TITLE:
Evaluation of the Acoustic Comfort in University Classrooms, Based on the Brazilian Technical Standard NBR 10152—Use of Noise Mapping and Acoustic Barriers to Counter Noise on a University Campus
AUTHORS:
Paulo Henrique Trombetta Zannin, Thomas Jefferson Vieira, Andrei Rei Rodrigues Silveira
KEYWORDS:
Environmental Noise, Noise Pollution, University Campus, Acoustic Barrier
JOURNAL NAME:
Current Urban Studies,
Vol.9 No.2,
June
8,
2021
ABSTRACT: An
evaluation was made of the acoustic quality of classrooms on two campuses of
the Federal University of Paraná. Despite the heavy vehicle traffic flow on the
streets in and around the campuses, the noise maps of the Polytechnic Center
campus indicated that the noise that reaches the facades of the buildings vary
from 55 to 60 dB(A), putting this campus within the limit of 60 dB(A)
established by municipal law for Special Educational Zones (SEZ). In contrast,
noise pollution at the Jardim Botanico campus has reached serious proportions,
with noise maps indicating that its buildings are directly affected by noise
levels of 65 to 70 dB(A). A simulation of the construction of two acoustic
barriers showed their effectiveness in reducing noise levels to 55 and 60
dB(A). However, the downside is that acoustic barriers are expensive to build
and cause visual pollution.