A GIS Analysis of Noise Islands in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined noise islands in Calabar Metropolis, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) infrastructure. Physical measurement of noise levels was made using Barn and Korn (BK) Precision 732 Digital Sound Level Meters. The locations were geo-referenced using a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx Global Positioning System. Data were manipulated using ESRI ArcGis Software version 9.5, which generated composite noise maps. The point data in the geospatial database were subjected to interpolation, deploying Inverse Distance Weighing (IDW) algorithm for the different temporal periods of morning, afternoon and evening. The results revealed that noise level in the industrial, commercial as well as the transportation land use elements have been found to increase from the morning period, hits the peak in the afternoon and begins to wane in the evening period. Unlike the residential zones, which showed low, as well as moderately high noise level on certain days of the week due to some incompatible activities located there. It was therefore recommended that those activities that generate high noise in the industrial and commercial zones should be discouraged from springing up in the residential landuses in order to maintain their tranquil status. Besides, the source, path, and receiver techniques of noise attenuation have also been recommended as a general antidote to noise menace in the metropolis.

Keywords: Noise Level, Noise Maps, Noise Islands, Spatial Distribution, Temporal Distribution, GIS, Inverse Distance Weighing