Development of Australia-Wide Transportation Noise Maps: An Application in the Estimation of Population Exposure in Victoria

In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that transport noise is the second biggest environmental problem affecting people’s health, after air pollution. The Australian Environmental Health Standing Committee (enHealth) also provides suggested health-based limits for transport noise exposure. To better understand the impact of transport noise in Australia, a strategic national transport noise model was developed, representative of the year 2018. The transport noise model presented included parameters for terrain, buildings, and noise barriers, with results verified against measured data. The model calculated the road, rail, and aircraft noise levels for the day, evening, and night-time periods, across all façades of all storeys for over 15 million buildings across Australia. The State of Victoria was chosen as a case study to document noise exposure levels to the community. Australian Census of Population and Housing data and planning zones allowed a population within each dwelling to be calculated and paired to the modelled noise levels. Based on noise levels at the most exposed façade, it is estimated that 48% of the Victorian population are exposed to road traffic noise levels that exceed the 2018 WHO recommendations. Additionally, 10% are estimated to be exposed to aircraft noise levels, and 11% are estimated to be exposed to rail noise levels, that exceed the 2018 WHO recommendations. These percentages are commensurate with higher affected European Member states based on 2017 noise mapping completed as part of the European Noise Directive. When compared against environmental noise exposure recommendations from enHealth (2018), it is estimated that 11% of the Victorian population are exposed to combined road, rail, and aircraft noise levels above the recommended day/evening 60 dB L_{Aeq 16 h} health-based limit, and 10% above the health-based night-time limit of 55 dB L_{Aeq 8 h}. This national transport noise model provides a base for further research into the impacts of transport noise on the community, particularly regarding health and property values. The model can also support government planning, complaints handling, and asset management in the planning of future noise abatement in Australia.