In today’s era, vehicular noise pollution has been identified as a serious danger that influence the attribute of the urban regions. To identify the influence of noise effects, noise maps are very useful. A noise mapping study has been carried out to study the propagation of urban road traffic noise in the areas along with field measurements. The computer simulation model (Sound- PLAN software) is used to developed noise maps. In developing nations like India, traffic composition is heterogeneous. These traffic compositions contain vehicles, which have different sizes, speeds variations and operating systems. Because of fluctuating speeds, deficiency of lane disciplines, and non-authorized parking on main road lanes, honking events becomes inevitable, which changes and affects the urban soundscape of nations like India. Due to horn events (heterogeneous traffic condition), noise level (LAeq) increase by 0.5–8 dB (A) as compared to homogeneous traffic conditions.

AbstractRoad traffic noise has been recognized as a serious issue that affects the urban regions. Due to urbanization and industrialization, transportation in urban areas has increased. Traffic noise characteristics in cities belonging to a developing country like India are highly varied compared to developed nations because of its heterogeneous conditions. The objective of the research study is to assess noise pollution due to heterogeneous traffic conditions and the impact of horn honking due to un-authorized parked vehicles on the main roadside. Noise mapping has been done using the computer simulation model by taking various noise sources and noise propagation to the receiver point. Traffic volume, vehicular speed, noise levels, road geometry, un-authorized parking, and horn honking were measured on tier-II city roads in Surat, India. The study showed not so significant correlation between traffic volume, road geometry, vehicular speed and equivalent noise due to heterogeneous road traffic conditions. Further, analysis of traffic noise showed that horn honking due to un-authorized parked vehicles contributed an additional up to 11 dB (A), which is quite significant. The prediction models such as U.K’s CoRTN, U.S’s TNM, Germany’s RLS-90 and their modified versions have limited applicability for heterogeneity. Hence, the noise prediction models, which can be used for homogeneous road traffic conditions are not successfully applicable in heterogeneous road traffic conditions. In this research, a new horn honking correction factor is introduced with respect to unauthorized parked vehicles. The horn honking correction values can be integrated into noise model RLS-90, while assessing heterogeneous traffic conditions.

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