AB TRACT




Traffic noise is an unwelcome byproduct of urbanization and motorization. Traffic noise has been the grave issue for residential, commercial and institutional areas of everywhere. Similarly, major cities of Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad) are bombarded by the unpleasant sound every day from speed cars, heavy trucks, horns of all type of vehicles and deprived conditions of infrastructure. Road traffic noise in metropolitan, urban and sub urban areas of Pakistan is one of the main public health issues of the present era. The prevalent condition in sub­ urban areas of Pakistan like Dadu-Moro cities are not far behind in comparison of traffic noise with other cities of Pakistan.

In this study noise levels and other characteristics have been measured in eight selected locations of Dadu-Moro cities and along with other eight places (colonies, library schools, and hospital) for spatial mapping in the same cities. The predication of traffic noise levels was done by using computational model ArcGIS 10.1 version software, which provided the impact of noise through drawing contour maps of
identified places of Dadu-Moro cities of Sindh Province. In general, Dadu Road had maximum and minimum traffic noise levels were 101 dB (A) and 75 dB (A) and Moro roads had maximum and minimum noise levels 102 dB (A) and 73 dB (A) . It was found that almost the level of noise of all the selected location remains respectively far above the acceptable noise level. A cross- sectional study pointed out a high existence of communication disturbance, headache, lack of concentration and hypertension during survey. This study suggests and recommends noise in the shape of tree plantation and sustainable materials (glass, wood& steel absorption
barriers) along roadsides for both citi s and along rail a lin f Dadu it . Publi
awareness may emerge to be the best techniqu a r omm nd d b th r pond nts. Nevertheless, government and N s an play an imp rtant rol in th useful
reduction of traffic noise.