative, and combine function and form to create a landmark.
The M.A.S.H. design would consist of eight 14-meter high mobile sound barriers, each constructed of recycled tires attached to a steel frame and mounted on railcars. The mobile barriers would be housed within concrete "hangars" with the runway in landing configuration. With the mobile barriers deployed closer to the runway when in takeoff configuration, the hangars would act as a second row of noise barriers, improving the overall noise reduction provided by the system.
Design drawings can be viewed by clicking here.
For more information:
http://www.spfa.com/
http://www.innovatieveoplossing.nl/
HMMH Part of Award-Winning Noise Abatement Team
The Florida Airports Council (FAC) Noise Abatement & Community Affairs Committee announced January 15th that the Martin County Airport / Witham Field Noise Abatement Departure Profile (NADP) Demonstration Project won the committee's 2009 "Noise Abatement Award," recognizing "an airport / aviation project that reduces the impact of operations on a neighboring community using operational measures." Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc. (HMMH) was a lead member of the team responsible for this highly successful project. In 2008, the Witham Field Airport Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC), identified noise abatement departure profiles as the noise abatement option offering the greatest potential to decrease noise impacts in neighborhoods near primary takeoff and landing flight paths. To select the optimal procedure for use at Witham Field, ANAC and the project team evaluated alternatives in two primary steps.
- HMMH conducted computer modeling of procedures developed by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), aircraft manufacturers, and Fair Wind Air Charter, a local fixed base operator.
- Then, in a highly unusual step, Far Wind donated aircraft and pilots to conduct test flights of the most promising procedures, while HMMH measured at key locations. ANAC members observed the test in the cockpit and on ground. The cockpit observer recorded flight data read out by the copilot.
The measurement and observer assessments confirmed modelled predictions that takeoff noise levels would be reduced by as much as five to seven decibels, through use of the NBAA "close-in" procedure. The airport, ANAC, and project team are continuing to work together to prepare and distribute pilot education materials to maximize awareness and effectiveness of the preferred procedure.
"We are proud to receive industry recognition for our highly successful NADP demonstration project, which shows that citizens and airport users can work as a team to develop noise abatement procedures, and that our technical experts can show the procedures actually reduce noise," said Michael C. Moon, Airport Director, Martin County Airport / Witham Field.
Other key firms assisting the airport staff and ANAC on the demonstration project included Camp Dresser & McKee, Hanson Professional Services, and Fair Wind Air Charter.
News Archives 2009