An Evaluation of the Effects of City Land Use on Noise Pollution: A Case Study of Zone 1 of Region 6 of Tehran

One of the main challenges of urban planning is the creation of urban spaces with high quality life. The objectives of this study are to determine the relationship between urban planning and noise pollution, to investigate the influence of physical variables and the effect of urban forms on noise pollution, and to pave the way for future studies to reduce noise pollution in the vicinity of sensitive zones (hospitals, schools, etc.). This study was carried out in the zone 1, region 6 of Tehran, with the high density of commercial, official, and educational organizations along with heavy traffic. The equivalent sound level (Leq) in 16 stations in the fall-winter period of 2015-2016 and the spring-summer period of 2017, in morning and evening peak traffic time, was measured. The measurements were conducted in the vicinity of main uses and streets of the area and noise maps were also prepared by means of the Arc Map 10.3 software. The extent of Leq around the intersections and main streets of zone 1 was more than that of other areas and the lowest equivalent sound level was observed in secondary streets. From all of the land uses, commercial and industrial zones experience the highest level of noise, with the overall range of Leq from 72 to 84 dB and health-therapy zone has the lowest level of noise pollution, with the overall range of Leq from 58 to 72 dB. The extent of Leq around all land uses and streets of zone 1 is much more than standards. Urban forms and the types of uses and their location in zone 1 both affect the amount of sound equivalent levels in the area.