Predictive noise annoyance and noise-induced health effects models for road traffic noise in NCT of Delhi, India

Abstract

Abstract The present study analyzed the effect of noise annoyance due to road traffic based on a comprehensive socio-acoustics survey at a large number of sites in the NCT of Delhi. This study presents the development of exposure–effect relationships and noise annoyance models using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach. The study assesses the traffic noise annoyance caused by road traffic at various sites in NCT of Delhi, India. Exposure–effect relationships correlate the noise annoyance and traffic noise levels. The Structural Equation Model depicts the relationship between noise annoyance and various psychological factors. The effect of noise annoyance and awareness level was determined using a socio-acoustic questionnaire survey among the community of NCT of Delhi. The various parameters undertaken were demographic, honking, health impacts, and psychological perception. The developed PLS (Partial Least Square)–SEM model predicted that noise sensitivity and road traffic noise remarkably affected the noise-induced annoyance.