Monitoring of the Environmental Noise Level in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Jos Alicea-Pou
Olga Vias-Curiel
Wanda Cruz-Vizcarrondo
Osvaldo Alomar
Noise Control Area, Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board
Box 11488, San Juan PR 00910

Address for principal author (*): Envioronmental Quality Board, Nacional Plaza Building, 431
Ponce de Len Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00910 Phone Number: (787)-767-8181
Fax: 787-756-5831 e-mail: Josealicea@jca.gobierno.pr

SUMMARY

The aim of the study was to describe the behavior of environmental noise levels in communities
around the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Fourteen noise stations were monitored for twenty-four
hours in order to describe the levels of environmental noise. The project is in progress with an
expected number of ninety stations by the end of 2005. The locations were selected using a
random protocol of quadrants in the city map. The sound levels were obtained with the use of
four Norsonic Nor-121 sound analyzers. The different statistics (L
eq
, L
10
, L
90
, L
max
, L
min
, ect)
were plotted and the behavior of the graph described. Our current model for the behavior of the
noise graphs includes characteristics such as the "sustained noise level zone", the "noise drop
zone", the "minimum reach level" and the "sonic rise zone". The study is part of the development
of Puerto Ricos first Noise Action Plan. The Noise Plan will include as goals, the reduction of the
average environmental noise levels in urban areas, the reduction of the difference between the
sustained levels and the minimum reached level and the increase in the duration of the minimum
reach levels.

Key Words: Environmental Noise, Urban Noise, Noise Criteria


INTRODUCTION

Until now the noise pollution problem in Puerto Rico has not been sufficiently documented and
the need for local environmental noise research (Finegold 2001) is required in order to take
further action. The Noise Control Area (NCA) of the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) is in the
process of conducting the first citywide noise study project with the purpose of documenting the
current decibel levels in various exterior locations around San Juan, Puerto Rico. In this phase of
the project, NCA will determine the status of San Juans acoustic environment (soundscape)
(Bronzaft 2000) as the first step towards setting plans to combat city noise and to educate people
about the quality of their acoustic environment.

To facilitate the sampling and monitoring, the research plans included dividing the city up into six
sections and randomly select various locations within these sections. Stations were set up at
each of the sites and the sound levels were monitored for 24 hours. So far, we have studied
twenty-four sites and the project is expected to continue most of next year, expanding to other
cities and rural areas of the country. By the end the project, the goal is to encompass several
hundred monitoring sites in order to create an accurate representative sound pattern of the cities
studied.

To create effective noise legislation and understand how noise behaves in the urban areas of
Puerto Rico, it is necessary to measure different sounds types and sound intensities throughout
multiple locations in the city. Although many possible methodologies can be used to accomplish
these types of studies, and since the study of environmental noise can be complex, our idea was
to describe in a simple way what was the behavior of sound levels over time in different locations,
and to use these characteristics to define concepts of environmental acoustic quality for Puerto
Rico (Figure 1). In the long run, we want this data and the results to be as simple as possible for
the general public and policy makers to comprehend and use in urban planning and
policymaking.

METHODS

The main goal of the project was to create a sound level profile for the city based on the behavior
of the levels vs. time of the sound data for 24 hours. This profile contains information gathered
from randomly selected locations that were monitored for a period of 24 hours using four units of
the sound analysis system Norsonic NOR-121. The stations where selected to ensure a sample
of all possible acoustic conditions and locations representative of the entire city. For San Juan,
the city was divided into six areas and to each area a grid was applied, where each square
encompassing approximately one city block. Each square was numbered and then locations
were selected randomly from the map. The sites were then visited and evaluated for the safety of
the location and types of possible attachment setting for the exterior microphones. After each site
was selected as a monitoring location, one Norsonic NOR-121 unit was place and programmed to
start its analysis at 7:00 am, for a total period of 24 hours. Usually, four stations were placed on
each randomly selected day, which included weekends. Locations were residential properties,
parks, highways, neighborhood streets, industrial zones, and even close to shore, among other
kinds of sites. The equipment came from the distributor with an exterior case, but we also built a
case with fans, to control the temperature, and various sets of attachments for electric poles,
fences and walls. We also configured a vehicle to carry the system inside, with the exterior
microphone on the roof of the SUV vehicle; giving us the flexibility of locating the station
anywhere the vehicle could be parked.

Data was extracted from the Norsonic system and stored on a computer. The analysis started by
plotting the sound levels of each monitored location on a line graph of time vs. L
10
or L
eq
sound
levels. After each site was completed, each line was included into a multilane graph from all the
locations, creating a profile of the different sound patterns in San Juan. From this data, we can
identify periods during the day where sound levels need to be reduced and areas where the
behavior on the noise line could identify locations in need of specific actions to reduce noise
levels.

With the help of four students from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute that visited us on an
internship program, we also did multiple censuses of noise sources in each site, identifying the
prominent sources and its level. With this information, we will make definitive suggestions
regarding what sources of noise are the primary causes of the noise pollution at that site and how
they can be controlled by immediate or long-term strategies. We use various units of Brel &
Kjr 2236 sound level meters to describe the noise levels of these sources.

RESULTS

Based on some of the first stations studied, we defined a basic 24-hour sound pattern that is
summarized by the model shown in Figure 1. The line begins at a daytime level, with a steady
level that starts dropping at some time after sun down, reaching a minimum level and increasing
to a higher sound level as the sun rises. These are some of the characteristics of the
environmental sound level behavior of our model. This model has become a very useful tool to
explain to the general public what is expected of the study, helps with the establishment of noise
reduction goals at the city level and to educate people about how different acoustically it can be
during the day and night times, and what are the main reasons for these differences.
























Figure 1. Model of the 24 hours Behavior of Environmental Sound Levels.


After twenty-three stations monitored all over San Juan, the majority of the data followed the
general curve of the hypothesis for the sound profile proposed (Figure 1). Other locations had
lines that were mostly flat through the whole 24 hours period; characteristics that we feel are not
ideal and need further studies and stronger noise control strategies.

To form a general profile for the entire area we averaged all 30 minutes L
10
and L
eq
levels for all
the station for all 24 hour, resulting on one line that collected of the data. These profiles are
shown in Figure 2.

Average Leq and L10 values for all sites
with 5th order polynomial trendlines
48.0
53.0
58.0
63.0
68.0
73.0
7
:3
0
A
M
8
:3
0
A
M
9
:3
0
A
M
1
0
:3
0
A
M
1
1
:3
0
A
M
1
2
:3
0
P
M
1
:3
0
P
M
2
:3
0
P
M
3
:3
0
P
M
4
:3
0
P
M
5
:3
0
P
M
6
:3
0
P
M
7
:3
0
P
M
8
:3
0
P
M
9
:3
0
P
M
1
0
:3
0
P
M
1
1
:3
0
P
M
1
2
:3
0
A
M
1
:3
0
A
M
2
:3
0
A
M
3
:3
0
A
M
4
:3
0
A
M
5
:3
0
A
M
6
:3
0
A
M
Time
S
o
u
n
d

p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

l
e
v
e
l

(
d
B
)
Average Leq Values
Average L10 Values
Poly. (Average Leq Values)
Poly. (Average L10 Values)


Figure 2: Sound Level Profile of San Juan Displaying the 24 Monitored Sites


L
e
v
l
e
s
Time (min)
dB(A)
Sustained level
Sonic Drop
Sonic Rise
Minimum Level Reach
Time of Minimum reach
After fitting the averaged data with a best-fit line, it is easy to see how similar the overall sound
levels of the city are with the anticipated profile. As a general concept, through the day, sound
levels remained fairly high (over L
10
= 63 db(A), until late into the night (around 11:00 pm), then
levels reach a low level under and L
10
value of 58 dB (A) around 3:00 am, dropping only for a few
hours. Additional to the behavior of the L
10
and L
eq
lines, the data reflects the average levels that
people can potentially be expose in exterior environments around the city, representing this line a
powerful, scientific base, awareness tool against noise. This levels could be considered high
since according to the World Health Organization (WHO), most people are moderately annoyed
by levels above 50dB and seriously annoyed by levels around 55dB

(WHO 2000).

One of our objectives, as explained to the general public, is to decrease the high decibel levels
sustained during daytime hours to a lower average level. By explaining to the communities that
by taking multiple, site specific, noise control strategies, it could lower these daytime level, they
comprehended, in a simple way, how this would benefit their community. Another goal is to
achieve that the drop in sound level occurs as early in the night as possible, especially in
residential areas. By increasing the duration of the reached minimum noise levels during the
nighttime, would then result in quieter communities for longer periods of time at night. Another
objective is to take steps toward understanding all the factors (human activities) that could
contribute to the abrupt increases in decibel levels as the night transitions into day time hours,
and how to reduce that increase. Eventually we would like to study in more details the
contribution on nature (fauna, mainly amphibian) to the background environmental sound levels.

CONCLUSION

The preliminary data that we have collected reinforces our assertion of San Juans noise problem
and suggests the necessity for noise reduction measures. The most pertinent verification of the
problem is displayed in the sound level database that we compiled which summarized the general
sound profile of the city. Of the twenty-three sites that have been monitored, we found that the
L
eq
during daytime hours remained around 64dB (A). With appropriate funding and cooperation
from law enforcement and other agencies, the Environmental Quality Board can begin to
establish different short term and long term goals and plans of action to improve the acoustic
urban environment. Definitive legislation will lead to more efficient enforcement, while additional
funding will provide other forms of noise reduction. At the culmination of this project, a reduction
of noise will create a more enjoyable and acoustically favorable environment for the residents of
San Juan and Puerto Rico, ensuring both peaceful living and an increase in the quality of life.

Noise pollution is a serious problem that must be dealt with because it has numerous adverse
effects on personal health and community. A vital step in creating noise legislation is to first
assess and document noise levels throughout different areas of the city. This is crucial because it
expands the researchers knowledge of the studied city. As previously discussed, there are a
number of factors, such as the type of sound, the context of the sound, the location, the people
involved, and their culture, that contribute to the perception of noise and must be taken into
consideration when proposing legislation. Once all factors of noise pollution in a given region are
studied and assessed, any noise pollution problem can be efficiently managed using new or
modified legislation that is dependent on the needs and characteristics of that city. The sound
levels recorded and studied, the opinions of citizens through surveys and the analysis of our data
base of complaints (both not discussed in this paper) would all be incorporated with all other
concepts needed to develop an effective, but reasonably simple, noise action plan for Puerto
Rico. By documenting each of these components of the noise pollution problem in San Juan,
ideas and suggestions regarding more efficient legislation for the city will be easier to formulate
because the future legislation will be based upon the characteristics of San Juans noise problem
and data collected on the field.




References

A. L. Bronzaft, Acoustic Ecologist and Environmental Psychologists: Working Toward a Quieter
and Healthier Soundscape.Journal of Acoustic Ecology, Vol I, number 2 (2000).

L. S. Finegold, E. G. Henning, P. D. Schomer, B. F. Berry, Proposal for monitoring worldwide
noise exposure and assessing the effectiveness of noise exposure policies and noise control
technologies. Noise Control Eng. J. 49 (4), 2001 July-Aug.

WHO, Guidelines for Community Noise, B. Berglund, T. Lindvall, D. Schewela, and Kee-Tai Goh,
World Health Organization, Geneva, Ministry of the Environment, Singapore (2000).