Evolutıon of traffic noise impacts in Amman, Jordan

Abstract

Amman, the capital of Jordan has been subjected to persistent increase in road traffic due to overallincrease in prosperity, fast development and expansion of economy, travel and tourism leading to thetraffic noise being a growing environmental probl em. This study investigates the changes over theyears in the magnitude of the traffic noise pollution, the attitude of the residents towards the problemand estimates its economical impact.Measurements were made at selected locations and compared with published figures at the samelocations in order to identify the changes over time. The impact of the problem on the exposedresidents was also evaluated through carrying out a social attitudinal survey and the results werecompared with those of similar studies. An attempt is also made to valuate and put a monetary valuefor traffic noise.The results confirm that traffic noise levels are growing over the years and their social and economicimpacts are also both growing and becoming more significant