Road source noise mapping and noise action planning on an university campus area: A case for Bursa Technical University Mimar Si̇nan Campus area

Noise is a type of environmental pollution caused by the accumulation of high levels of unwanted and disturbing sounds. The most common type of noise encountered today is transportation noise. The first step in action plans for noise control is to prepare noise maps. These maps visually represent the noise levels to which people are exposed. As part of the thesis study, work was carried out to identify the noise caused by road transportation and to determine the measures that can be taken for the Bursa Technical University Mimar Sinan campus area. In the introduction section of the thesis, a detailed literature review on the concepts of sound and noise was conducted, followed by an examination of the legal regulations on noise in the world and our country. Detailed examinations were made on noise prevention methods applied in noise control, such as quiet asphalt, noise barriers, and intelligent traffic systems. After completing the literature review, the map base to be used in the SoundPlan application, which is the program for creating the noise map, the road width and road features of Ankara Yolu Street, Eğitim Street, and Eflak Street, which cause noise around the campus, the number of vehicles passing through the road, and the population data in the study area were obtained. Noise maps were created using the SoundPlan application, and after the mapping process was completed, noise measurements were taken at designated points inside and outside the campus between 07:00 and 19:00 hours on weekdays with appropriate meteorological conditions. After completing the noise measurements in the field, the daytime grid noise map prepared with the SoundPlan program was compared with the noise levels measured in the field. As a result of the measurement, it was accepted that the noise maps created with the SoundPlan program represent the noise levels on the campus and its surroundings. Although there was no noise exceedance within the campus area, a noise action plan study was conducted to create quieter areas. Within this framework, it was accepted to make adjustments such as using quiet asphalt, installing noise barriers, imposing a ban on heavy vehicles, and carrying out afforestation works. New noise level maps were created in the SoundPlan program accordingly. The daytime grid noise maps produced for different scenarios were compared with the current situation's daytime grid noise maps, and it was found that the most effective methods were closing the road traffic to heavy vehicles between 07:00 and 19:00 hours, applying porous asphalt, and carrying out afforestation around the campus, taking into account the effects on the population.