Urban Sound Mapping in Public Spaces of Istanbul: Sound Pressure Level Analysis in Kadıköy, Taksim, and Eminönü

Abstract

Urban noise pollution is a significant public health and quality of life issue in large metropolises. This study analyzes the sound maps of three highly visited public spaces in Istanbul (Kadiköy, Taksim, and Eminönü) based on sound pressure level (SPL) measurements in order to reveal the spatial and temporal variations of urban sounds. While previous studies primarily focused on general noise measurements, this research examines environmental noise variations and dominant noise sources (e.g., vehicular traffic, pedestrian density, and public transportation) through field measurements taken at different times of the day. Peak noise levels frequently exceeded the recommended thresholds; deviations were particularly pronounced during peak hours, with significant differences observed among commercial, touristic, and transit-heavy areas. These results may provide urban planners and noise mitigation strategists with an evidence-based framework for managing public soundscapes. Future work aims to expand the dataset to additional locations and to examine the influence of subjective noise perception.