Determination of potential roadway sections where noise barrier systems can be applied

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the potential sections where the noise barrier system can be applied on the roads of 20 provinces with strategic noise maps.Theory and Methods: In this study, an approach to determine appropriate road sections for noise barrier system design near roads has been developed. Strategic noise map results were evaluated, and sections exceeding the noise limit values were obtained. Appropriate road sections were determined by using the noise barrier's site selection criteria and affected population, assuming specific barrier properties in the mentioned sections (Figure A). The potential road sections where noise barrier systems can be applied were determined for 20 provinces in Turkey for which strategic noise maps were prepared.Results: It has been determined that a noise barrier with a length of 26.7 km and a total surface area of noise barriers of 106.662 m(2) can be applied to approximately 24 km of the modeled 620 km major roads. When the calculation results were evaluated, Giresun, Yozgat, Yalova, Kars, and K & imath;r & imath;kkale were determined as the provinces with the highest rate of barrier applicable sections among the major roads modeled in 20 provinces. Kars and Yalova were the two provinces where the ratio of the population exposed to road traffic noise during the daytime to the total population was the highest (8%).Conclusion: Noise barrier systems can be used to control road traffic noise on the way of noise propagation. This study determined potential road sections where noise barriers can be applied on the roads for which strategic noise maps were prepared in 20 provinces. It can be concluded that there are road sections where physical conditions are more suitable for noise barrier application in the provinces of Giresun, Yozgat, and K & imath;r & imath;kkale