Modelling of traffic noise in the vicinity of urban road intersections

Traffic noise is continuously rising alongside roadways, especially at intersections, due to rapid urbanization, eventually affecting acoustical climate and quality of life. This present study develops a traffic noise model for intersections with minimal evidence of interrelationships among influential traffic noise factors. An integrated Bayesian networks and Partial least squares structural equation modelling approach has been employed on 342-hour field measurement data collected from nineteen intersections in Kanpur, India. The integrated approach developed the traffic noise prediction model with 62.4% explanatory power and identified direct and indirect effects of five influential factors on traffic noise. For instance, Traffic flow attributes, i.e., traffic volume and honking, are the most crucial ones to degrade acoustical climate at intersections. Besides, Built environment and Climate conditions induce only indirect effects on traffic noise. Thus, this study provides a useful basis for planners to understand traffic noise relationships and deploy noise mitigation strategies accordingly.