CASE STUDY

CSIA MUMBAI: MONITORING

AND MANAGING NOISE
TO REDUCE IMPACT
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA Mumbai) applies a
balanced approach for identifying and analyzing noise levels in order to
reduce its impact on the surrounding community. The airport required a
comprehensive system to monitor sound levels and report compliance
with the latest national and international aviation legislation.

CHALLENGE
Taking into account city background noise,
CSIA Mumbai has to manage its noise
impact and fulfil regulatory obligations

SOLUTION
NoiseDesk, a web-based noise monitoring
system that monitors and manages sound
levels to efficiently implement noise
abatement procedures and programs

RESULTS
CSIA Mumbai accurately assesses its
noise impact and easily provides reports
demonstrating noise compliance

BRÜEL & KJÆR CASE STUDY – CSIA MUMBAI: MONITORING AND MANAGING NOISE TO REDUCE IMPACT 01
BACKGROUND
CSIA Mumbai is operated by Mumbai
International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL) under
the flagship of GVK Airport Holdings Pvt. The
airport (formerly named Sahar International
Airport) is one of India’s busiest with
approximately 36 million passengers and
700,000 tonnes of cargo per year. It manages
more than 750 aircraft movements daily.

The airport handles more than 40 passenger

airlines and 15 freight airlines flying to 45
international destinations. Domestically, eight
passenger airlines and one freight airline fly to
47 destinations.

THE CHALLENGE
The International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) has developed a “balanced approach”
concept to reduce aircraft noise impact on
communities. The model’s four elements
include:
• Reduction of noise at the source
• Land use planning and management
CSIA Mumbai has embraced this balanced with new noise regulations for Indian airports.
• Noise abatement operational procedures
approach and undertook an initiative relating CSIA Mumbai’s new system needed to
• Operational restrictions
to its noise abatement program. As part of assist with complying with the latest DGCA
the project, the airport sought a cost-effective requirements.
noise monitoring system to detect noise
events and correlate this data with aircraft “MIAL was looking for a comprehensive noise
movements. Data identifying the loudest monitoring and management system that
aircraft would subsequently be used to help could do it all,” said CSIA Mumbai Executive
resolve airport noise issues. Vice President Dr. Narendra Hosabettu.

The noise monitoring system chosen had to
be simple to use, easy to install and proven to
assist noise abatement programs. It also had
to provide air traffic radar surveillance and
seamlessly connect with other data sources
such as flight tracks and weather systems.
Prior to the airport selecting its new
monitoring solution, the Indian Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) came out
“MIAL needed to measure both aircraft and
airport sound levels. This had to be done after
considering background city noise. We needed
a simple system with automation so that we
could save a lot of our staff’s time. Also, we
needed something that could integrate data
from different noise terminals and analyze
and report our noise levels through a single
portal.”

“MIAL WAS LOOKING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE

NOISE MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
THAT COULD DO IT ALL.”
CSIA Mumbai Executive Vice President Dr. Narendra Hosabettu

BRÜEL & KJÆR CASE STUDY – CSIA MUMBAI: MONITORING AND MANAGING NOISE TO REDUCE IMPACT 02
 “BEFORE DECIDING, WE VISITED LONDON SOUTHEND AIRPORT TO SEE THE
SYSTEM IN ACTION. AFTER SEEING HOW WELL IT WORKED AT SOUTHEND,
WE WERE CONVINCED THE NOISEDESK NOISE MONITORING SYSTEM
WOULD DO EVERYTHING WE NEEDED IT TO.”
Mr. Shailendra Joshi, CSIA Mumbai DGM Environment & Sustainability

CSIA Mumbai DGM Environment & Sustainability Mr. Shailendra Joshi and AVP-Procurement Mr. Sumit Mukherjee along with Southend airport officials.

THE SOLUTION
After conducting a noise mapping study to
understand the various sources contributing
noise in its airspace, airport and surrounding
community, MIAL selected NoiseDesk as CSIA
Mumbai’s noise management system.
NoiseDesk is a simple-to-use hosted service
that monitors and manages noise and
flight tracks 24/7. It requires less up-front
investment, automatically delivers reports,
assists with complaints handling, and provides
insightful information to credibly show the
community what’s really occurring.
“We chose NoiseDesk because it was already
proven at other airports. Before deciding,
we visited London Southend Airport to see
the system in action. After seeing how well
it worked for Southend, we were convinced
the NoiseDesk noise monitoring system
would do everything we needed it to,” said
Mr. Shailendra Joshi, CSIA Mumbai DGM
Environment & Sustainability.
CSIA Mumbai has cross runways and noise
monitoring terminals installed for the main
runway (09-27). Two stationary noise
monitoring terminals are installed under the
takeoff and landing flight paths, and one
mobile unit is on the airfield.
CSIA Mumbai chose NoiseDesk because it
enables airports to quickly implement noise
abatement programs with minimal staff.
The innovative web-based subscription system
cost-effectively processes infringements, noise
complaints, background noise and aircraft and
community noise events. When a loud event
occurs or a complaint is received, NoiseDesk
automatically identifies which aircraft is likely
to be responsible. Data can be replayed to
review historical information.
“With a more accurate understanding of
our noise impact, we can plan changes that
increase community comfort,” Mr. Joshi said.
NoiseDesk includes air traffic radar
surveillance, as well as connectivity to other
information sources such as flight tracks and
weather.

BRÜEL & KJÆR CASE STUDY – CSIA MUMBAI: MONITORING AND MANAGING NOISE TO REDUCE IMPACT 03
With a single click of a button, it compiles “WE’RE ONE OF THE CSIA Mumbai efficiently proves regulatory
reports determining compliance against a compliance to DGCA using the service’s
range of regulatory requirement measures. FIRST AIRPORTS IN standard reports. Reports include validated
INDIA TO IMPLEMENT data to credibly show the airport’s
Brüel & Kjær’s Operations Centre takes care of performance against its noise abatement
the system’s data integrity, support, calibration
THE COMPREHENSIVE procedures.
and equipment maintenance. NOISE MONITORING
“NoiseDesk automatically compiles all the
“With Brüel & Kjær maintaining all of the
SYSTEM AS PER ICAO’S data we need to report to our regulatory
technology and equipment for us, we’re BALANCED APPROACH. authorities,” Mr. Joshi said.
able to spend more time focusing on other IMPLEMENTING THIS
environmental tasks,” Mr. Joshi said. CONCLUSION
NOISE MONITORING NoiseDesk effectively and efficiently monitors
RESULTS SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE CSIA Mumbai’s noise impact as a critical
CSIA Mumbai uses NoiseDesk to monitor component of its balanced approach to noise
noise and flight tracks 24 hours a day so the
MOST IMPORTANT management. Nose reports generated show
airport knows its noise impact on surrounding INITIATIVES THAT MIAL compliance with Indian regulatory authority
communities.
HAS UNDERTAKEN.” requirements. Staff time is freed up to focus
on other important activities.
Shailendra Joshi
With continuous data on aircraft and airport
sound levels, CSIA Mumbai can easily assess
whether it’s maintaining acceptable noise
levels within its airspace.

“We’re one of the first airports in India

to implement the comprehensive noise
monitoring system as per ICAO’s balanced
approach. Implementing this noise monitoring
system is one of the most important initiatives
that MIAL has undertaken,” Mr. Joshi said.
“The system will help us to identify and
reduce the impact due to airport and
aircraft noise.”

Because the service is hosted, no capital

investment was required. In addition,
because NoiseDesk’s graphic interface is
so easy to use, no training or specialized
expertise was necessary.

When noisy events occur, one push of a

button presents information about the most
likely cause of the disturbance. This enables
the airport to promptly respond to issues
and transparently share information about With noise preferential routing in effect at CSIA Mumbai, more than 90% of departures fly out over
the occurrence. the sea. This significantly reduces noise affecting nearby communities.
2016-1
BG-1917-11

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