Evaluation of the traffic noise impact of the Transamazon Highway (BR 230) in the Metropolitan Region of João Pessoa/PB
noise; traffic noise, road noise, noise map, Transamazon Highway; BR 230.
In the midst of urban expansion in Brazil, in 1972, the third largest highway in the country, the Transamazon Highway (BR 230), was inaugurated. As a result of this construction, there were transformations in the urban areas affected by it, especially in the State of Paraíba, since it is cut back by the referred highway along the greater extension, which includes the East-West direction. When analyzing the cities of Paraiba where the Highway goes through, it was noticed that the Metropolitan Region of João Pessoa is the area with the highest number of buildings and, consequently, of people exposed to traffic noise coming from BR 230. Most of these buildings are residential and are often positioned along the highway, leaving them unprotected from the direct propagation of traffic noise. As far as, the problem presented the following questions: a) What is the traffic noise behavior of the Transamazon Highway (BR 230) in the metropolitan region of João Pessoa? b) What physical and environmental conditions interfere with the propagation of noise if road traffic? In order to answer the research questions, the following hypotheses are raised: a) Noise caused by high traffic routes, such as the BR 230 Transamazon Highway, in urban settlements, shows high sound pressure levels, causing the emergence of critical and sensitive points, in disagreement with current norms; b) The lack of adequate urban planning makes it possible to construct buildings ahead the roadsides with a large flow of vehicles, resulting in the high number of people exposed to traffic noise; c) The physical-environmental conditions influence the behavior of sound waves, and it can generate areas such as higher concentrations of sound energy. This work has the general objective of evaluating the impact of traffic noise of the Transamazon Highway (BR 230) in the metropolitan region of João Pessoa / PB to quantify the population exposed to noise and to statistically verify the correlation between road traffic noise and the conditioners physical-environmental. The research uses the method of quantitative and qualitative approach. The current stage of the research presents the first results obtained in the pilot study for the municipality of João Pessoa. When comparing the resulting sound levels in the study area with the parameters established by NBR 10.151 / 2002 (ABNT, 2002), for the daytime period and predominantly residential use, it is stated that these are in disagreement with the 55 dB recommended by the standard. There was little a difference between the resulting noise levels during the daytime period. This happened due the maps represent the most critical situations (morning and evening peak times). The dense vegetation current in the area results in the attenuation of vehicle traffic noise. Through the pilot study it was possible to prove the hypotheses of the research.