Noise mapping of the urban area of the city of Cuenca - Ecuador, using the technique of ordinary Kriging geostatistical interpolation

Abstract

The Decentralized Autonomous Government Municipal of Cuenca, aware of the presence of a high number of vehicles, accompanied by daily activities involving trade, industry, tourism, actions that have made noise emissions increase their levels, directly affecting health of the population, proposes a project to raise the noise emissions status of the city, for which it subscribes, with the University of Azuay an agreement whose purpose is the development of a noise map.

Methodologically the activity started with the determination of the sampling sites, based on traffic density, the information gathered was systematized and evaluated through the use of the statistical method “ordinary kriging”, which elaborated the noise map of the city. Additionally, comparisons were made with the parameters set by national regulations, such as the Unified Text of Secondary Environmental Legislation TULAS-for-noise emissions, evaluating its behavior.

Emissions values exceed the limits of the TULAS regulation, this fact is related to the increased number of vehicles on the city center, as well as the daily activities involving trade, tourism.

Revista Ciencias Espaciales, Volumen 8, Número 1 Primavera, 2015; 411-440