Noise model application to small hydroelectrical power plants impact evaluation in the Aosta Valley territory.

In this paper measurements, results and model estimates, with reference to hydroelectric power plant noise emissions in the Aosta Valley territory, are compared in different contexts. The analysis was performed to evaluate and point out the influence of the noise source context on the accuracy of the model results. The estimates were implemented considering power plants as: point sources and area sources taking (or not) into account the building elements of the plant. This method allowed evaluating the detail that is suitable to achieve in an estimate and to justify possible simplifications in this kind of noise source description. Noise measurements were carried out simultaneously, at different distances from the power plants that were taken into account. The measurement results at the closest points to the sources were used as the model input data, while the levels found at the other points were used for comparison with the estimate results.