Buenos Aires – 5 to 9 September, 2016

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Acoustics for the 21 Century…

PROCEEDINGS of the 22nd International Congress on Acoustics

Noise Mapping: Paper ICA2016-739

Acoustic barrier for outdoor music event: The “roda

de samba” in Rio de Janeiro

Lygia Niemeyer(a), Marina Cortês(b), Nayara Gevú(c)

(a)
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, Postgraduate Program in Architecture - PROARQ, Brazil,
lygianiemeyer@gmail.com
(b)
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, Postgraduate Program in Architecture - PROARQ, Brazil,
marinamcortes@gmail.com
(c)
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, Postgraduate Program in Architecture - PROARQ, Brazil,
nayaragevu@gmail.com

Abstract

Samba - Brazilian rhythm par excellence - brings in its origin a mix of rhythms and traditions that
dates back the history of the country. To the drumming, African cultural heritage, were being
gradually incorporated elements of other musical genres. The so-called "samba" consists of a
group of singers accompanied by a suit of percussionists (bass drum, snare drum, and
tambourine) guitar and ukulele. In Rio de Janeiro, due to climatic and geographical
characteristics of the city, the rodas de samba are often held outdoors in clubs, bars or even on
the street. The issue discussed in this paper is inserted in this context: the nuisance caused by
a traditional samba wheel in residential surroundings. Created 10 years ago, the event that
takes place on Mondays afternoon in a traditional Rio club courtyard was initially attended only
by musicians and other professionals working on the weekend. In order to improve the life
quality of the community and, at the same time, preserve one of the main symbolic elements of
belonging and sound landmark. The simulations were performed with the SoundPLAN program
in three different scenarios: current situation without event, current event situation and future
situation (with barrier) with event. It was verified that in addition to music the audience voices,
singing or talking, significantly contribute to the increase of level of sound pressure. The barrier
performance was quite satisfactory, reducing the noise emitted into the environment without
prejudice to the public on the courtyard of the club.

Keywords: acoustic barrier, simulation, noise map.

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22 International Congress on Acoustics, ICA 2016
Buenos Aires – 5 to 9 September, 2016
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Acoustics for the 21 Century…

Acoustic barrier for outdoor music event: The “roda

de samba” in Rio de Janeiro

1 Introduction
Samba music, originated from the drums brought by Africans has incorporated throughout its
history elements of other musical genres, going from "damn rhythm to the national music and a
certain official form" [6, p.11]. Nowadays, samba is considered cultural reference and affirmation
of the Brazilian identity.
The Renascença Club, an institution founded in 1951 and currently located in the district of
Andaraí, North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, remains as redoubt of African descendants’ traditions
and roots of samba. The club was founded as resistance to existing ethnic intolerance, by a
group of black people prevented from joining in the traditional clubs in the 1950s.
Created 10 years ago, the “Samba do Trabalhador” (Workers Samba) takes place on Mondays
afternoon in the club courtyard. It was initially attended only by musicians and other
professionals that working on the weekend and on Mondays has their day off [3]. By the
excellence of the music presented, the event has begun to attract a huge audience, including
people from all around the city and even tourists.
In Rio de Janeiro, the samba universe is multiple, but has in the "Roda de Samba” (literally,
Samba Circle) one of its most popular and consolidated manifestations. The so-called "samba"
consists of a group of singers accompanied by a suit of percussionists (bass drum, snare drum,
and tambourine) guitar and ukulele. Because the weather and geographical features stimulates
the use of open spaces for culture and leisure activities such as “Roda de Samba”, that spread
through backyards, clubs and bars, from the suburbs to more affluent neighborhoods.
In this cultural context, is inserted the problem of noise nuisance of the surrounding residents.
With the purpose of conciliate the community's quality of life, with the maintenance of the event,
as symbolic element and sound mark of the region, the RioUrbe (Municipal Urbanization
Company of Rio de Janeiro) requested the performance simulation and optimization of acoustic
barrier designed for the local. The aim of this paper is to present the results of simulations
performed with the SoundPlan software in three different scenarios: current situation/ without
the event, current situation/ during the event and future situation/ during the event/ with the
acoustic barrier.

2 Methodological Procedures
2.1 Area of study
In the city of Rio de Janeiro, control of noise pollution is ruled by the Municipal Law [4] which
defines the maximum levels of sound and noise, in accordance with the technical standard NBR
10.151 / 2000 [1], relating the period of the day and the land use zoning. The law concerns the

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Acoustics for the 21 Century…

issue of noise pollution generated by recreational, cultural, educational, philanthropic, religious

activities and facilities with live or mechanical music.
The club is located in Andarai district, in the North Zone of the city. The area is classified as
Multifamily Residential Zone (ZRM) where, according the legislation [4], the maximum noise
level allowable is 55dB (A) during the day and 50dB (A) at night. The samba is performed under
a gazebo with ceramic tile roof located in the inner patio (Figure 1).

RODA DE SAMBA
GAZEBO

GATEHOUSE INDOOR COURT

ADMINISTRATION

Source: (RioUrbe, 2015)

Figure 1: Above, Renascença Club location; bellow left, Roda de Samba gazebo with indoor
court in the background; bellow right, Roda de Samba gazebo with gatehouse in the
background.

2.2 SPL Measurements in field

The first step was to conduct measurement of Sound Pressure Level (SPL) in two
circumstances: with the usual sound environment and during a Roda de Samba performance.
The field records were used to preliminary assessment of both situations, considering the limits
allowed by the municipal law, and also to calibrate the simulation digital model.
The measures in A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level (LAEq) were performed with a
Kimo 200 sound level meter, according the procedures of the Brazilian standard NBR-
10151/2000 [1]: the equipment was positioned 1.20 m above the floor and away 2.00m from
buildings or other reflective vertical. Surfaces and calibrated immediately before and after each
measurement campaign.

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2.2.1 Measurements of usual sound environment

To assess the usual soundscape, measurements were carried out in the surrounding streets on
days when the club do not holds events and the main sound source is the traffic of vehicles.
The grid of 15 measuring points covers a square of about 400 meters of side, with the
Renascença Club in the center (Figure 2). In addition, in order to calibrate the digital model and
to calculate the sound emission of Roda de Samba were conducted measurements on three
points in the inner area of the club (Figure 3A).

Figure 2: Measurement points in the surrounding streets

2.2.2 Measurements during the Roda de Samba

To assess the noise impact of the event, seven points of measurements were defined: six in the
inner area and another one in the street in front of the club (Figure 3). The SPL registers were
performed in different situations, during the Roda de Samba and in the intervals.
Simultaneously to the measurements, were made audio recordings with a Zoom H4N in order to
identify the spectrum of the main sound sources: alive and mechanical music, audience singing
or chatting.

Figure 3: Measurement points of usual situation (left) and during the Roda de Samba (right)

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2.3 Noise Maps - Simulation

The evaluation of the impact of the event and the projected barrier performance was conducted
by critical analysis of noise maps simulated with SoundPLAN software [2]. To generate the
maps presented in this article, we used two types of graphical output: Grid Noise Map
(horizontal) and Cross Section Map (vertical). The simulation parameters which define the
accuracy and definition level of the noise maps are shown in Table 1:

Table 1: General Calculation Parameters

Simulation type
Height of horizontal map
Cutting height
Spacing of points (loop simulation)
Number of reflections
Calculated index
Traffic Noise Calculation
Standards and Legislation
Climatic data
Grid Noise Map | Cross Section Map
1,20 m (above ground)
20 m
Horizontal - 15 m |Vertical - 2,5m
3
LAEq (A-weighted Equivalent Sound Pressure Level)
RLS 90
NBR 10.151/2000 | law 3.268/2001
Air temperature - 30 ºC / Relative humidity - 60%

The digital model was generated from the cadastral databases provided by RioUrbe [5]. The
topography was shaped by the triangulation of altimetry plans to create the digital ground model
(DGM) on which were settled the buildings, walls and other vertical elements, in addition to the
traffic lanes. The simulations were based on three scenarios:
⋅ Scenario (A) | Current situation/ without event: The road traffic surrounding the Renascença
Club is the major source in the usual sound environment. The noise emissions was
calculated with statistical data from CETRio (Traffic Engineering Company of Rio de
Janeiro) and calibrated by field measurements.
⋅ Scenario (B) | Current situation/ with event: The noise emission of Roda de Samba was
added to the scenario (A). The areas occupied by the musicians and the audience were
modeled as surface sources with the power and frequencies spectrum extracted from the
audio recordings and field measurements.
⋅ Scenario (C) | Future/ with event and barrier: The noise barrier was inserted in the scenario
(B). A covering designed by RioUrbe, did not provide satisfactory performance and was
dismissed as sound attenuation element. The outline of the new and the old cover are
represented in the drawings of the noise maps for better understanding of the existing and
proposed situations.

3 Analysis of the results

3.1 Field measurements

The results of field measurements and the sources that configure the usual sound
environmental in Renascença Club and the surroundings streets (figure 2 and 3) are presented
in Table 2.

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Table 2 - Measurement results | without event

Point Main sound sources LAEq
A Gatehouse 55,3 C
CLUB

B
B Under the gazebo 51,2
A
C In front of the indoor court 51,7
15
1 Dog barf, air conditioner 63,9 14
2 Road traffic 72,1 13
3 Road traffic 72,8 12
4 Road traffic, bus stop 73,0 11
5 Road traffic 53,5 10
6 Road traffic, cargo handing 69,5 9
8
STREETS

7 Road traffic, in front of club 70,4

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8 Road traffic 56,6
6
9 Road traffic 59,5 5
10 Road traffic 59,6 4
11 Road traffic 56,8 3
12 Road traffic, doorbell 74,7 2
13 Road traffic 62,1 1
14 Road traffic 56,6 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
15 Road traffic 74,7

⋅ The dashed line indicates the limit of 55 dB(A), for daytime, defined by the legislation for
ZRM;
⋅ The red bars indicate the measure points which were recorded NPS above 70 dB (A): due
the heavy traffic of vehicles.
⋅ The orange bars indicate the measuring points which were recorded SPL between 60 and
70dB (A). In point (6) the noise is mainly due to the movement of a building materials store.
⋅ In the other points (yellow bars) SPL remained below or just above the limit of the law.
⋅ Inside the club, all the points are within the limit of 55 dB(A).
The results of field measurements and sources (figure 3) that configures the sound
environmental during the event are presented in Table 3 and figure 4.

Table 3 - Measurement results | during event

Point Location Main sound sources LAEq
7.1 Road traffic, people chatting 68,8
Street | In front of gatehouse
7.2 Road traffic, music alive from inside 67,5
A Gatehouse Music, audience entrance 75,6
B.1 Under the gazebo | next to the Music alive, audience voices, singing 89,6
B.2 musicians Mechanical music, audience voices, chatting 86,4
C.1 In front of indoor court | Mechanical music, audience voices, chatting 80,5
C.2 audience Music alive, audience voices, singing 83,3
D Indoor court entrance Mechanical music, audience voices, noise from the bar 82,5
E Indoor court inside Mechanical music, audience voices, chatting 72,6
F.1 84,3
Porch | club administration Music alive, audience voices, noise from the bar
F.2 83,6

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100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
7.1 7.2 A B.1 B.2 C.1 C.2 D E F.1 F.2

Figure 4 - Measurement results

Red bars – during event | Grey bars – without event

⋅ The dashed line indicates the limit of 55 dB(A), for daytime, defined by the legislation for
ZRM;
⋅ The grey bars indicate the measurements performed without event;
⋅ The red bars indicate the measurements with alive music;
⋅ The orange bars indicate the measurements with mechanical music (intervals);
⋅ Inside the club, during the Roda de Samba (alive music) all the measurements indicates SPL
above 80 dB(A). The higher value - SPL = 89,6 dB(A) occurs in point B.1, next to the
musicians;
⋅ Even in the intervals, with mechanical music, the SPL levels were above 70 dB(A). The lower
value, SPL = 72,6 dB(A), occurs in point (E), inside the indoor court;
⋅ Due to the predominance of low frequencies of percussion instruments, the propagation of
sound of samba circles spreads through the courtyard and beyond the limits of the club;
⋅ The results of measurements indicate that beyond the amplified music and percussion
instruments, the audience, singing and chatting, configures a powerful sound source;
⋅ On the sidewalk, in front of the club (point 7) the SPL measured during and in the intervals
da Roda de Samba do not show wide variation, indicating that at this local, road traffic,
voices and public entrance the main sources.

3.2 Noise maps

The comparison between the horizontal maps of scenarios (A) and (B) has revealed significant
noise impact generated by the event on the surroundings, particularly over the group of
residences contiguous to the wall next to the Roda de Samba (figures 5A e 5B).

The deployment of the acoustic barrier (Figures 5C and 5D), as seen in the noise map scenario
C, can mitigate the impact on residences in the lot adjacent to the club. The sound reflected by
the inner face of the barrier facing the club enhance the sound on the second floor of the
administration, where are located the bar and porch, which acts as balcony during the events.

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Figure 5 A – Noise Map (A) Figure 5 B – Noise Map (B)

Figure 5 D – Noise Map (C) – Detail

Figure 5 C – Noise Map (C)

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The effectiveness of the barrier to acoustic protection in buildings surrounding the club may be
better observed in vertical noise maps (Figure 6, 7A and 7B). In the blue buildings operate club
activities (entry, management, indoor court and gazebo).

Figure 6: Location of the sections 1 and 2 | SPL chromatic scale

Figure 7A: Sections 1A, 1B e 1C Figure 7B: Sections 2A, 2B e 2C

In the images of figure 7A it may be seen the noise impact generated by the event over the
surroundings (Cuts 1A and 1B). The Cut 1C shows the barrier performance: acoustic protection
of the contiguous residences lot and redirection of the reflected sound to the club administration
building.
The deployment of the barrier generated an increase in the noise level on the facade of the
administration building. However, this is an administrative building, which during the event is
used as balcony by the audience.

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4 Conclusions
The barrier performed quite effective in sound attenuation for the most affected buildings in the
current situation, the group of buildings that border the Roda de Samba area.
The redirection of sound energy to the inner area of the club provided by the barrier allow the
reduction of the mechanical amplification, without prejudice to the sound heard by the audience,
particularly, the people in the bar and porch of the administration.
In addition, the indoor court and administration are barriers which reduce the noise incidence on
the facades located in their back side.
Although in Brazil the use of noise maps are still restricted to some research centers, design
and consulting offices, the acoustic simulation programs have great potential as a design tool.
In this study, has contributed effectively to assess the barrier performance to mitigate the noise
impact on the community around the Renascença Club. The simulation allowed the primary
analysis of the results thus avoiding investment in solutions which may not have the desired
result.

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge to CAPES for Marina Cortes scholarship.

References
[1] ABNT - Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas. NBR 10.151: Avaliação do nível do ruído em
áreas habitadas visando o conforto da comunidade. Rio de Janeiro, 2000.
[2] Braunstein + Berndt GMBH. Handbook user's manual. SoundPlan LLC, 2004. Available in:
<http:www. soundplan.com>. Access in 2012/04/22.
[3] Clube Renascença. História. Available in: <http://www.renascencaclube.com.br/>. Access in 2012/
05/ 25.
[4] PCRJ – Prefeitura Municipal do Rio de Janeiro. Law nº 3.268, 2001/ 08/ 29, Brasil, 2001.
[5] RIOURBE - Empresa Municipal de Urbanização. Projeto de Arquitetura de Barreira Acústica e
Cobertura para Clube Renascença. Rio de Janeiro, 2015.
[6] Vianna, Hermano. O mistério do samba. 6ª ed. Rio de Janeiro: Jorge Zahar Ed.: Ed. UFRJ, 2007.

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