Fine-Scale Study of the Population Exposure to Road Traffic Noise in Foshan

To study the effects of urban road traffic noise on urban residents, this study proposes a method for population exposure to traffic noise by using grid-level population and traffic noise distribution and evaluating population exposure with the use of the evaluation index models. First, the grid-level traffic noise distribution data are derived into four-meter gridded increments from noise mapping calculated by the traffic noise prediction models in straight road segment, and the block-level population census statistical data are disaggregated into grid-level data by using points-of-interest. Then, establish the relationship between the grid-level traffic noise and the population distribution data with different grid increments by combining their properties. Finally, the evaluation index models are used to evaluate the population exposure to traffic noise in study regions. The proposed method is applied to study the population exposure to road traffic noise at a fine scale in Foshan in Guangdong Province, China. The combination of population and traffic distribution can show the noise impact range, the effects of traffic noise on people, and the impact numbers in Foshan.