Road traffic noise survey and analysis of some major urban centers in Nigeria

• Published in: Noise control engineering journal 1998-07, Vol.46 (4), p.146-158
• Main Authors: Saadu, Abdullahi A., Onyeonwu, Ronald O., Ayorinde, Emmanuel O., Ogisi, Festus O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustics; Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Ground, air and sea transportation, marine construction; Physics; Road transportation and traffic; Structural acoustics and vibration
• ISSN: 0736-2501; 2168-8710
• DOI: 10.3397/1.2828467

Results from an eight-city noise survey show that road traffic is a major source of environmental noise pollution in Nigeria. The inter-city (fast moving) traffic noise is characteristically different from the intra-city (congested or slow-moving) traffic noise, though, in many cases, they have comparable day-night levels. Noise from congested traffic was found to contain occasional high peaks, and vary more in levels and be more skewed histographically than that from freely flowing traffic. The statistical distribution for the day time L sub(Aeq) value has a fairly normal appearance with a mean of 73 dB (A-weighted) and standard deviation of 5.7 dB. Many respondents to the questionnaires distributed in the cities surveyed consider road traffic as the first or second greatest source of annoyance due to noise. However it is considered the most difficult to control. The findings of the survey provide enough baseline data for engineering controls and interim legislation against traffic noise pollution.