Evaluation of Noise in the Vicinity of a Hospital and a Gated Community

Abstract

An evaluation was made of the acoustic environment of the Green Line North (GLN) by noise mapping calculations. In addition, the equivalent sound pressure levels, Leq, that reach the facades of a residential building and a hospital located along the GLN, were simulated to determine the noise levels to which they are subjected. The simulated noise levels were compared with the maximum allowable noise levels established by Curitiba Municipal Law and by the Brazilian standard on Noise Assessment in Populated Areas. It was concluded unequivocally that, in the current situation, noise pollution affects the hospital and the gated community. A simulation of heavy vehicle traffic reduction was performed, aiming at evaluating the impact of this mitigation measure. Even the reduction of number of heavy vehicle to 10% of the original number proved to be insufficient to attend values established by the municipal law and the Brazilian standard.