An Analysis of Urban Noise and its Impacts - Case Study

Abstract

Noise is generally an unwanted sound or a sound that produces unpleasant effects and causes discomfort to the ears. Sound becomes undesirable when it interferes with normal activities such as sleeping, talking, or when it interrupts or decreases quality of life. Not every noise can be called pollution, especially if it doesn't happen regularly. Urban areas generally have more unpleasant acoustic frequencies to the ears than rural areas because they are a complex mix of transport noises, factories, industries, machinery, and people. Urban noise, when excessive and continuous, impairs the quality of life in cities. The problem of excess noise has increased due to the imbalance between urban development and the increase in motorized traffic on streets and highways, and therefore the to such noise generated by urban traffic has increased significantly and has been the main responsible for violations of noise patterns and the acoustic comfort of people. This case study work sees you as the main objective to evaluate and discuss noise levels in a very moving road and the repercussions caused by noise pollution. A linear stretch of a road of large circulation of vehicles was chosen for the study, for its variety of uses, such as commercial, residential and services. This route has been the subject of numerous complaints from people who live and/or work in it. After the result of sixteen measurements, at three different times and days, eight on each side of the chosen stretch of the road, it was found that noise levels are above the limits described by the current legislation related to acoustic comfort.