Traffic Noise Characteristic of High-rise Apartment Complex Nearby Highway

Abstract

This study aims at suggesting technical data for reducing the influence by traffic noise in the early planning stage of urban high-rise apartment complex which is located by highway. In this study, traffic noise levels were simultaneously measured on the road and in the lower, middle and higher floors of subject apartment buildings by highway. And, the influence by the propagation of traffic noise was analyzed in order to understand the characteristic of it as well. This study shows that measured traffic noise levels are the highest in 1kHz and higher in mid and high frequency bands than in lower bands. Indoor NC values by influence of traffic noise were NC-34 ~ 53 during daytime and NC-30 ~ 55 during nighttime over the acceptable level in case of closing the windows in living rooms. The average noise levels in the apartment buildings perpendicular to the highway at distance of about 75m showed 6dB(A) higher than in those at double distance in the subject apartment complex. The apartment buildings parallel to the highway showed unfavorable to those perpendicular to it by the influence of exposing building area to traffic noise and reflecting the sound from neighboured buildings. On the whole, noise levels in the higher floors were higher than those in the lower floors of apartment buildings.