Noise Pollution and its Spatial Distribution in Urban Environments (Case Study: Yazd, Iran)

A comprehensive analysis of noise pollution in Yazd, Iran, reveals that 99% of residential areas and 56% of the city's total land are exposed to significant sound pressure levels (SPL), primarily driven by vehicular traffic. The study employed a dual monitoring approach: a 122 km grid network with stations spaced 2 km apart for overall assessment, and a denser 1 km interval along main roads for localized measurements. Using ArcGIS, the research generated noise maps that identified critical pollution hotspots, particularly in university, administrative, and commercial zones, as well as the western and eastern parts of the city—largely due to airport and industrial sources. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to mitigate exposure, especially in historic areas like the bazaar, where residential and commercial activities coexist with high pollution levels.

Gholami-Zarchi, M., Khosravanian, L., & Shahmoradi, B. (2014). Noise pollution and its spatial distribution in urban environments (case study: Yazd city, Iran). Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.22102/jaehr.2014.40155