IJIRST –International Journal for Innovative Research in Science & Technology| Volume 3 | Issue 10 | March 2017 ISSN (online): 2349-6010
Study and Assessment of Road Traffic Noise at Some Selected Locations of New Delhi India Anwar Ali Khan Joint Director Department of Civil Engineering Government of Utter pradesh, Lukhnow, India
Humaira Ghulshan Lone Assistant Professor Department of Civil Engineering BGSB University, Rajouri, J & K, India
Pervez Alam Assistant Professor Department of Civil Engineering BGSB University, Rajouri, J & K, India
Abstract Noise is unwanted sound which is generally unpleasant to hear and affect human beings physically, mentally and physiologically. The study analyzed the noise pollution level at four location of New Delhi, selecting one location in each zone i.e., residential, commercial, industrial and silent. The analytical results show that the highest noise level was 81.5 dB at Okhla industrial area and lowest was 67 dB at Moti Bagh. Comparison of noise level with regulatory standards reveals that the noise levels at all the selected locations has been 25dB more than the prescribed standard given by central pollution control board in day time. Furthermore, it has also shows that the all monitoring locations have been continuously under severe noise exposure. The findings of this study show that there is extreme requirement of remedial measures to curb noise level. Keywords: Road traffic noise, Assessment of Noise _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ I.
INTRODUCTION
Noise may be defined as any pressure difference that a human ear can sense like a wave motion is set off when a component sets the adjacent particle of air into motion [1]. Noise has long term effect on human health; it has also vast impact on physical and mental health for the people living in the area of high noise level. High noise level causes sensitivity of aggravation and irritation, harm to auditory mechanisms, number of health related problems like psychological disorders, disturbances of daily activities and performances, hypertensions and schematic heart disease[2]. Noise measurement and sound observation survey, alone or in relationship can be helpful in understanding the complex problem of noise pollution in urban area [3]. In one of the study on road traffic noise done by D. Chakrabarty at Calcutta metropolis for 24 traffic junctions to find out A-Weighted value of Leq [4]. Traffic noise problem depends on the physical mechanisms within the tire-road contact as the rolling tire and its constituents distort, shake and cause air flow within the tire –road contact area. In India, few studies on traffic noise level has been carried out at different cities like Delhi, Bombay, Visakhapatnam, Baroda, Anantpur, Asansol, Nagpur, Chennai etc. (Pancholy et al., 1967 [5]; Rathore, 1982 [6]; Dixit et al.,1982[7]; Rao et al., 1987[8]; Ravindranath et al., 1989[9]; Kumar and Jain, 1994[10]; Chakraborty et al., 2002[11]; Nirjar et al., 2003[12]; Banerjee and Chakraborty, 2006[13]; Thakur, 2006)[14]; Road traffic noise levels vary over time and space, but there is no consensus as to how this variation should be taken into account. Traffic noise is a major environmental problem in Delhi. Systematic noise monitoring in Delhi performed in the last 30 years indicates that noise limits in residential areas have been constantly exceeded by 20–31 dB in daytime and by 15–23 dB at night. Measurement of noise is done by Sound book and noise level meters, at critical noise traffic locations. Sound book has the advantage over noise level meter, of capturing the normal noise exposure even while moving around. Soundbook also plays a major role in measuring impulsive sounds, as their short integration time is suitable for the short integration time of the cochlea, where injury from noise exposure occurs. Noise-level monitoring has been done in free flowing traffic condition for 24 hours a day. According to the (Sommerhoff 2004)[15] data, assemblage and accumulation is one of the significant components in the assessment and managing of urban noise. Noise level was measured at a height of1.5 m (Jamrah et al., 2005) [16] by a sound level meter (Sound level Meter TES-1350 A), an instrument which responds to sound in approximately the same way as the human ear and gives reproducible measurement of sound level (Mato and Mufuruki, 1999) [17]. Objective: The main objective of this paper is to monitor noise level of different locations; selected areas are residential, industrial, commercial and silent zone.
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