Geographical Information System–Aided Noise Pollution Mapping of Urban Puducherry, South India

CONTEXT: Noise pollution and its influence on environmental and quality of human life are a major concern and hot topic of scientific research in the twenty-first century. AIMS: Spatial analysis of noise pollution in urban Puducherry, South India. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study conducted in 36 locations of urban Puducherry. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Noise measurements were taken using a calibrated NOR 132 digital sound level meter using the prescribed parameters set by the Central Pollution Control Board. Geo coordinates were taken using Garmin Oregon 550 GPS. Noise measurements were classified according to the Bureau of Indian Standards for town planning into five zones. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Noise pollution map of urban Puducherry for three time points of the day was generated using ArcGIS Desktop v10.3 with Geo-statistical module and Inverse Distance method. RESULTS: Seventeen percent of the sites are high noise sources (80–90 dB), two thirds (65%) of the study sites fall into concentrated average noise zones (70–80 dB), and less than one fifth (18%) of the study sites are in relatively quiet zones across different measurement time slots. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term strategy for noise control should be incorporated in the development of new townships and other infrastructures in accordance with the noise control norms. Implications for future research include monitoring noise pollution levels in rural areas and health effects of noise pollution in bystanders and drivers.