As I wrote about in a previous article, Barcelona has created really precise heat maps that display noise pollution levels in the city. The maps' clear message is that highways and major streets are the main source of noise pollution in the city. By focusing on reducing noise pollution through the superblock program, the city has also cut down on transportation-based air pollution, which some would argue is a more urgent concern than noise pollution.
What really drew my attention is the fact that recording noise pollution data is much easier, cheaper, and more precise than recording air quality data. Decibel meters are cheaply available online, and there are NIOSH approved smartphone apps that do the same. Decibel meters can therefore be placed close to the source of pollution, and they can be moved as needed. Decibel meters can also be placed at more frequent and regular intervals to produce data of the same quality as Barcelona's.
Air quality sensors are typically installed permanently, and their distribution tends to be inequitably concentrated in highly affluent areas, leaving many neighborhoods that abut industrial land uses, highways and train yards with close to no reliable air quality data. People don't typically choose to live next to highway fumes. These communities are often made up of people who have been displaced from another part of the city, BIPOC people, and people with low income and resources. People in these neighborhoods don't often have the time or energy to take care of more than their basic needs. And while it is clear that poor air quality and noise affect their health, there is very little wiggle room to come together and demand healthier living conditions. Collecting air quality data requires specialized instrumentation and knowledge. This makes it much more difficult for these neighborhoods to advocate for better air quality.
When it comes to transportation-based pollution, we can be fairly certain that noisy roads are also roads with poor air quality. While I'm academically curious in investigating the exact correlation between these two variables, I'm more interested in finding out how many more pollution-abatement projects would be funded in these neighborhoods if we lowered the advocacy barrier by accepting noise pollution data as a proxy for air quality data.
With our new infrastructure bill comes $100 billion in discretionary funding, to be awarded by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. I would urge Secretary Buttigieg to encourage communities to submit applications with noise pollution data when it is not possible to provide air quality data. Not having the ability to record the proper type of data should not disqualify an application if a suitable proxy that is easier to collect is available. To ensure that applications that target noise and air pollution receive funding, a substantial portion of the discretionary funding should go towards projects that would tear down highways, create new transit lines and urban trails, and re-design existing right-of-ways to accommodate transit and active transportation modes safely. To reject proposals due to unconventional data submissions would be pedantic at best. To accept proposals that submit data that is easier, cheaper, and more precise to record would start the long process of providing equitable transportation options that create more good than harm.
Sources:
Barcelona wants to build 500 superblocks. Here's what it learned from the first ones.Web. April 2019.
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/4/9/18273894/barcelona-urban-planning-superblocks-poblenou
The Accuracy of iPhone Applications to Monitor Environmental Noise Levels. Web. February 2020. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/lary.28590
Professional Decibel Meter. Web. November 2021. https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Backlight-Accuracy-Measuring-30dB-130dB/dp/B01MZ0IUGY/ref=asc_df_B01MZ0IUGY/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312357852128&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12342762214536365379&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032930&hvtargid=pla-348660547600&ref=&adgrpid=62539486699&th=1
I've followed with interest the proliferation of PurpleAir's personal AQ monitors around town, but it hadn't occurred to me to consider their distribution. That would be a fun & interesting GIS project to put an equity lens on these smart public health devices! Let me know when you do it ;^)
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