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Background

This project was developed as a graduate-level capstone to explore transportation-related noise exposure across Kentucky and to demonstrate how interactive web mapping can support environmental analysis and public understanding.

What this Map Shows

This map visualizes transportation-related noise exposure across Kentucky using national noise data, traffic counts, and distance-based screening estimates. It is designed to help users understand how noise varies across space and how far it may extend from major sources.

Why Noise Matters

Environmental noise is more than a nuisance. It is a widespread public health concern. Research shows long-term exposure can contribute to:

Despite this, noise is often under-recognized because it is invisible and experienced as a constant background condition rather than a single event.

Indoor and Outdoor Sound Levels
Outdoor Sound Levels Sound Level
(dBA)		 Indoor Sound Levels
110 Rock Band at 5 m (16 feet)
Jet Over–Flight at 300 m (1,000 feet) 105
100 Inside New York Subway Train
Gas Lawn Mower at 1 m (3 feet) 95
90 Food Blender at 1 m (3 feet)
Diesel Truck at 15 m (50 feet) 85
Noisy Urban Area-Daytime 80 Garbage Disposal at 1 m (3 feet)
75 Shouting at 1 m (3 feet)
Gas Lawn Mower at 30 m (100 feet) 70 Vacuum Cleaner at 3 m (10 feet)
Suburban Commercial Area 65 Normal Speech at 1 m (3 feet)
60
Quiet Urban Area-Daytime 55 Quiet Conversation at 1 m (3 feet)
50 Dishwasher in Next Room
Quiet Urban Area at Night 45
40 Empty Theater or Library
Quiet Suburb at Night 35
30 Quiet Bedroom at Night
Quiet Rural Area at Night 25 Empty Concert Hall
Rustling Leaves 20
15 Broadcast and Recording Studios
10
5
Reference Pressure Level 0 Threshold of Hearing

Policy Context

The U.S. once had a coordinated approach to managing environmental noise, but federal oversight declined over time. Today, noise regulation is fragmented across agencies and typically addressed only at the project level (e.g., highway improvement/expansion or airports).

This means:

Public Health Perspective

Scientific research consistently links chronic noise exposure to measurable health impacts. The EPA recommends keeping long-term exposure below 55 dB, yet many communities exceed this level.

Most current policies focus on short-term or project-based noise levels rather than how people actually experience noise over time.

Economic & Community Impacts

Noise exposure also carries real economic consequences:

Even small reductions in noise can lead to billions of dollars in societal benefits.

Environmental Justice

Noise exposure is not evenly distributed. Communities near major infrastructure often experience higher noise levels, meaning:

This makes noise both a public health issue and an equity issue.

How This Map Helps

This map supports exploration of noise exposure by:

These estimates are intended for screening and educational purposes, not detailed engineering analysis. It can identify areas and features potentially at risk of noise exposure and support early planning and mitigation efforts.

Unlike the BTS noise surface, this map integrates additional contextual data and interactive tools to support exploratory analysis at finer spatial scales.

Limitations

Noise estimates shown are simplified based on combined mapped noise surfaces and generalized distance-decay assumptions. The mapped noise surface in this web map combines air, rail, and highway noise into one surface and is a very broad model. Actual noise conditions vary based on terrain, barriers, weather, local conditions, and more.

Data & Processing Workflow

This map integrates multiple datasets and processing steps to create a unified visualization of transportation noise exposure. All data processing, integration, and visualization design were performed by the author.

Noise Surface

Traffic Data

Noise-Sensitive & Emitting Sites

Distance-Based Noise Estimates

Technology Stack

GIS & Data Processing

Web Mapping

Frontend Development

Additional Sources