A Review of Traffic Noise Predictive Models

In the traffic noise investigation framework, the need for a suitable predictive model is quite important, since it allows to evaluate the environmental impact, in case of existing infrastructures, or to design the road network such that noise is minimized, if the infrastructures are going to be built. The traffic noise produced by motor vehicles, as main sources in urban areas, is part of general environment problem which inflicts a serious damage to the health of human beings and lowers the labour productivity. In order to control acoustical sound level in urban areas, methods for prediction of the traffic noise are necessary. In the literature many works are devoted to the development of a predictive Traffic Noise Model (TNM). In this paper, we present the TNMs usually employed in Europe, following their historical evolution starting from a general and elementary concept of noise prediction to a more detailed formula which may include many corrective terms.