Noise impact assessment by utilizing noise map and GIS: A case study in the city of Chungju, Republic of Korea

In this study, a scheme to develop a noise map and noise impact assessment method using GIS has been suggested. After developing a road-traffic noise map for the city of Chungju, Republic of Korea, noise impact assessment was performed through analyzing the map. A 3-dimensional terrain model was generated using digital maps and building models were prepared using the information from draft and digital maps. To develop a noise evaluation model, a noise-source map for each road was generated. The noise levels at 25 locations close to roads were measured and compared with the expected noise levels to verify the developed noise map. An excess noise map was generated by comparing the road-traffic noise map with a noise-standard map. Using the excess noise map, the areas exceeding environmental noise standards were effectively evaluated through a GIS space analysis. The 3-dimensional facade noise map was generated to calculate the number of people exposed to a certain noise level.