Road Traffic Noise Mapping in Urban Indian Context

Road Traffic Noise Mapping in Urban Indian Context

Road traffic noise has been recognized as a serious issue that affects the urban regions. Due to urbanization and industrialization, transportation in urban areas has increased. Traffic noise characteristics in cities belonging to a developing country like India are highly varied compared to developed nations because of its heterogeneous conditions. The objective of the study is to assess noise pollution due to heterogeneous traffic conditions and developed noise maps. Noise mapping has been done using SoundPLAN software by taking various noise sources and noise propagation to the receiver point. Traffic volume, vehicular speed, noise levels, road geometry, un-authorized parking, and horn honking were measured on tier-II city of India. The study showed not so significant correlation between traffic volume, road geometry, vehicular speed and equivalent noise due to heterogeneous road traffic conditions. Further, analysis of traffic noise showed that horn honking due to un-authorized parked vehicles contribution, which is quite significant. The prediction models such as U. K’s CoRTN, U. S’s TNM, Germany’s RLS-90 and their modified versions have limited applicability for heterogeneity. Hence, the noise prediction models, which can be used for homogeneous road traffic conditions are not successfully applicable in heterogeneous road traffic conditions. In this study, a new correction factor is introduced and integrated into noise model RLS-90, while assessing heterogeneous traffic conditions, and noise maps has been developed.