title: Application of land use regression modelling to assess the spatial distribution of road traffic noise in three European cities.
abstract: Noise prediction models and noise maps are used to estimate the exposure to road traffic noise, but their availability and the quality of the noise estimates is sometimes limited. This paper explores the application of land use regression (LUR) modelling to assess the long-term intraurban spatial variability of road traffic noise in three European cities. Short-term measurements of road traffic noise taken in Basel, Switzerland (n=60), Girona, Spain (n=40), and Grenoble, France (n=41), were used to develop two LUR models: (a) a "GIS-only" model, which considered only predictor variables derived with Geographic Information Systems; and (b) a "Best" model, which in addition considered the variables collected while visiting the measurement sites. Both noise measurements and noise estimates from LUR models were compared with noise estimates from standard noise models developed for each city by the local authorities. Model performance (adjusted R(2)) was 0.66-0.87 for "GIS-only" models, and 0.70-0.89 for "Best" models. Short-term noise measurements showed a high correlation (r=0.62-0.78) with noise estimates from the standard noise models. LUR noise estimates did not show any systematic differences in the spatial patterns when compared with those from standard noise models. LUR modelling with accurate GIS source data can be a promising tool for noise exposure assessment with applications in epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aguilera
authors.affiliation: 1] Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain [2] CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foraster
authors.affiliation: 1] Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain [2] CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Basagaña
authors.affiliation: 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corradi
authors.affiliation: Grup de Recerca en Enginyeria de Fluids, Energia i Medi Ambient (GREFEMA), University of Girona, Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deltell
authors.affiliation: 1] INSERM U823, Institut Albert Bonniot, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Grenoble, France [2] Université Joseph Fourier (UJF), Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.affiliation: 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland [3] Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Harish C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Phuleria
authors.affiliation: 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martina S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ragettli
authors.affiliation: University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.affiliation: Air Rhône-Alpes, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomasson
authors.affiliation: 1] INSERM U823, Institut Albert Bonniot, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Grenoble, France [2] Université Joseph Fourier (UJF), Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Rémy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Slama
authors.affiliation: 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Künzli
mesh_terms: D001336:Automobiles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology