Urban road traffic noise monitoring, mapping, modelling, and mitigation: A thematic review

Abstract This article analyses the most recent studies on urban traffic noise. About 67 relevant articles on urban road traffic noise and its mitigation strategies were preferred for a critical review. Only 5.97% of items describe how to monitor and record the noise measurement for urban roads, while 7.46% of articles enumerated urban traffic noise pollution exposure. 29.85% of articles proposed a model to evaluate noise reduction effects and predict the noise level. Also, many articles reported noise map generation and its analysis. 56.71% of articles described the noise mitigation strategies in detail, concerning noise control by green vegetation, land use planning, low noise tire and pavement material, noise reduction through façade shielding. Noise pollution standards are being breached in all areas. There is a need for the proper implementation of rules and regulations. Therefore, noise mitigation strategies such as designing noise barriers and other noise control materials are needed. Finally, it is summarized that economic and low-cost optimized noise pollution mitigation strategies like ingeniously made noise barriers, vegetation and landscaping are need of the hour for urban areas of developing countries.