Geospatial Analysis of Guayaquil’s Sound Landscape After the Covid-19 Isolation Period

Noise pollution is a variable usually ignored during urban planning; however, it is also necessary to estimate environmental values adequately in places difficult for humans to reach. This study analyzed the most accurate interpolation method for mapping urban noise levels. It used noise data collected between June and August 2021 from 40 students from the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL). Each student in each time slot determined the equivalent continuous sound level (LAeq). The results were exported to ArcGIS Pro software to execute cross-validation and determine the best semivariogram model. Ordinary Kriging (OK) and Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) allowed the generation of noise maps. The city's west experienced the maximum noise levels, while the minimum ones occurred at the entrance to "Via a la Costa" and the northeast. The busiest time slot was at 4:00 pm and the quietest at 8:00 pm. The results of this research allow the authorities to implement different proposals to reduce noise and its harmful effects on the health of the citizens of Guayaquil City.