Characterization and Analysis of Ambient Noise Level in Puducherry Town, India

Author(s): Prof. S.Govindaradjane, K.Srinivasan and S.Pradeepkumar
Paper category: Proceeding
Book title: International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering and Sustainable Construction
Editor(s): T.Ch. Madhavi, G. Prabhakar, Santhosh Ram, and P.M. Rameshwaran
Print-ISBN: None
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-161-2
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2016
Pages: 158-165
Total Pages : 8
Language : English

Abstract: Noise is an environmental stressor and nuisance that causes some serious health problem to human beings exposed to it when its level is elevated. It is considered as the most pervasive pollutant besides the emission of various other types of conventional pollutants. Along with the increasing degree of air and water pollution, noise pollution is also emerging as a threat to the inhabitants of various cities and towns all over the world, and India is no exception. While extensive studies have been carried out world over, studies on noise pollution, especially, noise pollution generated by increase in traffic due to rapid urbanization, is rather in India. Further, such studies have never been carried out for Puducherry for four critical zones viz. Silence zone, Commercial zone, Residential zone and Industrial zones. Hence, a scientific approach has been adopted pre-selected in this study to understand the impact of noise pollution due to traffic generated at locations within the Puducherry town. Digital Sound Level Meter (model MS6700) was used to measure the ambient noise level at various locations of the Puducherry town during (December 2015 – January 2016), at three different time intervals of the day (i.e. in the morning 7-9am, midday 12-2pm and in the evening 7-9pm). The data obtained was used to compute various noise parameters, namely, equivalent continuous noise level (Leq), noise pollution level (Lnp), noise climate (NC), traffic noise index (TNI), percentile noise levels (L10, L50, L90). Based on critical analysis, it is found that the noise levels at various locations of the Puducherry Town, are more than the prescribed ambient noise standard, that is, in the Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules 2000, India. Vehicular traffic and air horns are found to be the main reasons for these high noise levels. Further, this study has also examined the problem of reduction of individual's efficiency in his/her work places due to road traffic noise pollution generated. Traffic noise indices data were also collected simultaneously at the twenty two selected areas of the Puducherry Town, and an attempt has been made to correlate with the generated noise pollution.

Online publication: 2017
Publication type: full_text
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