Impact Factor: 2.8

Open Access Published since June 24, 2014

Noise Mapping

ISSN: 2084-879X

Editor-in-chief: Francesco Asdrubali

Managing Editor: Katarzyna Gajewska

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About this journal

Noise Mapping is ranked in Q1 in Acoustics and Ultrasonics category, according to Clarivate Analytics.

The goal of the journal is to be the first and main publishing option for authors writing on noise mapping and related topics, and a hub integrating the relevant research community in the field of environmental noise and soundscape studies. Potential readers are scientists, practitioners and public bodies representatives (for example environmental protection agencies) carrying out research and/or interested in environmental noise mapping, planning and control issues.

Aims and Scope

The journal aims to promote and disseminate knowledge on noise mapping through the publication of high quality peer-reviewed papers focusing on the following aspects:

noise mapping and noise action plans: case studies;
models and algorithms for source characterization and outdoor sound propagation: proposals, applications, comparisons, round robin tests;
local, national and international policies and good practices for noise mapping, planning, management and control;
evaluation of noise mitigation actions;
evaluation of environmental noise exposure;
actions and communications to increase public awareness of environmental noise issues;
outdoor soundscape studies and mapping;
classification, evaluation and preservation of quiet areas.

Papers concerning noise mapping of emissions from the following sources are welcome for publication:

roads;
railways;
airports and aircrafts;
harbours and ships;
industrial plants;
leisure and night-life activities;
urban areas;
natural sound sources.

Your Benefits

Why submit

As an Author of Noise Mapping, You benefit from

fair and constructive peer review

quick online publication of accepted papers (continuous publication model)

language correction services upon acceptance for authors from non-English speaking regions

no limitations on colour figures and word count in published articles

all articles are freely available to the academic community worldwide without any restrictions

promotion of published papers to readers and citers

distribution to open access directories (such as DOAJ) and thousands of libraries worldwide

liberal policies on copyrights (authors retain copyright) and on self-archiving (no embargo periods)

secure archiving by De Gruyter and the independent archiving service Portico

Article Processing Charges

In order to sustain the publishing process, each article accepted for publication in Noise Mapping is subject to an Article Processing Charge of €500. This fee is used to cover the costs of the peer-review process, professional typesetting and copyediting, as well as online hosting, long-term preservation, and extensive promotion to potential readers. There is no submission fee. Information regarding payment of the charge will be provided following acceptance for publication. For more information please go to Article Processing Charges.

Publication Ethics and Editorial Policies

Detailed information on Editorial Policy, Publication Ethics, Instructions for Authors etc. can be found in the Supplementary Materials section.

For more information on De Gruyter Publishing Ethics, please see the De Gruyter Guidelines online here.

Call for papers for the Special Issue:

Strategic noise mapping in the CNOSSOS-EU era
Guest Editors:
César Asensio, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, ETSI Sistemas de Telecomunicación (c.asensio@upm.es)
Gaetano Licitra, ARPAT, Environmental Protection Agency of Tuscany Region (g.licitra@arpat.toscana.it)
Deadline: December 2024

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Supplementary Materials

Topics

External Links

Volume 10 Issue 1

January 2023

Regular Articles

Open Access April 6, 2023

Statistical modeling of traffic noise at intersections in a mid-sized city, India

Adarsh Yadav, Manoranjan Parida, Brind Kumar

Article number: 20220164

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Abstract

The modeling of traffic noise is more debated around intersections due to traffic flow and road geometry complexity. The available intersection-specific traffic noise models cannot be transferred to predict the traffic noise at intersections in the mid-sized Indian cities due to traffic heterogeneity, variety in driving conditions, and vehicle compositions. This article aims to develop an intersection-specific traffic noise model by collecting data at 19 intersections in Kanpur, India. The data include a wide range of traffic, road, and weather-related variables. Furthermore, significant input variables are determined and used in the statistical regression model to develop an intersection-specific traffic noise model for the mid-sized Indian cities. This study develops a separate entrance and exit arm model based on the corresponding influencing variables. The coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) value is 0.74 and 0.69 for the developed model at the entrance and exit arms, respectively, whereas these models achieve R 2 values of 0.73 and 0.67 in the validation step. Also, the performance of developed models is evaluated on the standard and mean absolute errors as performance metrics. This study finds that traffic volume and receiver distance are relatively the most important variables in the entrance and exit arm noise models.

Open Access June 7, 2023

Framework for urban sound assessment at the city scale based on citizen action, with the smartphone application NoiseCapture as a lever for participation

Arnaud Can, Philippe Audubert, Pierre Aumond, Elise Geisler, Claire Guiu, Tristan Lorino, Emilie Rossa

Article number: 20220166

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Abstract

The development of citizen-based approaches to the diagnosis and decision-making on urban noise environments responds to a demand from both local authorities and residents. However, the methods for fostering the involvement of citizens and the valorization of local knowledge have yet to be invented. This article reports on a co-constructed experiment between researchers and local authorities, in the city of Rezé (France), of an urban noise diagnosis based on the residents and the use of the smartphone application NoiseCapture, which allows a participative measurement of sound levels. The framework also includes focus group discussions. The dynamics of the recruitment and data collection phase are analysed, showing the importance of creating public events around the initiative. Maps of noise levels, but also of the presence of sound sources, such as road, rail and air traffic, or animals, are produced in a collaborative way. Finally, the focus group discussions highlight that (i) repeated noise measurement modifies participants’ relationship to sound environments; (ii) NoiseCapture enhances the formation of a group of residents active on noise issues. Such a framework can provide a citizen-based basis for decisions on noise environments; the next step will be to study its adaptability to different territories.

Open Access June 15, 2023

Case study on the audibility of siren-driven alert systems

Jonathan Siliézar, Pierre Aumond, Arnaud Can, Paul Chapron, Matthieu Péroche

Article number: 20220165

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Abstract

The civil security sirens are used by the authorities in a wide range of countries to signal an imminent or ongoing threat. Even if their sound level is known, it is nevertheless difficult to evaluate their audibility across a given zone, especially in complex urban environments. An experimental protocol was deployed around a siren installed in a town in France, to assess its audibility perceptually and through modeling. Sound level measurements during source activation were made with the NoiseCapture smartphone application at different distances and on several axes by a group of 25 participants. They were also asked to fill in a questionnaire on perceptual information about the siren such as its audibility, the perceived sound level, or the masking of the siren by passing vehicles. A comparison between acoustic measurement levels using NoiseCapture and simulated sound levels using NoiseModelling was performed. The results of this study validate the use of the Common Noise Assessment Methods in Europe model to evaluate the audibility of a warning system located in an urban environment within a radius of 2.8 km around the siren. Finally, a metric linking audibility to modeled sound level is proposed, enabling the development of siren audibility maps in the study area.

Open Access June 26, 2023

Noise pollution and associated health impacts at Ganeshpeth Bus Terminus in Nagpur, India

Supriya Kumari, Anjali Sharma, Ashok Kumar Ghosh

Article number: 20220168

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Abstract

Noise pollution, a man-made disaster in the present times, is becoming more severe and pervasive than ever before due to rapid urbanization, affecting quality of life in urban areas in India. Transit areas generate excessive noise which proves disastrous to human health. However, very few studies have mapped noise levels of transit terminals in India. The objectives of this study are (i) assessment of noise levels in Ganeshpeth Bus Terminus, the major interstate bus terminus in Nagpur and generation of noise contour map in ArcGIS and (ii) a qualitative assessment of the impact of traffic-related noise on the health of the people working in the terminus with prolonged exposure to noisy environment, by conducting a health perception survey based on a questionnaire comprising indicators of health parameters. This is a first-of-its-kind study on noise mapping at an interstate bus terminus in India. The results indicate that the noise levels all over the bus terminus site are much higher than the prescribed standards and the source of noise is not only the plying of vehicles but also the misuse of the public address system. Solutions have been suggested to achieve a drastic reduction in noise levels through simple planning-oriented measures.

Open Access July 3, 2023

Reliability of smart noise pollution map

Zahraa M. Nasser, Abdulhaq H. Abedali, Hayder A. Alkanaani

Article number: 20220167

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Abstract

The problem of noise pollution in Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq, is getting worse every day as a result of the increased volume of traffic. This presents a considerable risk, particularly on the main roads that connect densely populated neighborhoods such as the Al-Sadr City district with the central neighborhoods of the capital. In order to inform decision-makers in urban development and environmental policy about the high values of noise pollution that require remediation and regulation, noise maps are produced. However, two fundamental problems are generally faced in creating a more reliable noise map in the shortest possible time: the excessive time requirements for measuring noise and determining the method of map creation. Therefore, the role of geographic information system (GIS) software in producing noise maps is evident due to the difficulty of increasing the spatial density of measurements and integrating them with spatial information. Hence, an appropriate interpolation method is required. In this article, Moran’s I index was calculated to assess the spatial autocorrelation of measured traffic noise points. A comparison was made between the Smart Map Plugin ordinary kriging (OK) and the inverse distance weighting (IDW) deterministic interpolation method to determine the best method for producing noise maps for the main entrance and exit roads of Al-Sadr City. The noise values were modeled using the best-performing method. Furthermore, the predictive raster data are displayed in the spatial context as a starting point and reference for identifying and understanding the levels of traffic noise in the selected study area. The locations of selected points for measuring traffic noise values were determined in an organized and homogeneous manner, where noise points for the main entrance and exit roads were opposite each other, and the distance between consecutive noise points on each road was 100 m. Traffic noise measurements were carried out at each selected point using the SVAN977 sound and vibration analyzer. At each measurement point, three noise values (LAeq, Max, Min) were obtained during the three peak times, 7–9 AM, 12–2 PM, and 4–6 PM. QGIS software was used to compare the two interpolation methods, with its strength lying in the use of plugins that facilitate spatial analysis, processing tools, and algorithms. The Smart Map Plugin provided facilities to choose the appropriate semi-variogram in the OK interpolation method. The root mean square error was used to compare the two interpolation methods in order to determine the most suitable method for producing traffic noise maps in the study area. The results indicated that the Smart Map Plugin using OK outperformed the IDW method, as spatial distribution pattern and homogeneity affect the accuracy of interpolation. Moreover, based on the analysis of the three noise attributes (LAeq, Max, Min), the performance of the Smart Map Plugin (OK) was found to be better than IDW when the Moran’s I value was high.

Open Access July 10, 2023

Montreal soundscapes during the COVID-19 pandemic: A spatial analysis of noise complaints and residents’ surveys

Christopher Trudeau, Cynthia Tarlao, Catherine Guastavino

Article number: 20220169

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Abstract

Public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic provided researchers with a quasi-experimental situation to examine what happens when anthropogenic noise sources ( e.g. , traffic) are greatly reduced. This article combines noise-related calls to Montreal’s 311 service (29,891 calls from 2014 to 2022) with original survey data from 240 residents collected in 2020 after the lockdown and the summer reopening. The spatial analysis of the calls revealed that, across all pandemic phases, noise complaints increased with population density, the proportion of low-income residents, and the proportion of greenspace. However, the change in the spatial distribution of noise-related calls due to the pandemic measures is positively associated with the proportions of residential and greenspace land use. That is, areas with higher proportions of residential land use and greenspace experienced the greatest increase in noise-related calls. The analysis of the survey revealed that the sounds of traffic and construction decreased during both the lockdown and the subsequent reopening, while the sounds of the neighborhood and nature increased. However, the decreased traffic noise in the downtown core also allowed for the emergence of noise from the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the area. We discuss these results considering the interest in reducing noise levels in cities.

Open Access September 7, 2023

Three-dimensional visualisation of traffic noise based on the Henk de-Klujijver model

Nevil Wickramathilaka, Uznir Ujang, Suhaibah Azri, Tan Liat Choon

Article number: 20220170

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Abstract

Visualisation of road traffic noise is vital for traffic noise planning policies. Several factors affect the noise from road traffic with physical and environmental conditions. Collecting noise levels around the world is not a possible task. Therefore, calculating noise levels by a valid noise model, and spatial interpolations, is prime to traffic noise visualisation. In this study, the Henk de Klujijver noise model is used. Designing noise observation points (Nops) embedding with a three-dimensional (3D) building model and identifying the best suitable spatial interpolation are important to visualise the traffic noise accurately. However, interpolating noise in 3D space (vertical direction) is a more complex process than interpolating in two-dimensional (2D) space. Flat triangles should be eliminated in the vertical direction. Therefore, the structure of Nop has a major influence on spatial interpolation. Triangular Irregular Network (TIN) interpolation is more accurate for visualising traffic noise as 3D noise contours than Inverse Distance Weighted and kriging. Although kriging is vital to visualise noise as raster formats in 2D space. The 3D kriging in Empirical Bayesian shows a 3D voxel visualisation with higher accuracy than 3D TIN noise contours.

Open Access October 26, 2023

Assessment of noise pollution and associated subjective health complaints in Jharia Coalfield, India: A structural equation model analysis

Shashi Kant Tiwari, Lakshmi Annamalai Kumaraswamidhas, Naveen Garg

Article number: 20220172

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Abstract

Noise pollution in the mining industry has become a serious concern in recent years and has aroused extensive health complaints for the mine workers. Despite the increasing knowledge of the association between noise exposure and health effects, only a few studies have investigated the adverse health effects due to noise pollution in the mining industry. The present study aims to determine the interrelationship of mining noise (MN), demographic characteristics (DC), noise sensitivity and noise annoyance (NA) with subjective health complaints (SHC). A PLS-SEM approach has been used to assess the direct and indirect relationship between the influencing factors on the SHC of 272 people in the mines. Field measurements were made using a sound level meter to evaluate the ambient noise levels for 1 h duration during day and night hour shifts in Dhansar and Bastacolla mining areas of the Jharia coalfield. The noise maps revealed that most of the locations have noise levels higher than 70 dB(A). The statistical model suggests that NA is the most important predictor of SHC. Besides, DC and MN induce only indirect effect on SHC. The study shall facilitate in developing a decision support tool for the assessment of noise levels, induced annoyance, SHC, and suitable policy interventions for controlling noise exposure among mine workers in the coalfield.

Open Access November 10, 2023

Exploring relationships among soundscape perception, spatiotemporal sound characteristics, and personal traits through social media

Ta-Chien Chan, Bing-Sheng Wu, Yu-Ting Lee, Ping-Hsien Lee, Ren-Hao Deng

Article number: 20220174

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Abstract

Understanding the causes of noise annoyance requires recognition of the factors that affect soundscape perceptions. This study aims to explore multilevel factors of acoustic comfort and the perceived health effects of sound exposure, including personal traits, sound characteristics, and spatiotemporal features of the surrounding environment. We designed the Soundmap chatbot to collect data from the participants during May 16-July 16, 2022. The participants completed two tasks including sound recording and questionnaires. Sound feature extraction and identification were computed. Two soundscape perception variables were used as outcome variables and measured, and cumulative link mixed models were applied for statistical analysis. Results showed that for female participants, lower acoustic comfort was associated with sound exposure at night, at the land use of transportation and built-up areas, as well as the sounds of machines, vehicles, and airplanes. Low-frequency sound exposure and sounds of nature, silence, music, and human activity were associated with higher acoustic comfort, and these exposures were also associated with positive perceptions of health in rural areas and on weekends. Individuals with extraversion had a higher tolerance to sound; those with high noise sensitivity had a lower tolerance to sound. Understanding sound perception is crucial in maintaining a sustainable urban acoustic environment.

Special Issue: Living with the Pandemic – Reflections on the Urban Sound Consequences of 2 Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Open Access October 26, 2023

Sound complexity as a strategy for livable and sustainable cities: The case of an urban waterfront

Aggelos Tsaligopoulos, Stella Sofia Kyvelou, Aimilia Karapostoli, Nicos Bobolos, Theodora Tsintzou, Demetris F. Lekkas, Yiannis G. Matsinos

Article number: 20220173

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Abstract

Public spaces underwent a notable shift in their acoustic profile during the societal restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. A silver lining emerged from this global crisis, with noticeable improvements in public acoustic environments due to reduced noise levels resulting from restricted mobility. This research focuses on the acoustic environment of Thessaloniki’s waterfront, a Mediterranean metropolis in Northern Greece. Waterfronts of Mediterranean coastal cities provide unique acoustic environments worthy of protection from environmental noise. By analyzing sound level measurements and recordings during the 2021 lockdown and comparing them to the post-lockdown period in 2022, we aimed to explore environmental noise and acoustic complexity indicators. The study’s findings revealed a significant increase in acoustic complexity during the lockdown, underscoring an inverse relationship between noise levels and acoustic complexity. Urban waterfronts, like Thessaloniki’s, hold great potential for enhancing acoustic complexity and subsequently improving the acoustic quality of public spaces while protecting them from environmental noise. This research sheds light on the possible use of sound complexity as an environmental quality standard that can be incorporated in sustainable urban planning and design.

Journal Impact Factor	2.8	2022, Journal Citation Reports (Clarivate, 2023)
5-year Journal Impact Factor	2.7	2022, Journal Citation Reports (Clarivate, 2023)
Journal Citation Indicator	1.17	2022, Journal Citation Reports (Clarivate, 2023)
CiteScore	6.9	2022, Scopus (Elsevier B.V., 2023)
SCImago Journal Rank	0.759	2022, SJR (Scimago Lab, 2023; Data Source: Scopus)
Source Normalized Impact per Paper	1.275	2022, CWTS Journal Indicators (CWTS B.V., 2023; Data Source: Scopus)

More information about journal rankings

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MANUSCRIPTS
Noise Mapping encourages the submission of both substantial full-length bodies of work and shorter manuscripts that report novel findings. There are no specific length restrictions for the overall manuscript or individual sections; however, we urge the authors to present and discuss their findings in a concise and accessible manner.

All submissions must be made via online submission system Editorial Manager. In case of problems, please contact the Managing Editor of this journal (katarzyna.gajewska@degruyter.com).

SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPTS
Manuscripts have to be written in LATEX, AMS-TEX, AMS-LATEX. We do not accept papers in Plain TEX format. For an initial submission, the authors are strongly advised to upload their entire manuscript, including tables and figures, as a single PDF file. Authors are strongly advised to submit the final version of the paper using the journal’s LaTex Template.

For detailed information, please see Instruction for Authors

EDITORIAL POLICY
Unpublished material: Submission of a manuscript implies that the work described is not copyrighted, published or submitted elsewhere, except in abstract form. The corresponding author should ensure that all authors approve the manuscript before its submission.
Ethical conduct of research: The authors must describe and confirm safeguards to meet ethical standards when applicable. See Editorial Policy for details.
Conflict of interest: When authors submit a manuscript, they are responsible for recognizing and disclosing financial and/or other conflicts of interest that might bias their work and/or could inappropriately influence his/her judgment. If no specified acknowledgement is given, the Editors assume that no conflict of interest exists. Authors are encouraged to fill in the ICMJE Conflicts of Interest Form (available here) and send it in the electronic format to the Managing Editor.
Copyright: All authors retain copyright, unless – due to their local circumstances – their work is not copyrighted. The copyrights are governed by the Creative-Commons Attribution Only license (CC-BY) which is compliant with Plan-S. The corresponding author grants the journal the license to use of the article, by signing the License To Publish. Scanned copy of license should be sent to the journal, as soon as possible.
Authorship: Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors. Where there are others who have participated in certain substantive aspects of the research project, they should be named in an Acknowledgement section. The corresponding author should ensure that all appropriate co-authors (according to the above definition) and no inappropriate co-authors are included in the author list of the manuscript, and that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the paper and have agreed to its submission for publication.
Peer Review process: Our standard policy requires each paper reporting primary research or secondary analysis of primary research, together with relevant supplementary materials, to be reviewed by at least two Referees and the peer-review process is single-blind. The Editors reserve the right to decline the submitted manuscript without review, if the studies reported are not sufficiently novel or important to merit publication in the journal. Manuscripts deemed unsuitable (insufficient originality or of limited interest to the target audience) are returned to the author(s) without review. The Editor seeks advice from experts in the appropriate field. Research articles and communications are refereed by a minimum of two reviewers, review papers by at least three. Authors are requested to suggest persons competent to review their manuscript. However, please note that this will be treated only as a suggestion, and the final selection of reviewers is exclusively the Editor's decision. The final decision of acceptance in made by Managing Editor or, in case of conflict, by the Editor-in-Chief.
Scientific Misconduct: This journal publishes only original manuscripts that are not also published or going to be published elsewhere. Multiple submissions/publications, or redundant publications (re-packaging in different words of data already published by the same authors) will be rejected. If they are detected only after publication, the journal reserves the right to publish a Retraction Note. In each particular case Editors will follow COPE’s Core Practices and implement the advices.

Editorial

Editor-in-Chief
Francesco Asdrubali, Perugia Foreigners’ University, Italy

Editorial Advisory Board
Dr. Francesco Aletta, University College London, UK
César Asensio, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
Arnaud Can, Université Gustave Eiffel, France
Luis Bento Coelho, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal
Lex Brown, Griffith University, Australia
Jian Kang, University College London, UK
Eoin A. King, University of Hartford, USA
Gaetano Licitra, University of Pisa, Italy
Prof. Siu Kit Lau, National University of Singapore
Luigi Maffei, Second University of Naples, Italy
Prof. Rufin Makarewicz, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
Dr. Efstathios Margaritis, University of Southampton, UK
Prof. Shinichi Sakamoto, University of Tokyo, Japan
Brigitte Schulte-Fortkamp, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
Enrique Suárez, Universidad Austral de Chile, Chile
Konstantinos Vogiatzis, University of Thessaly, Greece
Jean Marc Wunderli, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Switzerland
Dr. Papatya Nur Dokmeci Yorukoglu, School of Architecture, Cankaya University, Ankara, Turkey
Paulo Henrique Trombetta Zannin, Universidade Federal do Parana, Brasil
Prof. Oleksandr Zaporozhets, National Aviation University, Kiev, Ukraine
Bin Zhang, State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Noise and Vibration Control, China

Assistant Editors
Francesco D'Alessandro, Italian National Research Council
Samuele Schiavoni, University of Perugia, Italy

Publisher
DE GRUYTER Poland
Bogumiła Zuga 32A Str.
01-811 Warsaw, Poland
T: +48 22 701 50 15

Editorial Office
Katarzyna Gajewska, M.Sc. Eng.
Managing Editor
Email: Katarzyna.Gajewska@degruyter.com
https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/noise

(Deutsch)

Type: Journal
Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter Open Access
First published: June 24, 2014
Publication Frequency: 1 Issue per Year
Audience: scientists, practitioners and public bodies representatives (for example environmental protection agencies) carrying out research and/or interested in environmental noise mapping, planning and control issues