Assessment and Analysis of Traffic Noise Pollution A Case Study of Ahmedabad

Abstract

Automobile industry has changed human life making it faster and comfortable. We cannot think modern life without vehicles. However, problems associated with these automobiles are many; one of them is Noise pollution . Expanding urbanization has posed serious concern of noise pollution globally. In India, this is aggravated on account of demography, indiscipline and inadequate road infrastructures due to limited resources. Recently, it is established that the noise affect human health adversely. Hence, with projected level of urbanization, it is apprehended that noise pollution may be one of the serious concern to the urban planners. Accurate and thorough analysis of this problem is therefore necessary for in depth perception of sources of noise generation and their specific contribution to the combined level of noise. Moreover, the noise menace is location specific issues which needs extensive surveys in the different locations/zones of different cities and elaborate analysis thereof. This will help to the planners and pollution control authorities to arrive at pragmatic solution. For this, major sources and conditions of noise generation are necessary to be identified and synthesized. newlineAhmedabad is a fast growing city of Western India, facing acute traffic problems and as such, noise pollution is also associated. The prime purpose of this study is to measure traffic noise level at selected seven prime intersections of Ahmedabad city, categorized on the basis of commercial, industrial and residential area. Study is aimed at characterization of traffic noise to identify shares of the parameters like traffic volume, speed, honking and distance from intersection. Combination of various parameters has been ascertained affecting the noise level. Regression analysis is resorted to correlate the significance of input parameters with respect to noise level using ANNOVA andSPSS 14 software. newlineThe primary measurements were carried out at selected intersections in commercial, residential and industrial areas installing noise