Air Quality, Noise and Vibration Characterization

The increase in atmospheric emissions from industrial and human sources has led to ever-increasing atmospheric pollutant levels. SNC-Lavalin Inc., Environment Division (SLE) has maintained a close working relationship with the public and the industrial sectors, helping it to acquire sound expertise in air quality. For the past 20 years, SLE has placed special emphasis on strategic planning and developing innovative solutions to meet our clients’ individual needs over the short and long term. SLE employs over 50 air quality specialists, including engineers, meteorologists, environment and climate change specialists and air sampling specialists. In addition, our software and database developers create innovative tools with the help of our air quality specialists, to meet today’s ever-growing needs. Whether you require a permit, assurance that your company meets the required regulations, or simply guidance in using a proactive approach while meeting your budget and timetable needs, our multidisciplinary team can help you achieve your objectives.

Our mobile laboratories, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, are employed in studies to characterize, quantify and monitor environmental, industrial and airport air quality, noise and vibration exposure. Furthermore, a wide range of complex operational sources and processes can be modeled in noise propagation simulations or air dispersion studies to develop practical and viable solutions, compliance plans and mitigation measures. Indoor and outdoor environments can be assessed and compared to current standards, regulations and health and safety practices.

In the industrial workplace, noise has long been recognized as a potential threat to workers' hearing. With noise sources constantly increasing in today's environment, noise can become harmful to the well-being of the public at large. Impacts on human mental and physical health can often be attributed to noise pollution and, as a result, noise control is a critical challenge.

SNC-Lavalin Environment has been active in the noise control and vibration field for more than 20 years, participating in studies evaluating health in the workplace, noise transmission in residential buildings, and the impact of environmental noise on populations. Our company has the expertise and the necessary tools to identify disruptive noise sources and propose practical and economically viable solutions that meet your expectations. Our professional acoustic team is supported by SNC-Lavalin's vast range of multidisciplinary expertise covering all aspects of a project.

AIR QUALITY:

  • Characterization of emission sources
  • Characterization of ambient air and development of monitoring programs
  • Emission inventories
  • Air dispersion modeling
  • Air quality impact assessment
  • Management and evaluation of fugitive emissions
  • Toxicological and technological risk studies
  • Corrective measures: evaluation and implementation
  • Software and database development
  • Indoor air quality assessment
  • Characterization and dispersion of odours
  • Training and audits
  • Expert witness

ACOUSTICS:

  • Noise monitoring (sound pressure level, worker exposure, intensity)
  • Compliance analysis to applicable standards
  • Modelling (indoor noise and environmental)
  • Evaluation of noise control alternatives and associated costs
  • Engineering of mitigation measures, implementation and on-site product acceptance testing
  • Environmental evaluation
  • Inspection and follow-up
  • Training
  • Expert witness

VIBRATION:

  • Seismic measurement (blasting)
  • Vibration impact (annoyance, building integrity)
Projects Contacts

Hydro-Quebec Research Institute's High-Voltage Testing Laboratory (IREQ)

Noise level assessment for transformers using the IEC 60076-10 international standard.

Country : Canada

Société du Havre de Montréal

Impact study on noise levels, evolution of road noise in sensitive areas following the restructuring of roadways

Country : Canada

AP50 Facility in Jonquière

Evaluate the impact of construction and building operations on neighbouring residential areas. Evaluate noise level compliance against applicable municipal and provincial regulation.

Country : Canada

Montreal Faculty of Music

Assessment of the maximum noise levels allowable for new equipment, and recommendations for modifications to reduce noise even further.

Country : Canada

Aéroports de Montréal

Noise exposure contours (NEF) 2008 for Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to determine the area and population affected as well as the noise evolution since 1981.

Country : Canada

Wind Farm

Done in collaboration with the team conducting the environmental impact study. Characterization of the initial noise levels, numeric simulation of the projected noise levels, acoustic compliance and impact assessment on noise levels. Follow-up on noise levels once the wind farm is in service.

Country : Canada

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (in progress)

In collaboration with the design team, acoustic engineering for ventilation and plumbing noise, acoustic insulation for wall, floor and ceiling. Inspection during construction.

Country : Canada

Power Plant and Barge Noise Levels

Noise and vibration impact study to determine the effect of relocating the HFO power barges Estrella del Mar (EDM) and Estrella del Norte (EDN) to the vicinity of the existing inland Monte-Rio HFO Power Plant in Los Negros, Dominican Republic.

Country : Dominican Republic

Rio Tinto Simandou

Noise monitoring campaign across Guinea for future iron ore project operations. The campaign aimed at establishing the ambient noise levels over a 24 h period in three distinct sectors: the mine, the railway corridor and the marine port

Country : Guinea

Assessment and Management of Emissions from Storage Tanks

This program provides for includes:emissions testing and odour monitoringassessment of the odour abatement / mitigation systems and implementation of an emissions management strategymodelling maximum ground level emissions concentrations in order to determine the size of domain area impactedperformance of a Health Risk Assessment to determine potential residential annoyances caused by odour dissemination

Country :

Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programs at client facilities

The LDAR: identifies all potential emissions points based on the plant piping and instrumentation diagramcreates a digital database including component size, manufacturer and model, internal equipment number, process line with chemical content, temperature, etc.combines the database with an analyzer and on-site measurements of each emission point's reading valueproduces leak reports for maintenance and emission reports for the entire plant on a scheduled basis

Country :

Hydro-Quebec Research Institute's High-Voltage Testing Laboratory (IREQ)

Noise level assessment for transformers using the IEC 60076-10 international standard.

Société du Havre de Montréal

Impact study on noise levels, evolution of road noise in sensitive areas following the restructuring of roadways

AP50 Facility in Jonquière

Evaluate the impact of construction and building operations on neighbouring residential areas. Evaluate noise level compliance against applicable municipal and provincial regulation.

Montreal Faculty of Music

Assessment of the maximum noise levels allowable for new equipment, and recommendations for modifications to reduce noise even further.

Aéroports de Montréal

Noise exposure contours (NEF) 2008 for Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to determine the area and population affected as well as the noise evolution since 1981.

Wind Farm

Done in collaboration with the team conducting the environmental impact study. Characterization of the initial noise levels, numeric simulation of the projected noise levels, acoustic compliance and impact assessment on noise levels. Follow-up on noise levels once the wind farm is in service.

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (in progress)

In collaboration with the design team, acoustic engineering for ventilation and plumbing noise, acoustic insulation for wall, floor and ceiling. Inspection during construction.

Power Plant and Barge Noise Levels

Noise and vibration impact study to determine the effect of relocating the HFO power barges Estrella del Mar (EDM) and Estrella del Norte (EDN) to the vicinity of the existing inland Monte-Rio HFO Power Plant in Los Negros, Dominican Republic.

Rio Tinto Simandou

Noise monitoring campaign across Guinea for future iron ore project operations. The campaign aimed at establishing the ambient noise levels over a 24 h period in three distinct sectors: the mine, the railway corridor and the marine port

Assessment and Management of Emissions from Storage Tanks

This program provides for includes:emissions testing and odour monitoringassessment of the odour abatement / mitigation systems and implementation of an emissions management strategymodelling maximum ground level emissions concentrations in order to determine the size of domain area impactedperformance of a Health Risk Assessment to determine potential residential annoyances caused by odour dissemination

Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programs at client facilities

The LDAR: identifies all potential emissions points based on the plant piping and instrumentation diagramcreates a digital database including component size, manufacturer and model, internal equipment number, process line with chemical content, temperature, etc.combines the database with an analyzer and on-site measurements of each emission point's reading valueproduces leak reports for maintenance and emission reports for the entire plant on a scheduled basis