Noise Attenuation Using Vegetal Supported Barriers and Buffers Zones in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Noise pollution is an unwanted sound which degrades the quality of our environment  therefore, making the environment we live and work unpleasant for living. This situation is not different in Port Harcourt metropolis in the wake of increased human activities, which has   resulted to and accelerates noise level. This situation has led to the adoption of possible  measures to check noise levels using vegetal cover supported barriers. Hence, the need to examine environmental noise exposure attenuation using vegetal cover and its supported     barriers. Environmental research design was employed and a total of twelve samples were collected for each barrier types with the aid of the digital noise meter (EXTECH instrument    digital sound meter with RS232) to measure noise level in decibels (dBA). Findings revealed  that areas with bare surfaces across its property corridor witnessed did not decrease noise   levels at destination while surface with vegetation such as lawns within its property  boundary corridor witnessed reduced noise levels of destination. It is therefore, recommended    that vegetal surfaces walls should be encouraged to support erected noise barrier walls across    the urban space in the bid of attenuating urban noise and make urban regions/areas more habitable.