HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

ECG 564
OPEN-ENDED LAB
SEMESTER 6

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : TRAFFIC NOISE STUDY

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 4 MARCH 2019
GROUP : EC2206C5B
GROUP MEMBERS 1. MOHAMAD AMIZULFITRI BIN ROZMAN (2016209192)
2. MUHAMMAD NAJMUDDEEN BIN NIZAR (2016209158)
3. MUHAMMAD SYAHIR BIN HAMIDON (2016209224)
4. KARMILA BINTI KAMLI (2016209068)
5. NADIAH BINTI AZMAN (2016209116)

LECTURER : DR. NURUL AINAIN MOHD SALIM

LEVEL OF OPENESS : 0

MARKS COMMENTS
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPTS
METHODOLOGY
RESULTS
DISCUSSION 1 2 3 4 5
CONCLUSION 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL MARKS
INTRODUCTION

For the traffic noise study, traditional methods of conducting laboratory

activities will not be able to provide the avenue for us to enhance independent
learning activities and inculcate creativity and innovation. During the test, we used
Optimus Sound Level Meter as the instrument. Handheld noise measurements can be
appropriate where the need is to gather data about the noise levels from flowing
traffic.

In these laboratory activities, we are required to record the noise generated by

traffic by determining the L10 which the noise level are exceeded by 10% of the
specified time which is every 30 seconds within 30 minutes.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the traffic noise level at L10.

APPARATUS
Noise Level meter
PROCEDURE

1. Set the recorder in position and set according to their manuals specifications
for the purpose of measuring road traffic noise.
2. Turn on the meter and select desired Time Response. As for this lab purposed,
we choose the ‘Fast’ time response to get the sound peak.
3. Select C as the Frequency Weighting. We choose C because it is a weighting
for human ear response simulation where the tests are conducted for personnel
safety analysis.
4. Enable the auto range function. The range will be between 30-130dB.
5. Hold the instrument comfortably in hand.
6. Point the microphone towards the noise source, the sound pressure level will
be displayed on the meter LCD display.
7. Select MAX (maximum hold) mode is selected by pressing the MAX key, the
instrument will captures and holds the maximum noise level reading on the
display.
8. Press the MAX key again to clear the MAX reading.
9. Take sample for 30 minutes and recorded using table.
10. Analyzed the data to determine the estimated L10 value.
11. Turn off the instrument and remove battery when not in use.
RESULT
LOCATION: OPPOSITE COLLEGE MAWAR BUS STOP
TIME: 10:20 AM
WEATHER: SUNNY
NO INTERVAL VALUE NO INTERVAL VALUE
(min) (dB) (min) (dB)
1 30 79.3 31 930 79.8
2 60 78.4 32 960 79
3 90 82.8 33 990 94.4
4 120 78.7 34 1020 88.9
5 150 85.8 35 1050 85.6
6 180 82.1 36 1080 85.8
7 210 87.1 37 1110 91.8
8 240 89 38 1140 80.9
9 270 89.1 39 1170 77.5
10 300 88 40 1200 88.4
11 330 85.9 41 1230 93.3
12 360 80.9 42 1260 86.4
13 390 82.9 43 1290 89.1
14 420 88.5 44 1320 88.5
15 450 86.2 45 1350 82.4
16 480 87.6 46 1380 85.2
17 510 81.4 47 1410 77
18 540 81.1 48 1440 76
19 570 83 49 1470 77.2
20 600 78 50 1500 78.6
21 630 88.2 51 1530 79.1
22 660 89.9 52 1560 80
23 690 86 53 1590 75.5
24 720 80.7 54 1620 81.6
25 750 80.6 55 1650 94.4
26 780 97.5 56 1680 92.9
27 810 73.9 57 1710 85.2
28 840 79.6 58 1740 85.7
29 870 74.7 59 1770 88.2
30 900 82.5 60 1800 86.4
DISCUSSIONS
We have conducted the traffic noise study at a point located opposite to the
bus stop at Kolej Mawar, in UiTM Shah Alam. There were many vehicles passing
through the roadway, because it is one of the main roads in UiTM. The great number
of vehicles passing through the road is also due to the experiment being conducted
between 10.00 to 11.30 a.m., which is almost reaching peak hour. Thus, the values for
the loudness are quite high – ranging from 70 decibels (dB) to 90dB. We have used
sound level meter in order to determine the loudness of traffic at the location.

Based on the data obtained, a graph of noise level against time interval is
plotted to show the trend in noise omitted by the vehicles over time. Many types of
vehicles have been observed during the traffic noise for 30 minutes duration. The high
values of noise level are mainly contributed by the sound of lorries and superbikes
passing through the roads. A three-way junction also may be the factor of loud noises
around the area, as more vehicles may stop at that junction for a certain period of time
and causing heavier traffic volume.

The sound level exceeded 10% of the experiment time, L10 is also calculated:

(𝑀𝑎𝑥 𝑛𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 − 𝑀𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙)

𝐿10 = 𝑀𝑎𝑥 𝑛𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 − { ∗ 10%}
100

(97.5−73.9)
𝐿10 = 97.5 − { ∗ 10%}
100

𝐿10 = 97.4764 𝑑𝐵
 However, some disturbance around the location may have contributed to errors in
the data obtained, such as:
1. Heavy works nearby may have affected the reading on noise level meter.
2. Error on instrument like the sound level meter damage.
3. Sound from the people around the location may contribute to higher value on
noise level meter.

CONCLUSION

From the experiment and discussions conducted, we can conclude that the
value of traffic noise, L10 obtained is 97.4764 dB. The value obtained is quite high
due to the time of experiment being close to peak hours. The high value of traffic
noise is also due to the location of experiment chosen, which has three-way junction
that causes heavier traffic. We also have concluded that the highest levels of noise
measured in decibels vary with each 30 seconds in 30 minutes due to the different
vehicles and environment.