Urban noise: Measurement duration and modelling of noise levels in three different cities

Abstract

This article considers the use of noise maps, which can be used as management tools, as long as they give information with sufficient precision (reliability) at a reasonable price; (economy), with update possibilities (actualization). The authors stress that urban noise measurements also need to be dense enough to provide a good spatial representation of noise levels in the region. Data from field measurement programs carried out to obtain a noise map might also be used to develop predictive noise models in order to update the noise map, or to evaluate noise impact of possible traffic management changes, such as circulation patterns and bus routes. The authors compare recommended noise measurement durations for three different cities: a European city (Valencia, Spain), a South American city (Montivideo, Uruguay), and a small town in Uruguay (Rivera). Predictive models are then used in all three situations and their outputs are compared. The authors conclude that differences are large enough to show the risks of using predictive models that were developed for a particular use in a city that has different characteristics than the original location under study.