The influence of traffic flow dynamics on urban soundscapes

The development and validation of a model for dynamic traffic noise prediction is presented. The model is composed of a GIS-based traffic microsimulation part coupled with an emission model, and a beamtrace-based 2.5D propagation part, which takes into account multiple reflections and diffractions. The model can be used to analyze the influence of real urban traffic situations (e.g., traffic flow management, road saturation) in the usual equivalent sound level maps. However, it also allows to calculate and visualize statistical noise levels and indicators derived from them. Novel descriptors based on the power spectrum of noise level fluctuations can be obtained. A part of Gentbrugge, Belgium, is taken as a validation area; different traffic demand scenarios are simulated.