Reducing pedestrian exposure to environmental pollutants : a combined noise exposure and air quality analysis approach

It has been estimated that at least one fifth of the population of the EU suffer a reduced quality of life due to exposure to noise. Chief among those affected are city-dwellers. For today’s urban planners environmental noise represents a significant environmental pollutant that must be addressed along with concerns over air quality. Taken together, noise and air pollution represent a significant contribution to the overall reduction in the quality of life of urban residents. The need for good urban planning with particular reference to both air and noise pollution has arisen. This paper examines a case study involving a dividing wall situated between two walkways adjacent to a main road in Dublin’s city centre, with particular attention paid to both air and noise pollution. Both air and noise measurements were conducted on site and compared to modelled results. It was found that the dividing wall decreased noise levels by approximately 55% while a similar improvement in air quality was observed. The study also demonstrated that further reductions in noise and air pollution exposure can be achieved by increasing the height of the boundary wall and/or by lowering the position of the boardwalk relative to the position of the road. In order to present combined results, a joint air and noise pollution index was developed, which was used to quantify the overall improvements due to the presence of the boardwalk. It is proposed that an index of this sort could be a valuable tool for future urban planning.