The Impact of Thin Asphalt Layers as a Road Traffic Noise Intervention in an Urban Environment

Ablenya Grangeiro de Barros, Jarl K. Kampen and Cedric Vuye
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Ablenya Grangeiro de Barros: EMIB Research Group, Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
Jarl K. Kampen: STATUA, Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Cedric Vuye: EMIB Research Group, Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-21

Abstract: Low-noise thin asphalt layers (TALs) are a feasible solution to mitigate road traffic noise in urban environments. Nevertheless, the impacts of this type of noise intervention are reported mostly regarding noise levels, while non-acoustic aspects influencing the population perception are still little-known. This study investigates the implementation of TALs in two streets of Antwerp, Belgium. The effectiveness of the intervention was measured via noise modelling and acoustic measurements of road traffic noise. A reduction of 2.8 dB in noise exposure was observed in L den and L night , while SPB measurements showed decreases up to 5.2 dB on the roadside. The subjective impacts of the TALs were evaluated via self-administered surveys and compared to results from control streets. The annoyance indicators were positively impacted by the TALs implementation, resulting in annoyance levels similar or lower than in the control streets. The TALs did not impact the reported physical complaints, sleep quality, and comfort level to perform activities.

Keywords: road traffic noise intervention; thin asphalt layers; health effects; annoyance; noise simulation; noise exposure; low-noise asphalt layers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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