Ruído e configuração espacial urbana: estudo de caso em Belém-PA

Abstract

A large portion of the population that lives in urban centers has already suffered or is suffering from problems caused by urban noise, especially due to, among other factors, the proximity of roads of intense traffic of vehicles. Studies of several areas of knowledge are presenting possible harms caused to people as a consequence of a long exposure to high noise levels. Under this point of view, noise has become a social problem, implying the necessity to make its control to improve the quality of life for citizens. Lately, this control has been done mainly by private initiatives, through the internal ambient sound insulation. Regarding the external environment, few measures were taken. Studies about this reveal conflicts between the urban guidelines for the urban development, land use and occupation and the acoustic comfort. The main objective of this work is to study the interactions between urban noise (especially regarding traffic noise) and urban space configuration, using as experimental field an area of Marco neighborhood, in Belém-PA, near Almirante Barroso Avenue. For this, a methodology was created based on standards and theories that approach this theme and makes it possible to obtain built mass characteristic indexes (roughness, porosity, concentration and porosity). The comparison of these indexes with sound levels obtained through “in loco” collected data (using a sound pressure level meter), allow the identification of the urban form physical characteristics that influence external sound environment and that can serve as subsidies to the planning and design of the cities, preventing the formation of extremely unhealthy sound areas.