A regional road network traffic noise limit prediction method based on design elements

Since traffic flow has not been generated, a traffic noise prediction model based on actual traffic state data cannot be directly applied to the planned road network. Therefore, a regional traffic noise prediction method is proposed to find the upper limit of network noise emission based on design elements. The model is developed with noise predictions of the basic road section, interrupted/continuous intersections, and regional network. Meanwhile, ranges of traffic flow speed and volume are inferred by design elements and constraints between road units are obeyed. A four-scenes experiment to verify the method's accuracy is organized and the average noise difference between the upper limit calculated value and maximum measurement value is 1.53 dBA. All noise differences are positive as the measured noise values may not reach the upper limit of network emission in the experimental state. The method is applied to a network under design elements, and the results show that the model is suitable for the predicting upper limits of noise under design constraints; under the same design elements, noise emission at interrupted intersections is higher than that at continuous intersections. The method can provide a theoretical and data basis for planning network noise protection.