Study of the daily environmental urban noise levels in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Abstract

The study of the urban environmental noise levels in the city of San Juan is one of the first steps into understanding the noise behavior of the largest and denser populated zones in Puerto Rico. For the year 2002 San Juan had 36% of all citizen noise complaints reported for the entire island. The aim of the study was to monitor for 24 continuous hours the levels of urban sounds and noise for different locations in the city and describe the general tendencies regarding those levels for residential, commercial, recreational or industrial areas. The sampling was done with four (4) units of the Norsonic NOR-121 sound analyzer that were installed temporarily for 24 hours in multiple locations chosen randomly around the city. The study is expected to continue during the next 2 years. The preliminary data showed that the noise levels in residential areas with a high traffic routine fluctuated in levels that were consistently high all day and most of the night, dropping around 1:00 a.m. and rising again around 5:00 a.m. The results of this and other projects would be used to build and implement a National Noise Plan for Puerto Rico for 2005–2007.