Differences in assessments of traffic noise impacts in China and the USA

Traffic noise is one of the major global concerns regarding impacts on the quality of the human environment. A number of predicted noise analysis methodologies have been developed to evaluate these impacts, but few studies have been conducted on the differences in noise analysis methods between developing countries and developed countries. This paper examines the differences in traffic noise policies and analysis methods between Guangzhou City and New York City, in an effort to represent a general case for traffic noise analysis between China and the USA. In Guangzhou City, Technical Guidelines for Noise Impact Assessment (HJ/T2.4-1995), issued by Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China, outlines appropriate methods for environmental noise assessment. In New York City, the City Environmental Quality Review Technical Manual outlines appropriate methods for environmental noise assessment. This paper briefly demonstrates for each the relevant noise policy, standards, predicted models, and methodologies for traffic noise analyses. This paper also presents detailed traffic noise analysis procedures for two Environmental Impact Statement studies. Finally, experimental findings are summarized to explore differences in traffic noise assessment between China and the USA. The findings in this study may be beneficial to the Global Noise Policy for the implementation of effective traffic noise control technology.