Boom Visualizer

Using data generated by actual flight tests conducted at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center and data collected from NASA noise laboratories, app developers should construct a visualization of low boom as it compares to normal sonic boom. Currently noise data is either illustrated with ‘contours’ around airport runways and surrounding areas or presented numerically in decibels. Can an app be developed that allows people to ‘see’ the difference between low boom and normal sonic boom over their geographical area? Such an app would help visual learners to grasp the difference more rapidly than traditional data displays.

A normal supersonic airplane will produce a sonic boom when traveling faster than the speed of sound. This sound is usually very disruptive to the people on the ground. With the new quiet supersonic planes that NASA are developing, the noise is replaced by a soft thump at a significantly lower volume.

This app allows users to compare the two booms, looking at both range and sound levels. Use the drop-down lists to select departing and arrival airport, and use the search function to select your geographical position. The map will display which sounds that can be heard in your area.