EVALUATION OF THE SEASONALITY OF ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE IN A PORT TOWN

The INTERREG Italy-France Maritime Programme 2014-2020 recognized noise pollution as a perceived environmental issue in Tyrrhenian ports. Among the main sources of disturbance for the population, passenger road traffic precedes the noise produced by stationary, moving and loading/unloading ships. It is also well known that in tourist areas there is seasonality in traffic due to the different tourist flow across the year. Under the hood of L.I.S.T. PORT project, this work evaluated the difference in noise impact between the high and low seasons in Piombino, a port town of about 35000 inhabitants close to the Island of Elba. Noise maps of the area were computed with data from specific short- and long-term noise and traffic measurements performed in the summer peak and in the soft autumn period and were used to evaluate the changes over time in terms of traffic flows differences, as well as by means of the distribution of noise exposure, the evaluation of G and G, and the calculation of the number of highly annoyed and sleep disturbed citizens between high and low seasons. These tools can provide an invaluable asset for traffic and noise monitoring, providing a guide on the routes preferred by tourists and residents useful for urban planning.