ABSTRACT
Each noise control problem is slightly different and should be treated on an individual basis. However, there are sufficient similarities between some problems that it is useful to approach noise problems in a systematic way. The systematic approach normally used is to consider each noise problem in the SOURCE-PATH-RECEIVER framework, and this chapter discusses this. It reviews various methods which have been useful in dealing with many noise problems, and explores how to determine the amount of noise reduction which should be required in different noise problems. The chapter describes some of the PATH techniques which have been found most useful. Most of these PATH techniques make use of the fact that there are only a few mechanisms by which noise energy can be reduced along its transmission path: spreading of energy with distance from the source, deflection of energy (by reflection, refraction, or diffraction), and absorption of energy.
