Introduction. Urbanization, intensification of road transport, development of urban infrastructure contributes to increased noise pollution. As traffic flows increase, so do acoustic discomfort zones, and the problem of traffic noise is becoming increasingly environmentally and socially important.
Problem statement. The traffic flow significantly exacerbates the environmental problems of cities. One of the most negative factors is the increasing acoustic load. Noise pollution is currently becoming one of the most important environmental stressors. Noise levels depend on the intensity, speed, nature of traffic, type and quality of coverage, land use planning (longitudinal and transverse street profiles, building architecture, traffic lights) and the presence of greenery. Noise leads to an imbalance of auditory adaptation, regulatory processes of the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, hemodynamic disorders, the development of noise sickness. At long influence mechanisms of reflex and neurohumoral reactions are broken, there is a nervous pathology, attention decreases by 12–16%. Physiological and biochemical adaptation of a person to noise is impossible, in addition, noise has an inherent consuming effect. Acoustic load has a negative impact on flora and fauna. The main ones are reduced adaptive and reproductive capacity, changes in trophic nets, increased risk of predation, growth retardation, accelerated transpiration, death of leaves and flowers. This problem is most acute for urban ecosystems, as urbanization is one of the main factors in reducing biodiversity due to the loss of natural habitats, their fragmentation or drastic change. In urban conditions, many anthropogenic (industrial, transport noise) is added to the natural noise, which significantly changes the acoustic background. Currently, the noise load in megacities has increased by 12–15 dB, and the volume by three to four times. In cities with heavy traffic, the noise level is approaching 80 dB.
Cartographic methods are widely used to visualize and predict noise load. Mapping the noise load of cities is relevant for Ukraine. Currently, acoustic maps have been developed only for certain districts of Kyiv. The creation of acoustic maps will help improve the ecological condition of urban areas.
Purpose. Investigate and assess the level of noise load created by traffic flows on the main highways of the city of Khmelnytsky, create an acoustic map and determine the main directions of noise pollution.
Research methods. general scientific (generalization, comparison, analysis and synthesis, theoretical and methodological substantiation); mathematical statistics; field (full-scale measurements of noise on the territory); cartographic (construction of a map-scheme)
Results. The article highlights the problem of urban ecosystem acoustic load. It is evaluated the noise pollution of Khmelnytskyi city in Ukraine. The noise contamination model is constructed using GIS technologies within modern software package. It is shown that simulation and visualization of noise load using software makes it possible to objectively and detail estimate the acoustic situation and to propose managerial decisions development to protect the population from noise.
Conclusion. The intensity of traffic noise depends on the condition and width of roads, the distance of residential buildings from the axis of the roadway. Depending on the capacity of roads, the presence of intersections changes the acoustic load. Reduction of urban traffic noise is associated with absorbing, reflecting, shielding and insulating acoustic ability. Optimization of noise protection of the urban ecosystem depends on a set of architectural and planning solutions. When introducing technical and economic characteristics of noise protection measures, it is necessary to take into account their features (practical limitations and opportunities).
