Principal Associate
Judy Rochat, PhD
Judy has over 25 years of experience in transportation noise and vibration, including highway, rail, and aircraft-related projects. She has experience in both the public and private sectors, with projects ranging from prediction model development and policy support to research and environmental impact analyses. Experience also includes extensive data collection and analyses, standards development, and professional course instruction.
Judy played an integral role in development of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Traffic Noise Model (TNM) and Roadway Construction Noise Model (RCNM), supported the Federal Aviation Administration Integrated Noise Model (INM), developed an advanced noise prediction spreadsheet following Federal Transit Administration guidance, and developed software for sonic boom research. She is one of the authors of the FHWA Noise Measurement Handbook and Field Guide and has participated in highway noise environmental analyses, including new alignments, highway expansions, bridge deck reflections, barrier design, homes, schools, churches, recreational areas, building noise reduction measurements, and barrier insertion loss determination for existing barriers. She is an international expert on tire-pavement noise and quieter pavements and has participated in numerous studies and tasks, addressing measurement, prediction, and policy issues related to how pavement type affects highway traffic noise; this includes being a key contributor to related U.S. measurement standards. She is also a certified instructor for the National Highway Institute Course, Highway Traffic Noise.
In addition, Judy has managed/participated in numerous rail noise and vibration studies, ranging from the original environmental analysis to final design. Studies have included light rail, streetcars, commuter rail, freight rail, rail yards, houses, multi-story buildings, historic structures, hospitals, recording studios, concert halls, and mitigation design. Also, Judy provided support for detectability studies related to both rail and aircraft noise. Judy has managed and participated in special research studies covering the following topics: alternate highway noise mitigation strategies, changes in sound due to noise barrier and building reflections, noise and vibration from road discontinuities, temperature effects on highway traffic noise, combining measured and predicted data to characterize vibration propagation, motorcycle noise, rumble strips, quieter pavement benefits and longevity, sonic boom propagation into the ocean, and drone noise spectral content and masking.
Judy has Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science degrees in Acoustics from The Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of California at San Diego. . For the Institute of Noise Control Engineering-USA, Judy is serving as President (2022-2024) and is the Transportation Associate Editor for the Noise Control Engineering Journal; she also served as the Technical Activities Vice President and on the Board of Directors. For the Transportation Research Board, Judy is Chair Emeritus of the Noise & Vibration Committee. She is also a member of the Acoustical Society of America and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.