A Brief Overview

Rapid urban growth has intensified noise pollution in densely populated cities, particularly due to transportation systems such as trains and road traffic. These sound sources interact in complex ways with buildings, streets, and open spaces, shaping urban soundscapes and influencing how noise propagates through city environments.

This webinar presents a high-resolution digital soundscape of a complex urban setting developed using the spectral-element method (SEM). The numerical model captures detailed acoustic wave behaviour—including reflection, scattering, and localized amplification—offering a physically based framework for understanding urban sound propagation. The findings provide important insights for noise-mitigation strategies, evidence-based urban planning, and policy development.