Revista de Ingeniería

revinge | eISSN 2011-0049 | ISSN 0121-4993

Noise Pollution in Bogotá City: A Pilot Study

No. 30 (2009-11-01)
  • José Pacheco
    Grupo de Estudios en Sostenibilidad Urbana y Regional (SUR). Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de los Andes. Bogotá D.C., Colombia. jos-pach@uniandes.edu.co
  • Juan F. Franco
    MSc. Grupo de Estudios en Sostenibilidad Urbana y Regional (SUR). Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de los Andes. Bogotá D.C., Colombia. jufranco@uniandes.edu.co
  • Eduardo Behrentz
    Ph.D. Grupo de Estudios en Sostenibilidad Urbana y Regional (SUR). Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de los Andes. Bogotá D.C., Colombia. ebehrent@uniandes.edu.co
https://doi.org/10.16924/revinge.30.9

Abstract

The main goal of this research was to characterize the range of noise pollution in Bogota. To achieve such objective, we selected eight microenvironments and several roadways in different zones of the city. In the selected locations, we conducted sound pressure measurements and documented the traffic congestion using a digital video camera. 75% of the time the determined noise levels were above the national standards. This was the case even for sensitive zones such as those nearby parks and hospitals. The results obtained through this research demonstrate both, the importance and complexity of the vehicle traffic impact over the noise pollution in the city.

Keywords: Acoustic pollution, microenvironment, noise, quality of life, sound pressure, vehicle traffic