UNDERWATER ACOUSTICS - PILE DRIVING UNDERWATER SOUND IMPACTS
Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc. has unique experience in measuring and assessing the impacts of underwater sounds on the marine environment and has made presentations of the sound pressures from these activities to a number of agencies on the behalf of Caltrans and several different construction companies. The driving of large steel shell piles has been found to result in very high underwater sound pressures that are lethal to fish and potentially dangerous to marine mammals. Measurements have been made to characterize a wide variety of piles, which include different sizes of steel shell (CISS), H-type piles, and concrete piles. Underwater sound pressures associated with the driving of these piles using either impact hammers (a variety of sizes), drop hammers, and vibratory hammers have been measured.
The work our firm has conducted has led to successful agreements with regulatory agencies so that work has continued on regionally vital projects (e.g., San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and Benicia-Martinez Bridge). Information provided by our firm has been used to evaluate the lethal impacts of pile driving noise to fish as well as identifying marine mammal safety zones so that biologists can prevent or minimize harassment to seals (pinnepeds) and whales. The effectiveness of several different types of underwater sound attenuation systems have been measured by Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc. These systems include unconfined air bubble curtain systems, different versions of confined air bubble curtains, and cofferdams (with and without water). Some of these systems have been very effective at reducing sound pressures.
Markets Served:
Marine Construction
Blasting/ Demolition
Services Offered:
Underwater Noise Measurements
Acoustical Signal Analysis
Permit Assistance
Expert Testimony
