ASSESSMENT OF NOISE LEVELS IN SELECTED AREAS WITHIN AKURE, NIGERIA
METROPOLIS USING ArcGIS
Abstract
The study examined the noise levels in selected areas within Akure
Metropolis, Nigeria with a view to generate noise maps using ArcGIS
which will help to identify high impact areas and support environmental
management in the study area. Some selected areas within Akure
metropolis were selected for this study namely; Oja-oba Market
(commercial Land use), Ijoka (Residential land use), and the Federal
University of Technology, Akure (Futa as an Educational Land Use). The
digital sound level meter (IEC651 Type 2) was used to measure noise
level in the morning (8:00am-9:00am), afternoon (1:00pm-2:00pm) and
evening (4:00pm-5:00pm) for a period of 7days in each of the selected
areas. The compiled data were imported into the ArcGIS 10.5 Software for
analysis and geo-referencing whereby transforming the data and
presenting it on noise contour maps. The study revealed that Sunday bus
stop has the highest mean noise level with 64.3 decibel (A) while the
lowest noise level was found in Olowookere street with 38.1 dB(A) for
the Residential area. Ijomu recorded the highest noise level with 78.6
dB(A) and Erekesan market has the lowest noise level of 61.5 dB(A) for
the commercial area. Finally, Northgate has the highest noise level,
which recorded 76.3 dB(A) and the lowest noise level was recorded at
Library area with 41.0 dB(A) for the Institutional area. 80% of the
commercial area is exposed to the highest risk of noise pollution. The
residential area was exposed to 18.7% noise pollution which makes the
area suitable for housing. The institutional land use recorded 36.6%
for total area exposed to noise pollution. This research has provided
valuable information for decision makers as a guidance for noise
pollution risk management and serve as a reference for future noise
limit regulations to be executed in urban areas of Nigeria and other
developing countries