RELIABILITY-ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC NOISE ESTIMATES IN HONG-KONG

This paper examines the reliability of traffic noise measurement techn iques and the noise estimates in Hong Kong. A simulation model making use of the Monte Carlo technique is devised to incorporate the uncerta inty in traffic noise estimates in Hong Kong. Traffic Bow, traffic spe ed and traffic composition (in terms of percentage of heavy vehicles) are identified as the key factors influencing the generation of traffi c noise. The new equations for estimating the noise descriptors L10, L eg, L50 and L90 were calibrated on the basis of the Hong Kong survey r esults. The effects of the key factors on traffic noise estimates can be assessed. The probability distribution for each of the key factors is derived with the use of the survey data. The variation on the key f actors is due to the sampling error in the survey. The reliability of the traffic noise estimates is obtained from the combined probability distributions of the key factors. The reliability analysis gives the t raffic noise estimates with a particular probability or vice versa. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.