Volume 32, Issue 1, 2023
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2023.7005
Assessment of Noise Pollution in the City of Chennai
Abstract
Noise is an unpleasant sound, a by-product of human activities which are detrimental to the quality of human life. Road traffic noise generated by vehicle movements has proven to be the predominant source of noise pollution in the urban environment. Noise pollution increases progressively day after day, year after year due to urbanization, industrialization and motorization in urban areas. The study aims to discuss in detail by evaluating the parameters and indicators which cause noise pollution and also to assess, analyze the noise descriptors and to prepare noise maps in the study area Vadapalani - Arcot Road Signal, Chennai district, Tamilnadu State, India. Noise measurements were measured for 30 minutes for each site location from 04th March to 12th March 2019. Road traffic noise measurements were calculated in days, hours, periods, of two large intersections of state highways, arteries including 40 different locations along the roads. The evaluations were carried out using the digital sound level meter and interpreting as a noise mapping using the QGIS open software platform. The noise map was derived using the measured equivalent energy noise level values. The study summarizes the current noise level which exceeds the limits prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board. Finally, the paper will conclude solutions and suggestions as a remedy for the noise pollution which must be implemented throughout the development of the city. Several measures have to be practiced and awareness of the public to be promoted to provoke them to join hands to improve Chennai city and make it more sustainable and to provide comfortable living for the urban dwellers, which has to be free from noise pollution.
Keywords
Noise Mapping, Road Traffic Noise, QGIS, Chennai, LAeq, Noise Descriptors