Browsing by Author "Senanayake, MAD"

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    item: Thesis-Full-text
    Developing a natural acoustic barrier for urban areas
    Senanayake, MAD; Halwatura, RU
    Increasing noise pollution has severally effected the urban areas where noise generated by traffic is considered as the major noise polluter. As a solution to the noise problem using noise barriers is an approach proven to be effective but due to land scarcity and social needs in urban areas applying noise barrier solution is challenging. Using a natural barrier as a noise barrier is a promising approach. Natural barriers are large or small closely grown tree belts, vegetation walls, natural stone structures, tree fences etc. Natural barriers, have emerged as the new trend to address problems in urban areas and has developed into vertical gardening, green roofs and hybrid natural barriers presently. The use of natural barriers as a solution is highly dependent on the human perception. The research was carried out to identify the human perception and human acceptance of natural barriers in Sri Lankan context and find out the level of acoustic disturbance people are facing. Focusing urban and suburb areas a quantitative approach was adopted via a questionnaire survey and actual sound measurements were taken in the western province of Sri Lanka. Secondly field testing was carried out to evaluate the performance of existing natural barriers to identify their acoustic performance. Closely grown tree belts which assumes a cuboid shape were used as test barriers. Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) models Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models were used to evaluate the performance of natural barriers. Cuboid shape natural barrier with 85% of green cover or more and overall height closer to 2 meters or more has proven to be an effective acoustic barrier for urban areas.
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    item: Article-Abstract
    Human perception and acceptance of natural barriers
    Senanayake, MAD; Halwatura, RU
    Natural barriers are large or small closely grown tree belts, vegetation walls, natural stone structures, tree fences etc. Natural barriers, have emerged as the new trend to address problems in urban areas and has developed into vertical gardening, green roofs and hybrid natural barriers presently. The use of natural barriers is highly -dependefft-Oti-the-fauman perception which is focnsed-on'natnral-baniei's iuucnonantyrTntunlaiflgbnityr effectiveness of performance, security and aesthetic appeal.The research was carried out to identify the human perception and human acceptance of natural barriers in Sri Lankan context and find out the level of acoustic disturbance people are feeing, focusing urban and suburb areas by adopting a quantitative approach via a questionnaire survey and carrying out actual sound measurements in the western province of Sri Lanka. Lack of awareness of sound levels and risk of adaptation to excessive sound levels in urban conditions were revealed in the research. It was found that traffic noise to be the main sound polluter in urban areas and actual noise levels violate the permissible limit stated in the Sri Lankan regulations. Preference for natural barriers is very high in urban community. Results revealed a high demand by public for aesthetic appeal of natural barriers.