Índice para mapeamento de áreas prioritárias para o monitoramento de pressão sonora de Parques Eólicos

Abstract

The noise from the operation of wind farms is one of the main concerns of surrounding populations, potentially causing adverse impacts on health and wellbeing. The noise impact depends on several variables, such as the distance to the receptor area, the characteristics of the turbine, and the speed and direction of the wind. In Brazil, the lack of legislation defining a minimum distance between populated areas and wind turbines may contribute to the exposure of inhabited areas to the noise from wind farm operations. With the large number of wind farms in operation, it is necessary to develop methodologies that identify, quantify, and assess which areas have the greatest need for monitoring potential noise impacts. Therefore, the objective of this study is to propose an index for mapping priority areas for monitoring noise pressure from wind farms. Using spatial analysis techniques, data on the exposure of potential receptors to noise from operating wind farms was obtained. The proposed index was built from seven individual indicators that, when weighted, allowed for the classification of areas according to their level of criticality. The results indicated that 10% of the operating wind turbines have receptors within the adopted noise influence area (400 m), with a total of 1,882 receptors. Regarding monitoring priority classes, 23 turbines were classified as “Very High,” 86 as “High,” 127 as “Medium,” and 81 as “Low.” The proposed index proved to be an effective tool for socioenvironmental management.