Modelling Vehicular Noise Pollution Data in Some Parts of Warri, Delta State Using Geospatial Analysis

Abstract

The focus of the study is to apply geostatistical technique (kriging

interpolation) for the analysis of vehicular noise pollution data in

some parts of Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. In carrying out the noise

level measurements, 10 locations comprising of commercial,

industrial activities and busy roundabouts were selected. The

measurement of sound level was carried out using a type 1

integrated sound level meter accompanied with a Garmin Oregon

650t hand-held GPS. The CR811C noise level meter was held at a

height of 1.2m above ground level with the antenna pointing to the

sound source. Noise level measurement was carried out twice daily

for the 10 locations (7.00am – 9.00am and 5.00pm – 7.00pm)

respectively. To conduct the measurement, the instrument was set at

the A-weighting network and the equivalent noise level (Leq) which

is the constant noise level that expands the same amount of energy

over the same period, was measured for the various locations. Noise

measurements was done for ten (10) weeks (70days) between march

to May 2021 for each of the 10 locations and the weekly average

noise level in (dBA) was recorded and employed for further analysis.

Results of the preliminary analysis of the data revealed that; though

the noise level data are significantly homogeneous and devoid of

possible outliers, they are not normally distributed owing to their

stochastic nature. The outcome of geospatial analysis revealed that;

high concentration of noise pollution is experienced in areas such

as; Enerhe, Opete, Efurun and Ekpan especially in the morning

while Areas such as; Jelpa road, Aka junction, Enerhe, Efurun and

Egbe layout normally experinced high level of noise pollution during

evening.