Evaluation and analysis of traffic noise from the main urban roads in Beijing

Traffic noise surveying and analysis was performed along three main roads in the Beijing urban area—the 2nd and 3rd ring roads circling the central downtown area and Chang-An Avenue, a major east—west corridor road through the heart of the city. The results indicate that these main roads are overloaded by traffic flow during daytime and noise levels due to road traffic along these roads are above relevant environmental standards by 5 dBA. The spatial variance of traffic noise was also analyzed, with the results indicating that the spatial differences result primarily from the unbalanced development of Beijing's urban districts.     

A novel traffic-noise prediction method for non-straight roads

In view of the well-recognized need for the availability of simple traffic noise–prediction methods for non-straight roads, such as interchanges and flyovers, an approximate traffic noise–prediction model, suitable for non-straight roads, was developed following the modeling process of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) traffic-noise model. The approximate model is simpler than the FHWA model when the non-straight road is divided into several road sections, their traffic-noise levels calculated individually, and all the sound levels superimposed to obtain the total traffic-noise level of the entire non-straight road. The rational length of the small road section was investigated. The traffic-noise levels predicted using the approximate and the FHWA models were compared through an example and were shown to differ only very marginally. The approximate model is thus suitable for traffic-noise prediction for non-straight roads.     

Noise levels in the vicinity of traffic roundabouts

An experimental procedure for analyzing roundabout noise is described. Measurement of the noise from accelerating and decelerating traffic streams on the approach roads to roundabouts at a total of 70 positions at three sites are reported together with a simulation study of noise from central island traffic. The results show that, in general, noise from the accelerating traffic streams is within ±1 dB(A) of the free flow level on the same road and that the noise from the decelerating stream is equal to or less than the free flow level. The propagation of noise from the central island is expressed in the form of a nomogram. Good agreement between predicted and measured levels was found.     

Testing the acoustical corrections for reflections on a façade

The assessment of noise levels, in the proximity of a building or on its façade, is a requirement of the European Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC concerning environmental noise produced by road and railway traffic, airports and industries. The corrected values for the noise levels and the problems of measuring noise near a façade are discussed here for the case of road traffic. A complete set of measurements in different situations was performed along several roads in an urban environment as well as in a controlled situation using a loudspeaker. The experimental results are then compared against theoretical models and international standards, in particular those that suggest to use a +3 or +6 dB correction as a function of the microphone position and the NordTest method. Some suggestions are given for the different corrective factors to apply when measuring environmental noise between 0 and 2 m away from a building façade, and practical solutions identified.     

城市道路交通噪声烦恼度社会调查

本文以烦恼度为主观反应指标,采用三种5级程度衡量尺度,对西安市内三条主要干道和两类典型交叉口附近区域内的道路交通噪声进行了烦恼度问卷调查。此次调查针对人口统计学因素(性别、年龄、文化程度、身体健康状况)上的个体差异与等级描述词不同的程度尺度可能对道路交通噪声烦恼度调查结果的影响,以及特定路况条件下的噪声烦恼度与不同机动车辆的行驶噪声烦恼度展开了研究。通过对调查数据的分析处理,发现并初步总结出:与选取不同的烦恼度尺度相比,人口统计学因素对调查结果的影响更加显著;人口统计学因素与特定路况条件下的噪声烦恼度及不同机动车辆的行驶噪声烦恼度无明显相关;但不同机动车辆的行驶噪声烦恼度不同,实际研究中需对摩托车噪声加以重视并区别对待。     

Comparison of models to predict annoyance from combined noise in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi

Seven models were compared in terms of the ability to predict the annoyance due to the combination of aircraft and road traffic noises on the basis of data collected around airports in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam. The 24-h average sound levels L_Aeq,24h and unweighted means of annoyance scores for aircraft, road traffic, and combined noise were used to solve the regression equations for the seven models. The results indicate that road traffic noise exposure and annoyance were more than those of aircraft noise at almost all sites in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Among the considered models, the dominant source model yielded the highest coefficients of determination, with R² values of 0.82 and 0.90 for surveys in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, respectively. These results suggest that the dominant source model is the most useful model in the vicinity of those airports in Vietnam where road traffic noise is more dominant than aircraft noise. This is convenient for situations in which dose-response curves are established separately for different noise sources.     

A multiple regression model for urban traffic noise in Hong Kong

This article describes the roadside traffic noise surveys conducted in heavily built-up urban areas in Hong Kong. Noise measurements were carried out along 18 major roads in 1999. The measurement data included L10, L50, L90, Leq, Lmax, the number of light vehicles, the number of heavy vehicles, the total traffic flow, and the average speed of vehicles. Statistical analysis using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test (p<0.05) reveals that the total traffic flow and the number of heavy vehicles are the most significant factors of urban traffic noise. Multiple regression was used to derive a set of empirical formulas for predicting L10 noise level due to road traffic. The accuracy of these empirical formulas is quantified and compared to that of another widely used prediction model in Hong Kong--the Calculation of Road Traffic Noise. The applicability of the selected multiple regression model is validated by the noise measurements performed in the winter of 2000.     

Comparison of dose-response relationships between railway and road traffic noises: the moderating effect of distance

It has been found in European studies that railway noise causes less annoyance than road traffic noise. However, recent Japanese studies have shown that there is no systematic difference in dose-response relationships between railway and road traffic noises. In general Japanese houses are situated closer to railways or roads than European houses. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the distance from noise source to houses influences community responses to railway and road traffic noises. A re-analysis was made of data from social surveys on community responses to railway and road traffic noises, which have been obtained from 1994 to 2001 in Kyushu, a warmer area of Japan and Hokkaido, a colder area. The results showed that the annoyance in areas close to railways was greater than that in distant areas, while there was no difference in dose-response relationships for road traffic noise between both areas. Considering the situation of houses in Europe and Japan, it is expected that the annoyance caused by railway noise is more severe in Japan than in Europe. The distance from noise source to houses may be one of the causes of the difference in community responses between Europe and Japan.     

Effects of traffic noise on paserine populations in Mediterranean wooded pastures

The effect of traffic noise on the breeding density of 20 passerine species was examined over a 2-year period in three different road types passing through pasture-woodlands in western-central Spain. No statistically significant differences were observed during the 2 years studied. An average of 19.6 birds/10 ha was recorded for the low-traffic road (LT), 21.7 birds/10 ha for the medium-traffic road (MT) and 19.1 birds/10 ha for the high-traffic road (HT). A total of 11 species (55%) did not show any statistically significant differences in breeding density among the different types of roads. By contrast, other species, such as the Blackbird, the Iberian Shrike and the Linnet, did point to differences between the MT and HT roads. House and Rock Sparrows, as well as the Corn Bunting, showed higher breeding densities near the HT road. The opposite effect was observed for the Wheatear, the Iberian chiffchaff and the Woodlark, for which high breeding densities were recorded in the vicinity of the LT road. Our results suggest that traffic noise constitutes a serious problem for at least 15% of the breeding bird community.     

Estimating traffic noise for inclined roads with freely flowing traffic

Traffic noise measurements on the kerbs of 19 independent inclined trunk roads with freely flowing traffic within the residential areas of Hong Kong are carried out in the present investigation. The performance of the existing noise prediction models in predicting traffic noise from inclined roads is evaluated. By regression analysis and simple physical consideration of the traffic noise production mechanisms, formulae for the prediction of the L_A10, L_A50, L_A90 and L_Aeq are developed or re-calibrated. Results suggest tyre noise has the major contribution to the overall noise environment when the source is an inclined trunk road. Also, the road gradient is found to have a higher contribution to the traffic noise than assumed in the existing models, but becomes unimportant when the background noise level L_A90 is concerned.     

Community responses to road traffic noise in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam is a developing country in southeast Asia, and its environment has been seriously affected by industrialization and urbanization. In large cities like Hanoi (northern Vietnam) and Ho Chi Minh City (southern Vietnam), noise emission from road traffic has been found to be a serious concern among general public. In 2005 and 2007, two large-scale socio-acoustic surveys of community response to road traffic noise were conducted to investigate human reactions to road traffic noise in these cities; the sample sizes were 1503 people in Hanoi and 1471 in Ho Chi Minh City. The noise exposure levels (L_den) were 70–83 dB in Hanoi and 75–83 dB in Ho Chi Minh City. Noise annoyance was estimated using standardized annoyance scales. For both cities, dose–response relationships were established between L_den and the percentage of highly annoyed respondents. Compared to annoyance responses of European people, Vietnamese were less annoyed by road traffic noise by about 5 dB. Hanoi respondents seemed to be more annoyed by noise than Ho Chi Minh City respondents. Conversation and sleep disturbances were not as serious as expected in either city. Furthermore, window orientation in the home was found to affect activity disturbances.     

Developing a Durable Quiet Road Surface

Road traffic noise can have a significant impact on the quality of life for residents close to major road networks. One of the most effective measures for reducing the noise from road traffic, particularly on high-speed roads, is to ensure the use of a low noise road surface. Research on pavement construction and the measurement of its acoustic properties has shown that significant noise reductions can be achieved through the use of certain road surface types. However certain low noise road surfaces do not exhibit the desired durability associated with more traditional pavements, leading to costly and disruptive maintenance regimes.
This article looks at the mechanisms involved in tyre/road noise generation and how these interact with various road surface properties including a brief overview of some common surface types. It then goes on to explain how these concepts informed the development of an asphalt surfacing material with enhanced durability and good acoustic performance without compromising safety. Progress in testing the resulting Premium Asphalt Surfacing System (PASS) is outlined, including the completion of a successful network trial.     

Appraisal of Urban Road Traffic Noise in tier-II City (Surat City), India

Urban road traffic noise pollution has always been identified as a severe problem that affects urban populants. In developing nation, road traffic noise pollution depends on the composition of heterogeneous traffic composition. These traffic compositions contain vehicles, which have different sizes, speeds variations, a different dimension of vehicles. Environmental noise measurements have been carried out during day-time and night-time in different locations of tier-II city of India. The noise levels have been continuously measured over 24 h periods using kimo DB 300 class-2 noise level meter. The data contained in this research paper represent 768 measurement hours. All the information has been used to investigate the time patterns of the noise levels under a wide range of different conditions and to study the relationships between noise levels and traffic in urban areas. Maximum L_Aeq was observed 73.3 dB(A) at B₁₄ location and the minimum was recorded 65.7 dB(A) at C₃ location, which was greater than the central pollution control board (CPCB) prescribed limits during night time. A major reason for the generation of road traffic noise is due to the equal composition of 2-wheeler and 4-wheeler on the arterial road and heavy vehicles were recorded during morning peak and evening peak even though they are prohibited during peak hours.     

原子荧光光谱法测定成都市公共绿地土壤层中的镉

采用Tessier连续提取法对成都市公共绿地土壤层22个土壤样品中的Cd赋存化学形态进行了提取分离,并用原子荧光光谱法进行了测试。在仪器最佳工作条件下,通过条件实验确定在2%的盐酸介质中,在 30 g·L-1硼氢化钾的还原作用下,1 mg·L-1钴离子和10 g·L-1硫脲联合作用可提高Cd挥发性化合物的发生效率。加入一定浓度的焦磷酸钠、硫酸钾和氯化钡能降低土壤中共存元素对测定Cd的影响。该方法线性范围0～10 μg·L-1,相关系数r=0.999 1,检出限0.016 μg·L-1,相对标准偏差1.93%,回收率为97.80%～100.2%。土壤样品中Cd的五种赋存形态平均百分含量大小分布为：残留态(62.1%)＞离子交换态(11.7%)＞铁锰氧化物结合态(9.71%)＞碳酸盐结合态(4.17%)＞有机结合态(3.47%);尽管残留态是Cd的主要赋存形态,但土壤样品中Cd的离子交换态含量较高,具有强的生物活性,应引起重视;成都市一环路、二环路和三环路绿化带土壤层存在不同程度的Cd污染,污染程度大小为：二环路＞一环路＞三环路。     

Motorway noise modelling based on perpendicular propagation analysis of traffic noise

A model for motorway traffic noise has been obtained from measurements along the the Bangkok-Chonburi motorway. The model’s parameters include traffic volume and combination, the average spot speed of each type of vehicle and the physical conditions of the motorway in terms of right-of-way width, number of lanes, lane width, shoulder width, and median width for both of the main carriageways and frontage roads. The noise level that is generated by each type of vehicle has been analyzed according to the propagation in the direction perpendicular to the center line of motorway’s carriageway. The total traffic noise is then analyzed from traffic volume of all vehicle types on both sides of carriageways and frontage roads. The basic noise levels used in the motorway traffic noise model are modified according to the effective ground effect along the propagation path. The final result of this study is that a motorway traffic noise model based on the perpendicular propagation analysis technique performs well in a statistical goodness-of-fit test against the field data, and therefore, can be used effectively in traffic noise prediction for related or similar motorway projects.     

Blind separation to improve classification of traffic noise

In order to apply noise mapping to traffic noise prediction, a knowledge of several information about traffic characteristics is required to predict the noise levels emitted by the roads involved. In the European case, the CNOSSOS-EU calculation method for traffic-noise level prediction is now under discussion, to be agreed in response to the European Directive relating to the Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise (2002/49/EC). In this application context, standard ISO 1996-2:2007 Determination of Environmental Noise Levels, in its Section 6.2, specifically mentions that during L_eq measurements of road traffic noise the number of vehicle pass-bys shall be counted during the measurement time interval. This information is often not available in many roads, so it is typically registered by means of casual counts, often through manual procedures. Besides, if the measurement result is converted to other traffic conditions, a categorization of the vehicles involved is also required. Some additional information, such as the traffic density and the average speed, should be registered if a calculation method is used to build a noise map.In this paper a new automatic classification system of traffic noise covering these requirements is presented. The portable system processes a two channel audio recording to provide information of the average speed and the number of vehicles, which are classified in six categories during the measurement period. After several evaluations of the possibilities to get a good classification of the noise emission of a road from audio recordings, it is shown that increasing the within-class separation, as well as introducing a novel BSS–PCA-based classifier, the precision achieved in the final results is substantially improved.     

Characteristics of road traffic noise in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Noise pollution due to road traffic is a major global concern because of its negative impact on the quality of life in communities everywhere. In Vietnam, traffic noise has become an increasingly noticeable and serious problem in large cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. To gain more insight into the characteristics of this noise, intensive noise measurements were conducted in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in September 2005 and September 2007, respectively. A comprehensive dataset of noise was obtained that included 24-h noise measurements as well as short-term noise recordings. The volume of traffic was also quantified by reproducing video camera recordings. Noise datasets from both cities were then compared with a dataset of Japanese traffic noise obtained in Kumamoto. The results showed that the traffic noise in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City was characterized by relatively high noise exposure levels due to the large number of motorbikes and frequent horn sounds. The sound of horns contributed a definite impact of 0-4 dB on noise exposure in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where noise levels decreased with the absence of horn sounds. Our results also showed differences in the characteristic traffic noise of Vietnam and Japan.     

Traffic noise in an urban situation

The results of a noise survey made within the Portsmouth City boundaries are outlined. Measurements were made throughout the 18-hour day at 33 sites which covered a wide range of traffic conditions. Comparisons were made between the published noise prediction methods and the measured results for sites adjacent to roads carrying free-flowing traffic. A modification is introduced to allow the design parameter employed by traffic engineers to be used in the prediction formula. The fall-off of noise levels with distance was also examined. An area classification is suggested for situations where the prediction formulae are not able to be applied.     

Prediction and Limitations of Noise Maps Developed for Heterogeneous Urban Road Traffic Condition: A Case Study of Surat City,India

Road traffic noise pollution has been recognized as a serious issue which affects human health as well as affects urban regions. Noise maps are very beneficial to identify the impact of noise pollution. A noise mapping study performed to study the propagation of noise in tier-II city along with field measurements. The noise maps are developed using a computer simulation model (SoundPLAN essential 4.0 software). The noise prediction models like U.K’s CoRTN, Germany’s RLS-90, and their modified versions, which can be used for homogenous road traffic conditions, cannot be successfully applied in heterogeneous road traffic conditions of India. In developing country like India, road traffic noise pollution depends on the composition of heterogeneous traffic volume, variance in road geometrical, honking conditions, un-authorized parking, and varying density of the building on either side of the road. These traffic compositions contain vehicles, which have different sizes, speeds variations, a different dimension of vehicles. Because of fluctuating speeds, lack of lane disciplines, and un-authorized parking on main road lanes, honking events becomes inevitable, which changes and affects the urban soundscape of nations like India. Analysis of noise maps showed that horn honking due to un-authorized parked vehicles contributed an additional increase up to 11 dB (A) noise, which is quite significant.     

Road traffic noise mitigation strategies in Greater Cairo, Egypt

This study concerns road traffic noise in Greater Cairo, Egypt. Road traffic is the most significant sources of noise in the city. Measurements of road traffic noise levels in Greater Cairo in September and October 2001, indicated that noise levels in city were higher than those set by the Egyptian noise standards and policy to protect public health and welfare in residential areas (L_Aeq=80 dB and higher were recorded). A social survey carried out simultaneously indicated that 73.8% of respondent residents were highly or moderately irritated by road traffic noise. In our paper we present (1) The results of road traffic noise measurements. (2) Egyptian noise standards and policy. (3) Results of the social survey. (4) Traffic congestion and traffic noise characteristics of Greater Cairo. (5) Thirty years of countermeasures taken. (6) Future mitigation strategies aiming for a quiet city.