Characteristics of noise complaints and the associations with urban morphology: A comparison across densities

Abstract

This study aimed to characterise spatial-temporal distribution of noise complaints across urban areas with different densities and to analyse the associations between urban morphology and noise complaints. Taking New York City as the study area, crowdsourced noise complaint and urban morphology datasets from the government's open data source were statistically analysed. The results suggest that between boroughs the characteristics of noise complaints are different, in terms of their spatial-temporal distribution, their relation to transport network, land use, and building morphology. Noise complaints were clustered around the highest density area (Manhattan). The rate of noise complaints showed a year-on-year increase, peaking in autumn and spring. The rate of noise complaints is higher in areas with higher densities and roads that are 20-40 m wide, closer to road crossings, and in enclosed blocks. The relationships between noise complaints and urban morphology are weaker in high-density boroughs than in other boroughs.

Keywords: Noise complaints; Noise pollution; Urban density; Urban morphology.