Measurements and prediction of road traffic noise along high-rise building façades in Athens

Abstract

Constant exposure to traffic noise pollution can have significant impact on human health and well being. Occupants of high-rise buildings along noisy traffic arteries are severely affected. In an attempt to contribute to noise protection design of prospective high-rise buildings, traffic noise measurements and prediction using the CRTN (calculation of road traffic noise) model, were made along the façade of a high-rise building in central Athens. The aim was to test the accuracy of this model in predicting the vertical distribution (mapping) of traffic noise along such building façades, under the local urban characteristics of the Mediterranean capital. The predicted and measured noise levels were found to be highly coherent with each other, and their vertical distribution pattern, by and large, confirmed findings from earlier studies. Nevertheless, the predicted values had a tendency of underestimation, with a mean difference −2.2 dB(A) with reference to measured values. It is considered that this underestimation is associated mainly with a newly proposed feature of urban morphology, namely (local) geo-morphology. By and large, it can be inferred that the CRTN model is a useful tool, suitable for the prediction of traffic noise along high-rise building façades during their planning and design stage. The results represent a further step towards more general application of this model, as well as a contribution to the use of this model considering a wider number of urban features.

Modeling Social Impacts of High-Rise Residential Buildings during the Post-Occupancy Phase Using DEMATEL Method: A Case Study

“…For instance, they might violate the rights of others in the neighborhood for natural light and visual quality [24]. In the same vein, high-rise buildings, if located inappropriately, can lead to increased traffic volumes, traffic noise pollution, air pollution, and also put more pressure on the transport networks [25]. These could all result in adverse effects on public health and wellbeing [26].…”

Seeking the Nexus Between Building Acoustics and Urban Form: A Systematic Review

“…The study findings associated urban street patterns with building traffic noise regarding noise levels on facades. In another study, Sotiropoulou et al [ 37 ] explored the interface between high-rise buildings, road noise, and estimation technique in Athens, Greece. To do this, they included the vertical aspects of building facades as tools for creating noise mapping and predictions.…”

The noise climate at the time of SARS-CoV-2 VIRUS/COVID-19 disease in Athens – Greece: The case of Athens International Airport and the Athens Ring Road (Attiki Odos)

“…In order to protect the population that resides in the proximity of both the Airport and the Motorway and is exposed to high levels of environmental noise [8], which has been shown to cause severe annoyance and disturbance to residents [9], the recent maximum permissible limits as per the National legislation and according to the European Directive 2002/49/EC have been implemented [10] for both airport [11] and road environmental noise indicators, L den (24-hour index) and L night (8-hour index), defined as follows [12]:…”