Narrow Results

The main objective of this study was to investigate the noise levels at different land uses of District 14 in Tehran. For this purpose, a total number of 91 sampling stations were selected. Afterwards, the equivalent sound pressure level in each station was measured at three occasions of morning (7–9 am), noon (12–3 pm), and evening (5–8 pm). Based on the conformability requirement of each land uses, noise levels was divided in three zones wherein the land uses are exposed to different noise levels was estimated. The obtained results indicated that 8.79% of 78 land uses (residential, recreational and medical) in the Zone 1 were exposed to acceptable range of sound pressure level while the rest suffers from unacceptable noise levels. Among 10 land uses of Zone 2 (commercial–residential), 2.19% were within the acceptable range and 8.78% were in unacceptable range. None of the three land uses in Zone 3 were within the acceptable range. Accordingly, the Zone 3 was recognized to be in a critical condition. In other words, about 88.99% of the total and uses in the Zone 3 is exposed to unaccepted able noise level. Comparing with the standard equivalent sound pressure level of 55 dB(A) presented, the residential land use with the equivalent sound pressure level of 19.27 dB(A) accounted for the highest standard deviation. This is due to proximity of most of the residential areas to the crowded highways and streets.

Assessment of traffic noise pollution in developing countries is complex due to heterogeneity in traffic conditions like traffic volume, road width, honking, etc. To analyze the impact of such variables, a research study was carried out on a national highway passing from an urban agglomeration. Traffic volume and noise levels (L₁₀, L_min, L_max, L_eq and L₉₀) were measured during morning and evening peak hours. Contribution of noise by individual vehicle was estimated using passenger car noise unit. Extent of noise pollution and impact of noisy vehicles were estimated using noise pollution level and traffic noise index, respectively. Noise levels were observed to be above the prescribed Indian and International standards. As per audio spectrum analysis of traffic noise, honking contributed an additional 3–4 dB(A) noise. Based on data analysis, a positive relationship was observed between noise levels and honking while negative correlation was observed between noise levels and road width. The study suggests that proper monitoring and analysis of traffic data is required for better planning of noise abatement measures.

Noise defined as any sound that annoys or disturbs humans or that causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological and physiological effect on humans. Irbid is one of the most populated cities in Jordan. It is environmentally noise polluted due to the rapid and widespread introduction of mechanical methods for production and for their transportation. L10, L50, L90 and LAeq noise levels were measured during the day time and night time to assess and evaluate the noise levels from mosques, schools, celebration halls, streets, building works, industrial areas and commercial areas. The results of the investigation showed that the measured noise levels from all the selected sources were high during the day time and the noise problem is not only limited to day time, but continues in night time in this city. These noise levels were higher than those set by Jordanian limits during day time and night time. A significant correlation between the measured statistical noise levels L10, L50 and L90 and equivalent continuous noise level LAeq were also detected. The mean value of industrial noise source was motors of large vehicles and engines. Whereas the presence of slow moving vehicles, low speed and honking of horns during traffic ingestion periods lead to an increase in noise levels in commercial areas. The noise from building machines and equipment (dredges, concrete mixers, concrete pumps and jackhammers) is quite different from that of traditional equipment. The construction machines have engines that produce a loud, fluctuating noise with varying frequencies that can propagate the sound for a long distance. The noise produced by these engines is particularly disturbing due to the wide variations in frequency and volume.

Noise pollution due to road traffic is a potential threat to human health. Since it is a global hazard, the rapid urbanization and exponential traffic growth have aggravated the problem. Population residing along the busy traffic lanes is continuously exposed to the sound levels which are above the permissible limits. This constant exposure to noise pollution is a cause of concern as it leads to several adverse impacts on human health. Traffic noise causes irritation and annoyance, sleep disturbances, cardiovascular disease, risk of stroke, diabetes, hypertension and loss of hearing. It results in decreased work performance. The present review highlights the serious health hazards of road traffic noise (RTN) which needs to be curbed. Preventive measures of noise pollution can help in combating noise-induced health hazards and increased work performance.

Quantum computing has become increasingly attractive in the past decades due to its extraordinary performance. As a result, many studies focusing on image processing via quantum mechanics have been done. However, few have considered the quantum operations for images with noise pollution. To address this problem, a framework based on the novel enhanced quantum representation (NEQR) model is constructed in this paper. In our method, the noise points are first extracted through comparisons with the adjacent pixel values, after which the restoration operation is finished by filtering the quantum image. This method achieved a good filtering performance in the simulation experiment.

From the beginning of the reform and open door policy period, in 1978, to the present moment, China has consistently subordinated the importance of environmental protection to the pursuit of rapid economic growth in the name of constructing a socialist modernized state. Remarkable achievements in economic development have been made in the last three decades, and people's living standards, in material terms, have been vastly improved, but China has paid a very heavy price, in environmental terms, for such gains. Confronted with a widening spectrum of problems manifesting rapid environmental deterioration, major initiatives and measures have been repeatedly undertaken by the Central government to improve the efficacy of the country's environment protection apparatus. This chapter reviews the challenges encountered, and progress made, in the field of environmental protection, tracing the impacts of rapid industrial and urban growth on the country's environmental contours and ecological landscape. We argue that, despite of the pro-environment actions undertaken by the Central government, the prospect for a quick reversal of the current trends of environmental degradation remains slim because such efforts have always been resisted or even negated by local governments bent on pursuing economic growth at the cost of environmental protection. Unless China's political culture is reformed to allow a greater degree of transparency in local governance matters and that the implementation of environmental policies and programs is effectively and vastly strengthened, the country will be hard pressed to achieve even its modest environmental targets in the foreseeable future.

With the development of urban rail transit, the traffic noise pollution is getting more and more serious, which need to be solved urgently. Noise barrier and green belts as an effective method to reduce noise pollution has been widely used. Because of the Public-private partnership (PPP) has successfully been used in rail transportation, so the cost of reducing noise should be considered before the investment and financing of urban rail transit via PPP. In other words, the environmental benefits of reducing rail traffic noise should be considered.