The U.S. Department of Transportation has created a data visualization called the National Transportation Noise Map illustrating transportation-related noise levels throughout the United States. The National Transportation Noise Map combines noise-level data from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Highway Administration and color-codes it based on decibel level to indicate where Americans are subjected to the most noise. Unsurprisingly, urban areas like New York City, as well as areas close to highways and airports, are consistently the noisiest parts of the country. Residents in these areas are consistently exposed to noise levels as high as 80 decibels, putting them at risk of permanent hearing damage.
Measuring Noise Levels Across the United States
