Noise in the City: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Actual and Perceived  Noise Levels in a Medium-Sized Urban Center

Samuel Kayode; Durowoju Olufemi

doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396

Research Article

DOI :10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396 IUP :10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396 Full Text (PDF)

Noise in the City: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Actual and Perceived Noise Levels in a Medium-Sized Urban Center

Kayode Julius Samuel, Samuel Yakubu, Olufemi Sunday Durowoju

Despite substantial systematic studies on noise pollution, studies relating actual noise levels to perceived noise pollution in the context of rapidly urbanizing medium-sized cities of the Global South are scarce. This study examined the perceived impact of noise pollution on the health of residents of Osogbo, Southwest Nigeria. It used a cross-sectional research design that included direct field observation to obtain noise levels and a questionnaire survey to assess residents’ perceptions of acoustic disturbance in the study area’s residential, commercial, and mixed land uses. Ambient noise levels were significantly higher during the day and night in residential, commercial, and mixed land uses than the WHO-prescribed maximums. Significant variations between different land uses were observed. More than 80% of the respondents perceived their neighborhoods as noisy, indicating a convergence between actual and perceived noise levels. Respondents scored power generators (22.1%), transportation (21.7%), worship places (20.3%), and markets and clubs (14.7%) as important sources of ambient noise pollution. Sleep loss (72.3%), hearing impairment (64.3%), and aggravation of hypertensive ailments (54%) were the acute effects of noise pollution. Few respondents claimed to be aware of the efforts of the government (34%) and neighborhood associations (28%) to stem the escalating rate of noise pollution. Enforcing environmental laws on noise reduction and advocacy that provokes noise-abating behavioral changes among residents could help curb noise pollution in the city.

Keywords: Medium-sized urban centers, noisescape, noise abatement, city’s livability, ambient noise levels

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APA

Samuel, K.J., Yakubu, S., & Durowoju, O.S. (2023). Noise in the City: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Actual and Perceived Noise Levels in a Medium-Sized Urban Center. Journal of Geography, 0(47), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396

AMA

Samuel K J, Yakubu S, Durowoju O S. Noise in the City: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Actual and Perceived Noise Levels in a Medium-Sized Urban Center. Journal of Geography. 2023;0(47):1-13. https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396

ABNT

Samuel, K.J.; Yakubu, S.; Durowoju, O.S. Noise in the City: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Actual and Perceived Noise Levels in a Medium-Sized Urban Center. Journal of Geography, [Publisher Location], v. 0, n. 47, p. 1-13, 2023.

Chicago: Author-Date Style

Samuel, Kayode Julius, and Samuel Yakubu and Olufemi Sunday Durowoju. 2023. “Noise in the City: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Actual and Perceived Noise Levels in a Medium-Sized Urban Center.” Journal of Geography 0, no. 47: 1-13. https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396

Chicago: Humanities Style

Samuel, Kayode Julius, and Samuel Yakubu and Olufemi Sunday Durowoju. “Noise in the City: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Actual and Perceived Noise Levels in a Medium-Sized Urban Center.” Journal of Geography 0, no. 47 (May. 2024): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396

Harvard: Australian Style

Samuel, KJ & Yakubu, S & Durowoju, OS 2023, 'Noise in the City: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Actual and Perceived Noise Levels in a Medium-Sized Urban Center', Journal of Geography, vol. 0, no. 47, pp. 1-13, viewed 6 May. 2024, https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396

Harvard: Author-Date Style

Samuel, K.J. and Yakubu, S. and Durowoju, O.S. (2023) ‘Noise in the City: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Actual and Perceived Noise Levels in a Medium-Sized Urban Center’, Journal of Geography, 0(47), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396 (6 May. 2024).

MLA

Samuel, Kayode Julius, and Samuel Yakubu and Olufemi Sunday Durowoju. “Noise in the City: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Actual and Perceived Noise Levels in a Medium-Sized Urban Center.” Journal of Geography, vol. 0, no. 47, 2023, pp. 1-13. [Database Container], https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396

Vancouver

Samuel KJ, Yakubu S, Durowoju OS. Noise in the City: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Actual and Perceived Noise Levels in a Medium-Sized Urban Center. Journal of Geography [Internet]. 6 May. 2024 [cited 6 May. 2024];0(47):1-13. Available from: https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396 doi: 10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396

ISNAD

Samuel, KayodeJulius - Yakubu, Samuel - Durowoju, OlufemiSunday. “Noise in the City: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Actual and Perceived Noise Levels in a Medium-Sized Urban Center”. Journal of Geography 0/47 (May. 2024): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2023-1189396

Issue 472023, P. 1-13

TIMELINE

Submitted	15.10.2022
Accepted	05.07.2023
Published Online	05.01.2024

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