Past Services
For over twenty years, ATS Consulting has been a valuable partner in the environmental review, engineering, construction, and operation of public and private projects across the country. We have also been involved in state-of-the-art research into noise and vibration issues from transit systems and provided expert testimony and other litigation support services.
Specifically, ATS has performed noise and vibration analyses associated with rail transit (subways, light rail, commuter rail); freight railroads; highways and local road improvements; major infrastructure systems and government facilities; and new residential, commercial, and industrial development.
Throughout the development and implementation of these projects, ATS prepared technical reports in support of state and federal (NEPA, CEQA) environmental documents; developed cost-effective designs for noise and vibration control; helped manage and strategize noise and vibration mitigation; and identified ways to improve operational performance. ATS is well versed in relating technical concepts to lay audience and has been a valuable partner in community-outreach processes.
Types of Clients:
Transportation Agencies
Local Jurisdictions
Engineering and Environmental Consulting Firms
Law Firms
Developers and Investors
Types of Projects:
Railway Noise and Vibration
Traffic Noise Studies
Research and Specialized Studies
Construction, Infrastructure and Facilities
Community Noise
As we close ATS Consulting, we are handing over the ATS OnTrack™ reins to Spy Pond Partners and Cross Spectrum Acoustics. To learn more please email Spy Pond Partners at ontrack@spypondpartners.com.
If you are looking to have noise and vibration consulting services performed for your project or agency, we recommend the following companies:
Spy Pond Partners (OnTrack™ only) | Cross Spectrum Acoustics | Michael Minor & Associates | Radial Acoustics | Wilson Ihrig
Railway Noise and Vibration Analysis
Traffic Noise Studies
ATS specialized in noise and vibration control for rail systems and has been involved in a number of significant transit projects across the country. Over the past several years, ATS has provided noise and vibration consulting services for new rail transit lines in Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, Phoenix, Tucson and Vancouver, BC. In addition, we have helped major long-haul railroads address community noise complaints associated with rail yards and new facilities, and worked to change the noise at grade crossings to dramatically improve the quality of life for those living near rail systems.
ATS once worked with transportation agencies to identify and abate traffic noise impacts. In addition to technical studies following state and federal agency policies and procedures, ATS looked to innovative approaches to minimize traffic noise, including the use of “quiet pavements” to reduce noise from the source. For example, ATS performed before and after measurements to quantify the noise reduction from installing rubberized asphalt pavement and researched models to mathematically model the acoustic properties of pavements.
Note: As of 2020, ATS no longer provides highway project services.
Research and Specialized Studies
Construction, Infrastructure & Facilities
ATS Consulting has been committed to expanding the field of knowledge regarding the effects of noise and vibration from transportation systems. ATS has engaged in state and federal research projects, including developing a better understanding of the atmospheric effects on long-distance sound propagation, studying the use of audible devices to improve pedestrian safety in light-rail transit environments, improving predictions of ground-borne vibration, and developing new criteria to evaluate the impacts of building vibration on building occupants.
ATS worked with local jurisdictions to minimize construction noise while not unduly burdening project construction with onerous mitigation. The construction of new infrastructure and facilities can create significant, albeit temporary, noise impacts, particularly in urban areas. One such example is the analysis completed for the construction of two new sewer systems in Los Angeles. Using extensive noise measurements and detailed predictions of construction noise levels, we were able to focus in on specific construction sites and phases and thus develop targeted and highly effective mitigation.
Community Noise
ATS performed the full spectrum of community noise analyses, from predicting the impacts of a proposed project on the environment, such as an increase in local traffic resulting from a new commercial development, to evaluating the effects of the environment on the proposed project. For example, ATS completed the analysis of noise and vibration from existing train service on a proposed residential community. Using on-site measurements and past experience with residential sound insulation and predicting building response to ground-borne vibration, ATS produced and submitted to the developer design recommendations that met state and local requirements for compatible land-use development.
We recommend the following companies for noise and vibration consulting services:
Spy Pond Partners (OnTrack™ only) | Cross Spectrum Acoustics | Michael Minor & Associates | Radial Acoustics | Wilson Ihrig