Microscopic Approach to Analyze the Impact of Lane Change on Road Traffic Noise

In this study, a microscopic road traffic noise model was employed to quantitatively analyze the changes in noise levels that occur when a vehicle changes lanes while driving. In a one-way, four-lane road SUMO simulation, we computed and compared time-series noise levels with or without lane changes, treating target lane and lane-change position as key variables. The results indicate that lane changes can reduce the equivalent noise level by up to approximately 1.3 dB(A) and the maximum noise level by up to about 2.2 dB(A). Moreover, the closer the receiver was located to the road - within 30 m - the greater the noise-level change. In addition, when the lane change was made within 90 m from the receiver, the noise level change could be observed. By incorporating lane-change behavior into microscopic traffic modeling, we anticipate that these findings will contribute to a more precise prediction of real-world noise distributions in urban or highway traffic environments.