Integrated Acoustic and Human-Centered Development and Digital Twin Testing for Rail Noise Abatement Strategies in Ohio

Rail and highway projects tend to run in tandem. Typically, residential areas along rail lines are located at grade separations. As a result, residents can be adversely impacted by rail noise and track vibration. Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) consistently receives complaints from residents related to rail noise. Currently, ODOT does not have any defined noise abatement strategies for rail projects. Research is needed to determine if there are feasible, reasonable, cost-effective ways to dampen rail noise for residential and other noise sensitive areas along rail lines. Research Goal: Identify innovative techniques and/or designs that can aid in the mitigation of rail noise. For this study, rail noise is referring to sounds coming from the tracks and subsequent vibrations, not the train horn. Of particular interest is railroad crossing elimination projects, which are subject to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assignment and typically include an at grade crossing and the potential for road relocation above existing rail lines. Additional items that should be taken into consideration include ownership, requirements, and costs for installation and ongoing maintenance of all proposed solutions. Potential Benefits: Effective noise abatement strategies for rail noise could extend benefits currently experienced from highway noise abatement strategies to residential and commercial areas located along rail lines. This includes but is not limited to increased quality of life.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/SPR/Research/reportsandplans/Lists/Final%20Reports%20All/Item/displayifs.aspx?List=47f3581d%2Df21c%2D403b%2D9358%2Dfea0b008772b&ID=831&Source=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Edot%2Estate%2Eoh%2Eus%2FDivisions%2FPlanning%2FSPR%2FResearch%2Freportsandplans%2FLists%2FFinal%2520Reports%2520All%2FAllItems%2Easpx%3FuseFiltersInViewXml%3D1%26FilterField1%3DCategories%26FilterValue1%3DEnvironmental%26FilterType1%3DMultiChoice%26FilterField2%3DResearch%255Fx0020%255FOrganization%26FilterValue2%3DUniversity%2520of%2520Cincinnati%26FilterType2%3DChoice%26FilterField3%3DProposal%255Fx0020%255FType%26FilterValue3%3DSTAR%26FilterType3%3DChoice%26FilterField4%3DList%255Fx0020%255FCategori%26FilterValue4%3DActive%26FilterType4%3DChoice&ContentTypeId=0x0100BD006C89430C884FB603A74E63BB6849&RootFolder=%2FDivisions%2FPlanning%2FSPR%2FResearch%2Freportsandplans%2FLists%2FFinal%20Reports%20All

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $150,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  44187

  125563

  130538

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Ohio Department of Transportation

  Research Program
  1980 West Broad Street
  Columbus, OH  United States  43223
• Project Managers:

  Fout, Vicky

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Cincinnati

  Civil Engineering Department, P.O. Box 210071, 741 Baldwin Hall
  Cincinnati, OH  United States  45221-0071
• Principal Investigators:

  Cuppoletti, Daniel

• Start Date: 20260701
• Expected Completion Date: 20280101
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Digital twins; Noise control; Railroads; Vibration control
• Subject Areas: Environment; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01992105
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Ohio Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 44187, 125563, 130538
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 9 2026 10:55AM