The challenge of noise pollution in high-density urban areas: Relationship between 2D/3D urban morphology and noise perception

Abstract

Urban morphology is closely intertwined with people's perception of noise, understanding their relationship is crucial for resident health. Previous studies have primarily focused on actual environmental noise, neglecting variations in how people perceive noise in different urban environments. More study is needed to elucidate how noise perception varies across different types of noise and urban areas. This study, based on noise complaint data, quantifies the perceived noise environment in New York City. It establishes a framework for urban morphology measurement from both 2D and 3D perspectives and employs regression models to explore the correlation between urban morphology and the perception of distinct noise types, as well as regional disparities in noise perception. Findings indicate that:(1) Three-dimensional urban morphology indices, such as tree shape, Google view images (GVI) building index, provide a better explanation of noise perception than 2D indices. (2) The impact of urban morphology on the noise perception exhibits significant regional variations. In densely populated Manhattan, diverse building morphology can better enhance the quality of the perceived acoustic environment. However, this conclusion does not hold true in other regions. (3) Urban morphology also has distinct effects on different types of noise complaints. For instance, residential complaints are most strongly correlated with building height compared with other complaint types. Last, by considering the collaborative effects of various variables, specific recommendations are proposed for local areas with similar impact profiles. This study can serve as a reference for the construction of noise-friendly high-density cities and the promotion of sustainable urban health.