Noise mapping and assessing vulnerability in meso level urban environment of Eastern India

Abstract

Noise nuisance has been emerged as a critical challenge against the psychological and physical peace all over the world. Researches proved that big cities are highly affected by noise nuisance but noise state in a meso level town like English Bazar Municipality (EBM) is the present focus of work. The present work intends to explore the principal sources of noise, spatial noise mapping and diurnal noise cycle in the residential and heavy traffic area. The level of noise annoyance is tried to compute among different exposed or unexposed folks. Finally, it is also tried to recognize the most vulnerable area of the town exposed to noise using multi-criteria decision approach. From the result it is found that traffic (58.65%) and construction works (21.15%) are the major sources of noise. Office time (around 10am) is the noisiest time due to maximum traffic and floating population. In this time, 39.21% to total study area experiences noise level >70dBA. Even in the mid night, noise level exceeds 70dBA along National Highway-34. Here, noise annoyance is sensitive to age, sex, economic folks and facing of window in relation to road. 9.94% area is emerged as the most vulnerable area to noise exposition.