Slope-driven asymmetry and topographic shielding in strategic road-traffic noise maps: a cross-sectional quantitative analysis across England
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, cilt.23, sa.11, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 23 Sayı: 11
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s13762-026-07467-9
- Dergi Adı: International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, Environment Index, Geobase, INSPEC, Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Acoustic shielding, Noise mapping, Road traffic noise, Terrain morphology, Urban planning
- Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Strategic road-traffic noise maps are widely used in environmental assessment and land-use planning, yet they are often interpreted primarily as descriptive exposure surfaces, with limited attention to the influence of terrain morphology and roadway geometry on mapped noise footprints. This study presents a map-based cross-sectional workflow for identifying recurring topography- and geometry-related patterns in publicly available strategic road-traffic noise maps for England. A total of 179 georeferenced profiles, comprising 134 transverse cross-sections and 45 longitudinal profiles across eight primary regions, were analysed by integrating mapped day–evening–night noise-level (Lden) contour extents with terrain and roadway-alignment descriptors derived from georeferenced section lines and elevation profiles. The analysis was designed as a comparative screening-level assessment rather than a site-specific predictive model. It was based mainly on within-section right–left flank contrasts and matched comparisons among sections with broadly comparable corridor conditions. Uphill flanks generally coincided with shorter mapped propagation extents than downhill flanks, while downhill terrain was associated with greater inland penetration of the mapped noise footprint. Vegetated and flat settings also tended to show shorter mapped extents than comparable exposed or downhill flanks. In selected roadway-geometry comparisons, horizontal curves and sag-type vertical configurations appeared to coincide with broader mapped footprints than tangent or crest-type configurations. These findings represent map-derived screening evidence rather than universal causal relationships. The proposed workflow provides a reproducible means of extracting additional spatial insight from strategic noise maps and supporting early-stage environmental screening where detailed traffic, meteorological, and design data are unavailable.