Environmental acoustic quality in Jeddah urban sites

Surveys of physical exposure to noise at urban sites in Jeddah city indicate that noise from road traffic is very intensive. Relatively high instant sound levels (90 dB(A) and higher) were recorded on a numbr of congested, as well as freely-flowing traffic, roads. Values of the statistical indicators $\text{L}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>10</mtext>}}$, $\text{L}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>50</mtext>}}$, $\text{L}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>90</mtext>}}$ and $\text{L}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>dn</mtext>}}$ were determined for indoor domestic noise and comparisons with current western standards show that the levels determined exceeded the limits of dissatisfaction given by those standards. Overall sound pressure levels measured inside typical university offices indicate that the presence of individual room-units of air-conditioning impairs the acoustic quality in those environments. The results of a social survey on noise perception in residential areas are in good agreement with the above findings, indicating that 89 per cent of people interviewed were substantially disturbed by traffic noise. The results of this research, however, demonstrate the necessity for the application of a traffic noise control programme on Jeddah main roads and also the need for attention to be paid to the indoor acoustic quality of homes and offices.