Comparative study of urban noise between neighborhoods in João Pessoa, Brazil based on sound mapping

Vehicular traffic is the most influential agent for sound pollution increase in urban areas. Like other in-development cities, João Pessoa/Brazil finds itself in a scenario of exponential growth in the number of its vehicles. One of the main tools used for urban noise analysis is sound mapping, which enables the evaluation of sound pressure levels by contrasting them with lawful standards. The general objective of this paper is to compare the traffic-generated noise in three neighborhoods in João Pessoa through mapping data, using the Brazilian NBR 10151 regulation as standard. Methodologically, after the selection and characterization of the studied neighborhoods, noise maps were developed and a comparison strategy based on land use, as recommended by the regulation, was designed. The results show that most of the selected urban portions do not fit the standard requirements, which indicates that the parameters established by the standards only consider the type of usage, disregarding the characteristics of the street and of the vehicle flow. Therefore, this study demonstrates the urgency of a municipal urban policy that addresses the levels of urban noise affecting the neighborhoods, regarding the population's health and general well-being along with the continuous growth of urban centers.