A stochastic model for the noise levels

Abstract

Accurate predictions of environmental noise levels are necessary to implement noise reduction strategies in urban areas. In this paper, a stochastic model is introduced to describe and predict the Lden, Lday, Levening, and Lnight levels. A Gaussian Ornstein–Uhlenbeck model is used to represent the dynamics of the noise levels, where the mean-reversion properties and seasonal volatility for each day of the week are studied separately.