Noise pollution in old and new urban fabric with focus on traffic flow

Abstract

Noise pollution is considered as one of the effective factors affecting people’s quality of life in urban areas throughout the world. Traffic is a major source of noise in urban areas with wide ranging effects on human. The present study aims to determine the mean of noise levels in old and new urban fabric and their relationship with the traffic flow. Acoustic survey was performed during one week in each month of the summer in assigned stations. In this investigation, using a sound level meter and BS 7445-1-2003, BS 7445-3-1991, Leq10 min was measured and the percentage of highly annoyed people was estimated. The data were analyzed by using statistical tests and SPSS software. The results show that the mean of noise levels measured in all stations during the three months of the summer was higher than the standard limit. The relationship between the mean of noise level and the traffic flow in areas in new fabric was significant but not in those in old fabric. Higher rates of noise pollution in old fabrics and lack of significant relationship with the traffic flow in those points show that noise pollution can be reduced in the city to a great extent by considering effective traffic rules, widening crowded streets, and improving those conditions that govern urbanization. Of course, the amount of the porosity of asphalt, bumpy streets, and even technical defect of motor vehicles should not be ignored.