Traffic Related Noise Pollution on a University Campus-Modelling and Measurements

Abstract

As the effect of noise increased adversely and steadily over the past 200 years, noise induced problems extended from that of primarily nuisance and annoyance to actual physiological damage. These problems include hearing impairment, speech interference, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular and physiological effects, psychosocial effects, and task performance effects. It should be noted that, although the sources of noise are different and their numbers and magnitude have created a larger impact, the nature of the impact of noise is not completely different. It is the addition of new noise sources with rapidly increasing magnitude into previously quieter areas that has stimulated greatly increased public concern and has created the need for increased governmental action.

Traffic is the major noise pollution source affecting Marmara University’s Goztepe Campus in Istanbul, Turkey. In order to obtain data about the noise levels on the campus, several noise pollution maps were obtained using the CUSTIC^® noise pollution modeling software. As an input to the model, traffic intensity around the campus was quantified by counting vehicles on an hourly basis. Since sound dispersion is a complex physical phenomenon, the noise prediction models can’t produce exact results in all cases. Thus, for the purpose of comparison with the used model, measurements were carried out using an integrating sound level data logger at 5 measurement points from 07:00 to 19:00 each day. The results were discussed according to the noise guideline values specified in the “Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise Directive” of Turkey’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry together with guideline values for “Community Noise in Specific Environments” set by World Health Organization.