Urban noise level measurements and surveyed perceptual responses in Rabat, Morocco Medina

Noise pollution is an increasingly prevalent environmental issue in urban areas, yet its impact on residents remains understudied in countries like Morocco due to no permissible noise limits and no regulatory definition of noise. This study investigates the extent and perception of noise pollution in Rabat, Morocco, using a combination of objective sound level measurements in the Rabat Medina and subjective public perception surveys. Using phone-based decibel readers, noise levels were measured across different points in the Medina in Rabat. Simultaneously, residents were surveyed to assess their perception and effects of noise. While the average sound level values never exceed 80 dB, peak sound level measurements reached up to 88 dB, which is above the 85 dB threshold for hearing damage according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The survey shows that while 55.2% of people reported difficulty concentrating, 42.1% also reported that urban noise created an increased sense of community. While objective findings (or sound level measurements) show that on average noise levels in the Rabat Medina are not high enough to cause permanent hearing loss, urban noise levels can create additional types of social and economic impacts that warrant further study.