Global sensitivity analysis for road traffic noise modelling

Abstract Regulatory road traffic noise maps are based on input data that are sometimes incomplete, erroneous or non-existent. When designing them, it is therefore necessary to label and qualify these data by giving priority to certain sources of information and certain parameters over others. Beforehand, a sensitivity analysis of the sound prediction model to these input parameters should be carried out to concentrate efforts on the most influential inputs (either physical or configurational parameters). In this paper, an overall sensitivity analysis of the CNOSSOS-EU model is proposed using the Morris screening method. It is conducted using the open source software Noise Modelling, on a case study of a French city. The analysis is performed on 15 of its input parameters at 14,343 receivers. The selection of the parameters and their ranges of variation were chosen to mimic those faced by an operator when producing monthly noise maps. Whether or not to consider diffraction at the horizontal edges appears to be the most influential parameter when estimating the number of people exposed to sound levels above 65 dB(A). However, a finer analysis by receiver shows how the influence of each parameter strongly depends on the source-receiver configuration.