Traffic Noise Pollution in a Historical City Center - Case Study Project within Environmental Engineering Field of Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 289-296
Author(s):  
Valentin Petrescu ◽  
Rodica Ciudin ◽  
Claudiu Isarie ◽  
Lucian Ionel Cioca ◽  
Victor Nederita

AbstractNoise reduction for urban areas, especially noise generated by traffic is one of the major problems in today’s European cities. This paper is focused on more aspects that are addressing to traffic noise, like pavement, driver’s behavior, frequency of stops, pick hours, traffic agglomerations, etc. Research leading to this paper was conducted within the project “Adaptation to the Climate Change” developed in partnership with Environmental protection Agency Sibiu, focusing for this case study on traffic related pollution in a historical city center of Sibiu. Were considered three types of pavements (cobblestones, streets covered with dense asphalt, and graded asphalt road surfaces), three types of vehicles (small passenger car, family car and SUV), and testing’s were done using 3M Quest SoundPro Sonometer. Higher noise levels were registered for cobblestone and dense asphalt surfaces. Acoustic measurements and maps emphasizing studied are presented, and the identified parameters considered to be related to the traffic noise are given.

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-128
Author(s):  
SA Onjefu ◽  
E Ejembi ◽  
LA Onjefu

Noise pollution adversely affects human health. Higher institutions of learning situated in urban areas can be affected by noise pollution. In this study, noise pollution levels were measured in three institutions of higher learning in Windhoek [International University of Management-(IUM), Triumphant College-(TC) and International Training College LINGUA-(ITC)]. The mean noise pollution values were higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s, United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)s’ recommended limit of 45 dB (A) for silence zones. The mean noise level equivalent (L) variation and the mean percentile eq noise indices of the three institutions were all above the recommended standards for educational institutions. The mean value of noise climate (NC) was found to be 18.4, 17.9 and 16.3 (IUM, TC and ITC-Lingua) and the traffic noise index (TNI) for all the locations were higher than the WHO's traffic noise recommended limit of 45 (dB). The results of the research indicate that the higher institutions of learning studied are noisy particularly because of vehicle noise. In order to reduce noise pollution within the campuses some useful suggestions were presented.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayoub Smaqaey ◽  
◽  
Mohammed AbdulKareem ◽  
Meryem Komşu ◽  
◽  
...  

The purposes of this research are to examine the impact of traffic noise on the sale and rent prices of the housing real estate in the Sulaimaniyah city center. Besides, highlight the concept of traffic noise pollution in general and in particular in the Sulaimaniyah city center. Thus, people have the right to choose the nature of the acoustic environment, as others should not impose it, the problem of traffic noise considered as one of the main problems that have imposed on the people in Sulaimaniyah city center. Which began to take severe economic and social dimensions, affects the decision-making process in the real estate market. Moreover, consequently, this research analyzes the impact of traffic noise pollution in the sale and rent prices of residential property in Sulaimaniyah city center, the results of the research have confirmed a clear and negative impact the traffic noise on residential real estate prices in Sulaimaniyah city center. Finally, the research indorsed range of important recommendations, such as necessity control the noise pollution at the level of governments and companies, either at the companies’ level by choosing vehicles that release less sound and the use of sound control devices of high efficiency. Either at the government level to determine the volume level or prevent annoying noises (painful), through legislation and laws of environmental protection and impose fees and raise awareness.


Environments ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Alsina-Pagès ◽  
Robert Garcia Almazán ◽  
Marc Vilella ◽  
Marc Pons

Noise pollution is a critical factor and it has an important impact on public health, with the relationship between road traffic noise (RTN) and several illnesses in urban areas of particular concern. Andorra is currently developing a national strategy regarding noise pollution in their urban environments. The Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability is trying to to identify, monitor, map and model the effects of noise pollution and design mitigation policies to reduce the impact in certain priority areas. This analysis should take into account the existence of different types of anomalous noise events (ANEs) present in the street, e.g., horns, people talking, music, and other events that coexist with RTN, to characterize the soundscape of each of the locations. This paper presents a preliminary analysis considering both the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and the duration of the ANEs to evaluate their presence in urban areas in the three different locations in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany. The experiments conducted required a 10-h recording campaign distributed in the three locations under study, which was evaluated on two different days, one during the week and the other on the weekend. Afterwards, the data were carefully labeled and the SNR of each event was evaluated to determine the potential impact of the four categories under study: vehicles, works, city life and people.


Noise Mapping ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Alves ◽  
Joachim Scheuren ◽  
Beate Altreuther

AbstractNoise pollution is one of the major environmental problems affecting European citizens in urban areas. Although the Environmental Noise Directive is in force since 2002, there is still a gap between defined objectives and outcomes. The EU Seventh Environment Action Programme attempts to achieve the reduction of noise pollution by means of more effective European noise policies. This must be coupled with providing assistance to local administrations on dealing with existing noise problems, for example through Urban Sound Planners. The aim of this paper is to present the results of a systematic review of European projects addressing urban sound planning topics and furthermore an overview of the most relevant research results that can be applied by practitioners. In order to understand the European funding strategy, the most valued research topics (number of projects and funding support) are assessed. A key finding of this review is the disagreement between air traffic noise research funding and its importance on overall noise exposure. Another finding is that the scientific knowledge for urban sound planning exists but it requires adequately dissemination of results, among the policy makers and local authorities, who are usually responsible for policy implementation.


Author(s):  
Candan Kus Sahin ◽  
Busra Onay ◽  
Beyza Sava

The sustainable landscpe design is a strategic framework in city planning and urban recreational areas, important for the quality of life of an increasingly urbanized society. This study deals with a better understanding of visitors demand and noise properties of Ayazmana promenade area, located in Isparta city center, Turkiye. The approach in the study is an exploration one with a base in site observations, interviews and survey. However, the average noise levels of the area was measured between 43.1 to 58.1 dB(A) in Autumn and 50.2 to 62.0 dB(A) in Spring, respectively. The recreational characteristics of Ayazmana promenade area were further evaluated with survey methodology on total of 100 respondents. Moreover, majority of participants (79) reported to be visiting of that promenade area for cheating with friends, followed by 78 for traveling, 70 for walking, 65 for sitting in green open spaces and for picnic, 57 for listening music and 53 for sporting activities, respectively. It is noticeable that most of the respondents (92%) were described the Ayazmana promenade area is somewhat noisy. At the end of survey study, it was requested to assessed the Ayazmana promenade area with some suggestions by respondents.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Božić ◽  
Predrag Ilić ◽  
Ljiljana Stojanović Bjelić

Noise pollution is one of the main environmental problems today.The main source of environmental noise is traffic noise, especially the noise of road vehicles. The continuing expansion of motorized transport in Europe and Republic of Srpska today, and especially the sharp increase in the use of private cars raises concerns about the health risks.The aim of the case study was to determine the noise level at the location „Borik“ in Banja Luka. The measured values indicate that the noise level in this street is alarming. This paper discusses health and well-being related impacts of traffic noise pollution as well as the economic and social benefits associated with its reduction. It summarizes the latest scientific evidence on the impact of road traffic-induced noise on physical and mental health as a reaction to the high level of traffic noise risks. According to the scientific evidence, road traffic is the main source of noise pollution in Europe that cause harmful health such as impaired communication and disturbed sleep, as well as adverse after effects such as fatigue and decreased performance, annoyance, hearing impairment, ischemic heart disease and hypertension. The effects of unhealthy noise level are reflected on living and working conditions, consequently affecting the economy.This paper highlights economic implications and health benefits linked to cross-functionalities in the process of noise reduction in urbanism, architecture and vehicle design and methods for its evaluation. Cost-benefit analysis would be a pivotal decision-making tool for the city road traffic and land-use decisions. Economic valuation is about identifying all preferences and translating them into a money measure, to create a common denominator for comparing the pros and cons. Any decision implicitly include a money value into health effects. A holistic approach is crucial, considering the various health and economic consequences together.


Author(s):  
Mohammad Monazzam ◽  
Elham Karimi ◽  
Majid Abbaspour ◽  
Parvin Nassiri ◽  
Lobat Taghavi

2018 ◽  
Vol 1145 ◽  
pp. 140-145
Author(s):  
Petr Kozak ◽  
Radka Matuszkova ◽  
Michal Radimsky

The noise pollution is an important factor for people living near roads. The road traffic noise is endangering the health of these residents and the quality of their lives. The tyre / road noise became the most significant source of the road traffic noise due reduced noise emissions from the vehicle propulsion system by the automotive industry. An important recent trend is increasing the traffic safety by improving anti-skid properties of roads in critical locations. Experts have concluded that some anti-skid modifications may increase the noise pollution. Because the usage of such pavements is predominantly in urban areas, problems may occur. This paper deals with the noise level of the safety anti-skid modification of the road surface used in the urban areas. Based on the presented measurement values it can be said that the RocbindaTM safety anti-skid modification does not achieve any increased acoustic performance compared to the asphalt pavement.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1316
Author(s):  
Agata Pawłat-Zawrzykraj ◽  
Paweł Oglęcki ◽  
Konrad Podawca

There is no doubt that the NATURA 2000 network has been one of the most relevant tools for nature protection. However, the designated areas within the borders of large cities are subjected to many threats. Traffic noise takes on a very important role in this subject, posing the question of whether NATURA 2000 areas should be located in urban areas strongly affected by noise pollution. This particular topic was exposed and analysed at Bielański Forest NATURA 2000 (PLH140041), located in northern Warsaw, where changes in noise distribution for the years 2007–2017 were examined and described by two types of indicators (Lden and Lnight). The data sources used for the analysis were city road noise maps for 2007, 2012 and 2017. Additionally, sound intensity measurements were taken in two separate groups of hot-spots. The first of these comprised locations determined based on an inventory of avifauna; they represented different habitat types, and were characterized by the highest bird activity. The second group of hot-spots consisted of those designated along roads in order to identify the main sources of traffic noise. The obtained results confirmed the high noise-absorbing ability of the existing vegetation. The avifauna surveys covered 19 forest bird species. Five of them were considered to be the most valuable and rare elements of the local avifauna, whereas 14 appeared to be key species for the functioning of biocenosis and, at the same time, determine the uniqueness of the ecosystem. The study showed that the type of habitat rather than differences in noise levels determines the distribution and abundance of key species. Therefore, there is a necessity to focus on actions that guarantee the maintenance of the existing status in order to counteract habitat deterioration. The investigation confirmed the feasibility of creating these kinds of natural protected areas in large cities, despite their exposure to noise pollution.


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