ASSESSMENT OF NOISE LEVELS IN SELECTED AREAS WITHIN AKURE, NIGERIA METROPOLIS USING ArcGIS

The study examined the noise levels in selected areas within Akure Metropolis, Nigeria with a view to generate noise maps using ArcGIS which will help to identify high impact areas and support environmental management in the study area. Some selected areas within Akure metropolis were selected for this study namely; Oja-oba Market (commercial Land use), Ijoka (Residential land use), and the Federal University of Technology, Akure (Futa as an Educational Land Use). The digital sound level meter (IEC651 Type 2) was used to measure noise level in the morning (8:00am-9:00am), afternoon (1:00pm-2:00pm) and evening (4:00pm-5:00pm) for a period of 7days in each of the selected areas. The compiled data were imported into the ArcGIS 10.5 Software for analysis and geo-referencing whereby transforming the data and presenting it on noise contour maps. The study revealed that Sunday bus stop has the highest mean noise level with 64.3 decibel (A) while the lowest noise level was found in Olowookere street with 38.1 dB(A) for the Residential area. Ijomu recorded the highest noise level with 78.6 dB(A) and Erekesan market has the lowest noise level of 61.5 dB(A) for the commercial area. Finally, Northgate has the highest noise level, which recorded 76.3 dB(A) and the lowest noise level was recorded at Library area with 41.0 dB(A) for the Institutional area. 80% of the commercial area is exposed to the highest risk of noise pollution. The residential area was exposed to 18.7% noise pollution which makes the area suitable for housing. The institutional land use recorded 36.6% for total area exposed to noise pollution. This research has provided valuable information for decision makers as a guidance for noise pollution risk management and serve as a reference for future noise limit regulations to be executed in urban areas of Nigeria and other developing countries