Environmental noise impact in the south section of the green line in the city of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil/Impacto ambiental sonoro no trecho sul da linha verde na cidade de Curitiba, Parana, Brasil

This study involved an evaluation of the noise impact generated on the south section of the Green Line expressway. Measurements were taken at 24 points along a 14 km stretch, from the South Section to the Botanical Garden neighborhood. Based on the overall information garnered in this study, it was concluded that the vehicle traffic on the Green Line--South Section generates an environmental impact that results in unacceptable levels of noise pollution for the people who live or work in the surroundings of this expressway. The noise level at the 24 analyzed points exceeds the values specified by Curitiba Municipal Law 10625/2002, i.e., it is above 65 dB(A) during the daytime. This study revealed that the noise in the area is constant and intense, and that it is generated mainly by the intense flow of light vehicles (passenger cars, SUVs and motorcycles) and heavy vehicles (trucks and buses). Acoustic mapping proved to be an important tool for the characterization of areas affected by noise. Acoustic maps of hypothetic scenarios were simulated, varying the expressway average speed, pavement type and the vehicle composition. Based on all the analyses, it can be stated that any mitigation of noise pollution must be directly linked to issues of planning and infrastructure. This will require a partnership between the municipal departments of planning, urban development, transport, environment, education and the scientific community to ameliorate this environmental concern and thereby improve the quality of life of those who live in this region. Keywords: noise pollution, environmental impacts, Green Line, acoustic measurements, noise mapping. O presente estudo apresenta a avaliacao do impacto sonoro gerado na Linha Verde trecho sul. Para realizacao deste estudo, foram efetuadas medicoes em 24 pontos em uma extensao total de 14 km--a partir do Contorno Sul ate o Jardim Botanico. A partir de todas as informacoes obtidas neste estudo concluiu-se que o trafego de veiculos na Linha Verde--Trecho Sul produz um impacto ambiental que resulta em niveis de poluicao sonora inadequados para as pessoas que vivem ou trabalham em torno desta via. O nivel de ruido para todos os 24 pontos analisados esta acima dos valores aceitos pela lei municipal de Curitiba 10.625:02, ou seja, esta acima de 65 dB(A) no periodo diurno. Atraves do estudo observou-se que a geracao de ruido no local e constante e intensa, sendo o ruido fundamentalmente gerado pelo fluxo intenso de veiculos leves