Verify Between the Provided by Forecast Models Acoustical Data and Those Experimental Detected at Messina

Abstract

Noise pollution is by now worldwide recognized as a major problem for the quality of life in urban areas. Noise effects include various impacts on mental and physical health and disturbance of daily activities (may affect sleep, conversation, lead to perception of annoyance, cause hearing loss, cardiovascular problems as well as affect task performance) [1-3].Then, assessing the problem and programming actions for controlling its adverse effects have become issues of immediate concern for community as evidenced by the large number of anti-noise laws, ordinances and regulations decreed by many governments [4-6]. Also, the EU legislation on environmental noise [7] requires the drawing up of noise maps around main transport infrastructure and in major agglomerations to provide estimates of noise exposure and, where necessary, to work out noise abatement action plans. This paper presents the results of a comparison between the data collected in a previous study of the authors on the environmental noise pollution of the city of Messina (Italy), with the simulated data through the most tested forecasting models in the scientific world. They have been verified the data both by simulation from the models and those obtained experimentally in the same points, after the construction of the works carried out in the city of Messina, consisting of the construction of a motorway junction and a new maritime landing in the southern part of the City. The interventions carried out have significantly modified the vehicular traffic of the urban center, and to verify the effects, comparisons were made with the values measured in the same 35 sites previously surveyed. The comparison was made using simulated values and experimental measurements of the main noise pollution indices (Leq, L1, L10, L50, L90, L99) and of the traffic flow and composition.