Dynamic traffic noise simulation at a signalized intersection among buildings

A dynamic model of traffic noise has been established for road intersections among buildings by taking three sound propagation paths, direct, diffracted and reflected sounds into account, in which the standard noise emission levels and the acceleration adjustments were determined by measurements. The dynamic traffic noise distribution at a signalized intersection among buildings was simulated based on the proposed model, in which a microscopic traffic simulation tool was applied to provide the real-time traffic data including the type, coordinates, speed, and acceleration of each vehicle. The simulated equivalent continuous sound level L(Aeq) and cumulative statistical sound levels L(10), L(50), and L(90) agreed well with the measurements. The calculated average of LAeq at the intersection based on the fixed cycle and the F. Webster traffic control modes was compared, which showed that the effect of different traffic control modes on the noise level is insignificant under the unsaturated traffic, and the noise levels are relevant to the traffic capacity of the intersection under the saturated traffic. (C) 2011 Institute of Noise Control Engineering.