Measuring the traffic noise in Valencia

The City of Valencia has approximately 700 000 inhabitants. Due to this large population, the city is subjected to heavy traffic, and, as a consequence, high acoustic pollution. The Townhall of Valencia is very worried about this acoustic pollution and has commissioned the Laboratory of Acoustics in the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia to work on various projects within the city. Due to the work the department has carried out on behalf of the Townhall of Valencia, it has gained experience measuring with the sonometer. An efficient way of measuring noise within the city that avoids wasting long periods of time has been developed. Continuous 24‐hour measurements have been taken by sonometers located in different stations spread out around the city and controlled by the Townhall. With these measurements a method that indicates when to measure, in the morn‐ ing, afternoon, and at night, as well as the exposure time, has been designed. Other parameters, such as characteristics of the traffic, types of stree...