Temporal Assessment of Noise Pollution in Major Intersection of Ahmedabad City of Gujarat

Abstract

Background: Automobile industry has changed human life making it faster and comfortable. We cannot think modern life without vehicles. However, problems associated with these automobiles are many; one of them is ‘Noise pollution’. Expanding urbanization has posed serious concern of noise pollution globally. In India, this is aggravated on account of demography, indiscipline and inadequate road infrastructures due to limited resources. Recently, it is established that the noise affect human health adversely. Hence, with projected level of urbanization, it is apprehended that noise pollution may be one of the serious concern to the urban planners. Accurate and thorough analysis of this problem is therefore necessary for in depth perception of sources of noise generation and their specific contribution to the combined level of noise

Methods: Traffic volume, noise levels, vehicular speed were measured on commercial, residential and industrial area of Ahmedabad city.

Results: Ahmedabad is a fast growing city of Western India, facing acute traffic problems and as such, noise pollution is also associated. The primary measurements were carried out at selected intersections in commercial, residential and industrial areas installing noise meters, cameras with manual monitoring. Noise levels were measured during identified peak times in different seasons, using SLM 109, Larson Davis system 824 noise meters. Further, parameters were categorized for different types of vehicles, speed, and traffic volume. Prima facie it is found that the traffic noise level is higher than permissible limits fixed by GPCB and CPCB. In all of the selected intersection of residential, commercial and industrial, the noise level is found to be 82 to 110 dB which is higher than the permissible limits of 45, 55 and 75 dB prescribed for residential, commercial and industrial areas. It is observed that noise level is proportional to the traffic volume. Heavy vehicles and auto rickshaw create more noise than other type of vehicles. In case of commercial zones, three wheelers, i.e. auto rickshaws followed by two wheelers contributes the noise the most; whereas, in the industrial zone, heavy vehicle’s noise contribution seems to be more.

Speed of vehicles is also identified as a major factor for noise. Analysis on different types of two wheelers, four wheelers and types of fuels shows that noise level is almost directly proportional to the speed. Optimum speed derived for different types of vehicles would prove advantageous in both the ways, i.e. increasing fuel efficiency and reducing noise. 

Noise level is also found to be increasing with the distance of vehicle from the intersection, i.e. noise is found increasing as the vehicle speed increases from the intersection. With increase of speed from stop line at the intersection, noise level enhanced by 5 to 8 dB by distance of 250 m.  Factors responsible for this noise are found to be engines, gears, tyre condition, and age of the vehicles, road type and condition.