Monitoring and Modelling Noise Levels in the Ateneo de Manila University Campus

This study assessed noise levels in Ateneo de Manila University caused by motor vehicles and tested the performance of two standard noise models using observations at four monitoring stations inside the campus. Monitoring was conducted at three periods of the day, with each noise reading accompanied by a traffic count at the closest road. Another set of measurements was taken to assess traffic-induced noise levels at various distances from the Katipunan Road. The Church of the Gesu station was the quietest of the four, although noise levels were not found to be perceptibly different among locations. Noise varied appreciably with sampling period, with levels were generally highest during the afternoon. A significant finding is that all the noise readings were above the prescribed limit of 50 dBA for school zones. Tests using the Calculation for Road Traffic Noise (CRTN) model and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) model showed that the CRTN model works well for steady traffic flow, whereas the FHWA model is more accurate where traffic is more intermittent. From a regulatory standpoint the FHWA model was demonstrated to be better than the CRTN when ground absorption was incorporated in its predictions.

[Loyola Schools Review, 2005]