An interactive approach for the minimization of annoyance due to aircraft noise

This research is concerned with the minimization of annoyance due to aircraft noise to airport communities. The approach developed is an interactive one which permits interaction with the Decision Maker. The immediate vicinity of an airport is divided into several areas based on population and proximity to the runways. The user can then minimize annoyance over any set of areas subject to the appropriate constraints. After any optimization, the results may be reviewed. The results provided include noise and annoyance in each area as well as the gradient of the objective and slackness associated with each constraint. This would assist the user in making a decision and aid in sensitivity analyses.

At each stage of optimization, the problem solved has a nonlinear objective function and linear constraints. This problem is solved by solving successive surrogate linear problems. The method uses a first-order Taylor series expansion about the solution point to set up the surrogate linear problem. The first solution point is obtained by solving an approximate linear problem.

The approach suggested is then applied to an example airport. Different scenarios are considered to illustrate the use of the model. Both the formulation of the objective as well as the constraints are illustrated.