NOISE IN HOUSING ESTATES

Abstract

This dissertation examines the characteristics, sound levels and methods of assessing Noise in local housing estates, particular reference is given to the public housing estates. The study is carried out in two parts. A social survey was conducted, followed by field measurements of selected noise sources. Special emphasis has been placed on the major sources of community and environmental noise namely, traffic noise, rail noise, and noise from schools and markets. Measured traffic and rail noise levels are compared with predicted results. In general it is found that prediction methods yield lower results than the measured values. The social survey has shown that noise from road traffic and children playgrounds are the two main sources of disturbance in our housing estates. Rating Methods, such as the Traffic Noise Index, Noise pollution level, and Sound Exposure level etc are studied. It is found that for most part of the day,the Traffic Noise Index for all the roads where measurement were taken is above the recommended value of 74.