Reducing the noise pollution level along main roads in Sibiu, Romania by optimizing the traffic flow

Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Emil Cioran str., 4, Sibiu, Romania

^* Corresponding author: cristian.deac@ulbsibiu.ro

Abstract

Noise pollution is one of the most important negative effects of road traffic, especially in cities. The current paper presents an attempt to reduce the noise level created by the road traffic along some main roads in the city of Sibiu, Romania by suggesting ways to optimize the traffic flow. The number of cars and the resulting noise levels were recorded in a key area of Sibiu. The noise levels were compared to standards and to measurements taken in areas with less traffic. Then, they were fed, together with road geometry data, into a specialized simulation software that allowed the computer-aided reproduction of the traffic flow, but also the modifying of conditions such as the road geometry to achieve, coupled with a multicriterial analysis, an optimization of the pedestrian and road traffic flow in view of a reduced noise pollution.