Assessment of noise from transportation systems in Ilorin, Nigeria

S.O Bilewu,A.M Ayanshola,I.T Yusuf,A.W Salami

doi:10.4314/njtd.v16i3.2

Abstract

Noise from transportation systems is unavoidable in urban areas and can be harmful to human health. The noise generated by selected transportations systems in Ilorin, an urban area in central Nigeria, was studied by direct measurements and the use of questionnaires. Measurements were taken at the airport, train station and different locations for vehicular traffic. Questionnaires were also administered on residents of these areas to elicit information on the perception of transportation noise in the areas. The results show that all the studied locations produced maximum noise levels in excess of the 85-dBA acceptable tolerable limit for humans. The train station produced the highest stepwise noise levels due to the motion and horning of the locomotive engines. The study also established distances in which the sound level is safe over a specific period of time for each of the studied noise sources. These are of 18.84 m, 161.21 m, 13.85 m and 15.08 m for aircraft take-off, movement and horning of railway locomotive engine and vehicular traffic inside and outside town respectively. Suggested solutions were that residential buildings, academic areas and hospitals should not be located too close to sources of transportation noise and the need for enforcement of relevant noise control laws is to be pursued.Keywords: Noise pollution, sound pressure level, equivalent sound level, acceptable noise level, noise perception

Highlights

Noise pollution is a by-product of urbanization and industrialization and is worldwide recognized as a major problem affecting the quality of life in urban areas
The air noise measurements taken for three days during landing and taking off of the aircrafts (ATR 42 propeller aircraft) were made at the Ilorin International Airport after assessment and clearance was granted by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
The noise level when the locomotive engine was just revving was within the acceptable limits of tolerable noise but goes well above the limit during movement and horning

Summary

Introduction

Noise pollution is a by-product of urbanization and industrialization and is worldwide recognized as a major problem affecting the quality of life in urban areas. Aircraft and rail noise are acoustically characterized by high noise levels of relative short duration (Omubo-Pepple et al, 2010) and increasing noise of airport and motorway traffic in the city centers have become a part of modern life (Obisung et al, 2013). Another important source of urban noise is the rail systems (Gershon et al, 2006). Sound waves travel from source to receiver through a variety of media. The amplitude, the spectrum as well as the duration of the sound will be affected

Methods

Results

Conclusion