This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Sheppard Afb 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 2,467 Sheppard Afb residents, or 85.9%, live above that level. By land area, 86.7% of Sheppard Afb is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Sheppard Afb compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Sheppard Afb
Average noise levels for Sheppard Afb residents, grouped by direction from the center of Sheppard Afb. Northern Sheppard Afb carries the highest population-weighted average; Western Sheppard Afb carries the lowest. Just 52% of residents in Western Sheppard Afb live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about two-thirds of the share in Northern Sheppard Afb.
Central Sheppard Afb
100% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Sheppard Afb
77% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Sheppard Afb
100% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Sheppard Afb
100% of people above 55 dBA
Western Sheppard Afb
52% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Sheppard Afb sounds about 164% louder than Western Sheppard Afb to the human ear, a 14.0 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 do you need to be?
produces an estimated 105 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 busy restaurant.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 0% of Sheppard Afb sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 59% 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.