Exploring New Approaches in the Study of Environmental Noise in Urban Areas
A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Environment and Sustainability".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 3503
Special Issue Editors
Interests: environmental noise; noise mapping and action plans; navigation sciences and techniques
Interests: environmental noise; noise mapping and action plans; environmental acoustics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
It is widely recognised that cities of the future face challenges in improving their environmental sustainability. One of these challenges is to reduce noise emissions, especially those that can be detrimental to the health of people who live and carry out their daily activities near urban noise sources. The study of environmental noise in cities appears to have reached a high level of maturity, but there are still many opportunities in this area. With this Special Issue, we aim to introduce research groups that provide innovative perspectives on urban noise. We also welcome case studies from cities that share their experiences applying environmental noise solutions.
The guiding thread of this Special Issue involves connecting the following three keywords: environmental noise, city, and new approaches. In this Special Issue, original research articles, reviews, case studies, and (short) technical notes are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Noise mapping and GIS, with special attention paid to the following:
- New data acquisition solutions and technologies for noise mapping.
- New perspectives using GIS for diagnosis and dissemination to the public.
- Machine learning applications.
- Latest experiences in noise management and mitigation in cities, with special attention paid to the following:
- Case studies.
- Green technologies.
- Walking, cycling, and public transport promotion. Is urban infrastructure suitable for modal shift?
- Green infrastructure (trees, parks, green walls).
- Building design.
- New materials.
- Smart cities applications and big data.
- Machine learning applications.
- Sustainable mobility, city plans, and low emission zones.
- Challenges in the study of environmental noise in cities from the point of view of noise, with special attention paid to the following:
- The role of EVs in traffic noise. Is the introduction of electric vehicles into urban traffic causing a change in the prevalence of more annoying noise sources?
- Social noise (crowds, events, nightlife, etc.). What is the acoustic balance that tourism, as an economic activity, introduces into the city?
- Other sources of noise that might be interesting to study are welcome. Some examples could include construction activities, noise from outdoor equipment, drone noise, noise from port activities, noise related to maritime traffic and docked vessels, etc.
- Challenges in the study of environmental noise in cities from the point of view of noise receivers, with special attention paid to the following:
- Behavioural studies. How do people who have to live in acoustically hostile environments modify their behaviour? How do some animal species coexist with the noise of cities?
- Noise exposure and inequality.
- Public awareness campaign experiences.
- Evidence on the importance of soundscapes and quiet zones in improving the quality of life.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Prof. Dr. Jose Luis Cueto Ancela
Prof. Dr. Gaetano Licitra
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Urban Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- urban environmental noise
- noise management
- noise mapping
- urban infrastructure
- smart city
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