Editorial

Research Needs for Modelling Traffic

Noise in Indian Cities
PK Agarwal1
Abstract
Noise is one of the most important sources of pollution in the cities. Most of the Indian cities have
noise level above than acceptable limits because of increasing number of vehicular traffic. The
recognition of road traffic noise as one of the main sources of noise pollution has led to the
development of Traffic Noise models. These Noise Models are often used to predict and/or monitor
road traffic noise impact on environment. This article presents a description of Traffic Noise Modelling
(TNM), various types of models which are available to model traffic noise, their uses and what
research needs are required in traffic noise prediction models are also highlighted. It is expected that
this study will be useful for developing traffic noise models for Indian cities.

Keywords: Traffic Noise Models, Uses of Traffic Noise Models

Introduction
Development of models to predict traffic noise started more than 50 years ago and the results have been very accurate.
Usually, these kind of models are developed taking into account mainly traffic flow, features of the road surface, distance
between carriageway and receivers. Traffic noise modelling is the process of theoretically estimating noise levels within a
region of interest such as a road. Noise prediction models are used in a variety of decision-making applications. The most
common application is for assessments, where a decision is to be made regarding some future change to an
environmental noise field. Some common uses of predictions from noise models are as follows:

• Forecasting the impacts of proposed changes to an environmental noise field such as introduction of a road in
area under consideration
• Assessment and reduction in total noise levels in areas near roads
• Investigating the results of a measurement study to better understand the causes of the measured noise levels

Although a variety of models are available to predict noise levels in an area around roads but results are not entirely
reliable as these models have their own limitations and further research needs to be carried out. Thus there is an
urgent need to develop a traffic noise model which can be used to predict noise level in an urban area. This article
consists of four sections. The first section is Introduction, it introduces the basics of traffic noise modelling uses; the
second section deals with modeling of traffic noise, types of models available, data required; the third section
identifies the further research needs in this field and the fourth section draws conclusions.

Modelling of Traffic Noise

Noise modelling is the process of theoretically estimating noise levels within a region of interest under a specific set
of conditions. Further we will be discussing about types and data required for noise modelling. A noise model must

1Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal -462003, Madhya Pradesh,
India.

E-mail Id: pka9@yahoo.com

Orcid Id: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6159-1447

How to cite this article: Agarwal PK. Research Needs for Modelling Traffic Noise in Indian Cities. J Adv Res Auto Tech Transp Sys
2017; 4: 1-4.

© ADR Journals 2017. All Rights Reserved.

Agarwal PK J. Adv. Res. Auto. Tech. Transp. Sys. 2017;2(3&4)

supply all the data for noise predictions. A typical traffic
noise model must describe:
Noise Source
An approximation of the noise source, for which
associated environmental noise levels are of interest in
our case traffic noise.
Transmission path
An approximation of the physical environment through
which noise will transmit from the noise source to the
location or region of interest. This includes the ground
terrain, the built environment, and atmospheric
conditions (e.g. wind, temperature, humidity)
Receiver Locations
An approximation of the way in which sound will travel
from the input noise source(s) via the input physical
environment, to the receiver location or region of interest.
At its simplest level, a noise model can be regarded as a
special form of digital map. It resembles a three-
dimensional physical situation, but only includes the
features which affect the dispersion of noise. Application
of calculations to each point on a uniformly distributed
grid helps in developing a noise contour map depicting
regions of equal estimated noise level and trends in the
spatial pattern of the sound field. Figure 1 shows contour
map produced from an environmental noise model.

Figure 1.Example Contour map Produced from an Environmental Noise Model

Types of Models used for Traffic Noise Modelling traffic noise modeling. A brief description of these models
is discussed in Table 1.
There are various types of models which are available for
Table 1.Brief Description of Noise Models
S. No. Model Description
1 Practical This model involves the calculation of noise levels by adding the separate
Engineering contributions that each sound attenuation factor has on noise propagation. It is
Model based on empirical results. In general, they are simple and easy-to-use.
2 Approximate This model is based on simplified analytical solutions of the acoustic wave
Semi-analytical equation rather than empirical results. It allows a better tracking of the influence
method of specific meteorological conditions on noise levels, such as upwind or
downwind situations.
3 NumericalThis group includes methods such as the Fast Field Program (FFP), the Parabolic
Method Equation (PE) and the Boundary Element Method (BEM). These methods are
based on the numerical solution of the wave equation.
4 Hybrid Model This model is used for complex situations. The general principle of these models
is to solve the wave equations or Helmholtz equation to deduce the sound field.
The procedure for solving the wave equation is generally difficult to implement
due to the complexity of the atmospheric conditions.
5 Ray Tracing These models are fast to compute and provide a pictorial representation in
Models form of ray diagrams. Ray-tracing models are limited in capability only as a
consequence of the approximation leading to the ional equation. This imposes
restrictions on the physics which in turn limit the applicability of ray theory.

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J. Adv. Res. Auto. Tech. Transp. Sys. 2017;2(3&4)
Data Required for Noise Modelling
The key information which is required in predictive traffic
noise models is representation of the noise sources, and
the physical environment through which the noise will
transmit to the receivers. In general, Practical Engineering
Model will provide the most viable basis for predicting
traffic noise levels. These methods rely on a combination
of acoustic principles and empirical knowledge to provide a
means of estimating the impact on the environment. Other
data which are required includes:
• The absorption associated with the passage of noise
through the atmosphere
• The change in noise level that occurs as a result of
interactions between the sound wave travelling directly
to the receiver and those reflected from the ground
• The attenuation offered by obstacles that fully or
partly obstruct line of sight between a source and a
receiver location
• The influence of atmospheric conditions that can
change the direction of an advancing sound wave
front by refracting the wave at points where there are
significant changes in wind speed and/or temperature
• The influence of reflecting surfaces that re-direct an
advancing sound wave front
Review of Some Traffic Noise Models
In this section, some of the most used TNMs are discussed
in details. In all the formulas, Leq is the equivalent noise
level, Q is the vehicles flow, P is the percentage of heavy
vehicles, d is the distance source-receiver.
Burgess Model
The concentric zone model, also known as the Burgess
model or the CCD model, is one of the earliest
theoretical models
One of the most used is the Burgess Model applied for
the first time in Sydney in Australia.
CSTB Model
It is a model which was formulated by the French
namely “Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment”
(C.S.T.B.) which proposed a predictive formula of
equivalent emission level, based on the average
acoustic level (L50) with the following expression:
The value of L50 is calculated taking into account only the Based on this study, the major research needs identified
3
Agarwal PK
equivalent vehicular flows (Qeq), and is given by:
For urban road with elevated buildings near the
carriageway edge, with L the width (in meters) of the
road near the measurement point.
FHWA Model
FHWA is an American model which stands for Federal
Highway Administration Agency Model. In this model
Traffic noise levels near roadways can be predicted on the
basis of individual vehicle noise levels, vehicle volume and
speed, observer distance and other correlations. Traffic
noise prediction algorithm is of the form given below:
Leq= Lo + ΔLi
Where:
Lo – basic noise level of a stream of
vehicles ΔLi – adjustment applied.
The basic noise level is the noise emitted by a particular
class of the vehicle at a distance of 15 m from the
centre of the inner lane at the given speed and for the
given road surface. FHWA model calculates noise level
through a series of adjustments to the reference sound
level measured through field measurements. L eq
calculated using the following formula:
Where,
• = is the hourly equivalent sound level of the ith
class of vehicle
• = is the reference energy mean emission level
of ith class of vehicle
• Ni = is the no of vehicles in the ith class passing a
specified point during some specified time
• Do= is the reference distance at which the emission
levels are measured. In FHWA model, Do is 15 meters
• Si = is the average speed of ith class vehicle and is
measured in kilometers/ hour
• T = is the time period over which the equivalent
sound level computed
• Rn = is the distance in meters between the
centerline of the near end of the roadway segment
and the observer
• Rf = is the distance in meters between the centerline of
the far end of the roadway segment and the observe
Research Needs for Modelling Traffic Noise
Agarwal PK
for developing traffic noise models may be summarized
as follows:
• Traffic noise models are often more complex as
they involve multiple sound sources, transmitting
via multiple transmission paths, to various locations
of interest. Therefore research is needed to develop
a simple noise model.
• There are specific set of conditions for which a noise
model is being constructed. However, in practice the
physical environment will usually not be constant and
in reality the actual sound field will vary in time and
space. Thus the output of a traffic noise model is
subjective to a particular location at a particular time.
• Environment through which sound propagates to
the receiver and applying calculation methods that
produce an estimated noise model at a location of
interest is a complicated task.
• Seasonal effects such as varying ground cover
conditions (e.g. grass or ice) that affect absorption
or propagating sound also causes variability in
results in the same place in different seasons.
• Weather conditions are difficult to be realized in
practice. Since the variation of output values with
input condition values is so large, a traffic noise
model may give an answer far different to what is
experienced in reality.
• As variation in noise emission between vehicles
within the same category can be considerable, it is
essential to note that the influence of vehicles that
are producing significantly more (or less) noise than
the average vehicle is difficult to take into account
in order to correctly predict the occurrence and
strength of road traffic noise events.
Conclusion
Traffic noise is becoming one of the key sources of noise
pollution in growing Indian cities. Noise Modelling helps
in predicting these noise levels beforehand so that
measures could be taken to reduce the same. Various
types of traffic noise models are available which have
been discussed in this study. These different models
have their own advantages and limitations over each
other. Furthermore it can also be concluded that these
Noise Models are complex and they rely on a number of
parameters like seasonal variation, weather conditions
which makes it difficult to exercise them to full extent.
This study also presents research needs for developing
an appropriate traffic noise model in an urban area.
J. Adv. Res. Auto. Tech. Transp. Sys. 2017;2(3&4)
It is expected that this study will be useful for
developing traffic noise models for Indian cities.
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