This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Mining City at 100-meter resolution, combining road, aviation, and rail sources. Green areas measure below 45 dBA. Orange and red exceed the EPA's 55 dBA outdoor threshold linked to long-term health effects. Use the layer toggles to view each source on its own or all together.
What the numbers sound like
- 30 dBAWhisper
- 40 dBASoft rainfall
- 45 dBAQuiet suburban street at night
- 50 dBAQuiet office
- 55 dBAEPA outdoor threshold: light traffic 100 ft away
- 60 dBANormal conversation an arm's length away
- 65 dBABusy restaurant
- 70 dBAHighway traffic 50 ft away
- 80 dBACity bus interior
Population Above the EPA Outdoor Threshold
The EPA's 55 dBA outdoor reference level is a common benchmark for residential noise exposure, especially for activity interference, annoyance, and long-term community noise concerns. About 42 Mining City residents, or 9.4%, live above that level. By land area, 14.2% of Mining City is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Mining City compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Mining City
Average noise levels for Mining City residents, grouped by direction from the center of Mining City. Western Mining City carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Mining City carries the lowest. Just 1% of residents in Northern Mining City live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Western Mining City.
Eastern Mining City
1% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Mining City
1% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Mining City
2% of people above 55 dBA
Western Mining City
27% of people above 55 dBA
Western Mining City sounds about 406% louder than Northern Mining City to the human ear, a 23.4 dBA gap. Every 10 dBA roughly doubles perceived loudness. Within any of these directions, two homes a quarter mile apart can still differ by 10 or more dBA depending on how close they sit to a major highway.
How far back from I-165 do you need to be?
I-165 produces an estimated 74 dBA at its loudest centerline points. Noise drops logarithmically with distance, with the exact rate depending on what's between you and the road. Tree cover, walls, terrain, and pavement type all matter. At roughly a quarter mile back, traffic fades into the noise level of a soft rainfall.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 68% of Mining City sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most cities) and roughly 1% is impervious surface like pavement and rooftops. Both are folded into the per-place decay rate above. Heavier canopy pulls noise down faster with distance; impervious surfaces slow the drop.