Noise mapping in urban environments: A Taiwan study
Applied Acoustics, (2009)Abstract
This study analyzed the spatial characteristics of urban environmental
noise by using noise maps produced at 345 noise monitoring stations
in Tainan, Taiwan. Noise data were collected at varying intervals:
morning, afternoon, and evening in both summer and winter. The spatial
distributions of the noise levels during each time interval were
evaluated and visualized by geographic information systems. The analytical
results indicated that the highest and lowest average noise levels
were 69.6 dB(A) and 59.3 dB(A) during summer mornings and winter
evenings, respectively. Comparison of monitored noise levels with
regulatory standards revealed that noise standard violations, which
usually occur on summer evenings, are as high as 23 dB(A). Furthermore,
the results of noise exposure analysis showed that over 90% of the
Tainan City population are exposed to unacceptable noise as defined
by US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The findings of
this study show that noise maps can be useful for investigating noise
in urban environments.