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Noise levels associated with urban land use
Gavin King1, Marek Roland-Mieszkowski, Timothy Jason
1Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Summary
Urban development impacts environmental noise. Mixed-use areas show higher noise levels, exceeding WHO limits and causing annoyance and sleep disturbance, affecting public health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Urban Planning
- Acoustics
Background:
- Urban intensification and increased density are global trends.
- Potential health impacts from environmental exposures require investigation.
- Built environment and land use significantly influence environmental noise levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the built environment, land use, and environmental noise levels.
- To compare noise levels in distinct urban development settings.
Main Methods:
- Selected two distinct study areas: one residential, one mixed-use.
- Utilized census data, land use information, aerial photography, and ground-truthing for area selection.
- Conducted noise monitoring across grids within each area over 24-hour periods.
Main Results:
- Significant noise variability was observed within both study areas.
- The mixed-use urban area exhibited significantly higher environmental noise levels.
- Both areas surpassed World Health Organization recommended noise limits.
- Average noise events indicated moderate to serious annoyance and potential sleep disturbance.
Conclusions:
- Mixed-use urban development contributes to elevated environmental noise.
- Current urban noise levels pose risks to public health, including communication interference and sleep disruption.
- Further research and urban planning strategies are needed to mitigate noise pollution.
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