Résumé: Cities are designed to allow for mobility so that industries can function, people can commute, and goods can move around. Traffic is a sign of economic vitality, but when mobility devolves into uncontrollably loud noise, the city starts to lose something vital: tranquility. Road traffic noise is frequently considered as irritation; it is actually a persistent environmental contaminant. Although it doesn’t leave any outward signs like air pollution, it permeates homes, schools, and hospitals on a daily basis. Environmental noise is a significant public health concern, according to the World Health Organization, which also links prolonged exposure to auditory and non-auditory effects. This problem has gotten worse in Algeria due to the country’s rapid urbanization and rising car ownership.

Résumé: The present study addresses the issue of noise pollution in Algeria due to road traffic and the possible preventive means and solutions for its reduction to maintain an adequate sound environment in urban areas, especially next to residential ones. The main objective of this study is to establish an initial noise map for the Champs de Manoeuvre residential estate in Guelma, a medium-sized city in Algeria, by adopting a research methodology that involves applying a quantitative investigation by carrying out field measurements during the winter and the summer season, three times for one week, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, using a sound level metre to measure and calculate the weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level LAeq for 10min, the statistical level L10, the maximum sound level Lmax, the Traffic noise index TNI and the Noise pollution level NPL. The results obtained from the measurement campaign showed the extent of the noise levels produced by road traffic in the vicinity of the residential buildings in the studied area, emitted mainly from passing vehicles, acceleration and the irrational usage of horns, which led to an LAeq level of 74 dB at the source, thus, exceeding the 70 and 55 dB thresholds set in both of the Algerian noise regulation and the World Health Organization noise guidelines. Subsequently, the noise mapping technique can help visualize the spatiotemporal distribution of noise, identify its primary sources and black spots in urban areas, and draw up direct action plans for fighting against this issue.

Résumé: One of the most prevalent problems affecting people in their residences is noise, which represents a recognized environmental problem and a social health concern. In a contribution to raise the awareness of the population against the risks of noise, the objective of this study is to assess the noise sources and the degree of discomfort of the residents of five multi storey residential buildings located in the Champs de manoeuvre neighbourhood in Guelma, throughout a noise measurement campaign and a sociological survey using a questionnaire distributed on a sample of 80 dwellings. The analysis of the findings of the responses of the respondents showed the harmful effect of noise on these residents, where 70% of them live in a state of stress and anger or they were bothered in their rooms, mainly by the noise of the neighbours as well as road traffic noise, that reached up higher noise levels than the threshold recommended by the Algerian noise regulations. Subsequently, influencing the social and health living environment of the residents by this type of nuisance requires urgent actions by the responsible authorities.

Résumé: Preserving the environment to make it healthy is a strategic process in city policy in Algeria. This process is the responsibility of institutional actors and the participation of civil society. In this sense, our essay serves to see if the involvement of civil society and its contribution in the fight against environmental pollution is defined. Likewise, this essay also seeks to determine on the one hand the responsibility of each actor concerned through the analysis of the national environmental action plan in relation to the principles of development, public debate and participatory consultation. Is the involvement of civil society as an essential basis for environmental assessment to ensure environmental management in a regular and rigorous manner? Finally, the ambition of this essay is to think about thought and framework for analyzing the means of action put in place to combat industrial pollution.

Résumé: Controlling noise in Algeria has seen various legal milestones, most notably the two executive decrees N°93-184 of 1993 and N°03-410 of 2003 relating to noise emission maximum limits, which assisted in the establishment of the regulatory framework to safeguard public tranquility. In this study, a quantitative assessment of the sound environment was carried out through a measurement campaign in five locations in Annaba's city center, in order to investigate the feasibility of applying the national noise regulation texts and their compatibility with the lived reality. The main findings revealed that noise levels ranged from 55 dB to 96 dB, primarily emitted by means of transportation as a result of drivers' social behavior, exceeding nearly 90% of the levels specified in the above-mentioned executive decrees.

Résumé: Étant donné qu'il constitue une base essentielle pour la croissance du développement urbain, le système de transport urbain est crucial pour son avancement. En outre, il constitue un indicateur clé de l'efficacité globale d'une ville et des réglementations en matière de circulation. Cette étude s'aligne sur les récentes lignes directrices du développement durable établies par le gouvernement algérien. Elle se concentre particulièrement sur l'aspect réglementaire des mécanismes visant à atténuer le bruit routier, surtout à travers un examen critique et une analyse du contenu de la décision d'État n°1123 datée du 24 avril 2023, qui vient d'être mise en œuvre. Cette restriction concernant les voitures de sport et les motocyclistes bruyants dans les zones urbaines et les zones résidentielles la nuit est mise en œuvre par les autorités dans la ville d'Alger et de Blida. Cette mesure particulière fait partie des actions préventifs qui ont été stratégiquement élaborés dans le but d'atténuer les émissions sonores et de sauvegarder la tranquillité du grand public. L'objectif de cette étude est de faire progresser l'adoption de réglementations nationales en matière de réduction du bruit, tout en proposant des recommandations qui sont à la fois rentables et capables de faciliter un meilleur contrôle des problèmes de bruit liés à la mobilité urbaine.

Résumé: One of the most prevalent issues that individuals have in their households is noise. It is a medical-social and environmental issue. The goal of this study is to assess the sources of noise and the degree of discomfort felt by residents of residential buildings in the Champs de Manoeuvre neighbourhood of Guelma, in order to increase awareness of the dangers of noise. The study's methodology is based on a qualitative approach using a sociological survey of 60 nearby people out of 80. Analysis of the respondents' answers revealed the negative health impact of noise, with 4/5 of them experiencing stress and anger inside their households, primarily as a result of neighbor and road noise, where the latter probably reached sound levels above the thresholds recommended by Algerian acoustic regulation.

Résumé: La pollution sonore est déterminée comme l’un des problèmes environnementaux importants. L’objectif de cette étude est de clarifier l’ensemble de la réglementation acoustique algérienne mise en question, afin de promouvoir sa mise en œuvre. Après avoir collecté et analyser les éléments majeurs de la législation sonore nationale, le résultat d’un diagnostic acoustique dans le centre-ville de Guelma au niveau de l’avenue Ali Chorfi, a révélé que la réglementation en vigueur n’était pas respectée, où cette zone urbaine était bruyante due essentiellement au trafic routier, entraînant des niveaux sonores élevés dépassant le seuil recommandé. A cet effet, le gouvernement doit prendre les mesures nécessaires pour réduire le bruit et d’avoir un environnement sain.

Résumé: Urban transportation system offers a major standard for measuring general operational efficiency of a city and its compliance with traffic laws. This research supports the latest Algerian government instructions, which focuses on the legislative aspect of road noise control mechanisms via a thorough analysis of the recently adopted State Decisions. Setif and Annaba, as well as Algiers and Blida cities, are enforcing the restriction of the presence of extremely noisy sports cars and motorcycles within urban and residential zones at night. This specific project is part of a more comprehensive set of preventative and repressive measures that have been deliberately designed to lower noise pollution and maintain public tranquility. This research aims to support the enforcement of national noise control rules as well provide suggestions that are both financially feasible and helping to improve the management of noise problems connected to urban mobility.K e y w o r d s :Urban transportation; Road traffic noise; Algerian noise regulation; State decisions.

Résumé: Controlling noise transmission in buildings is a key factor for ensuring health, comfort, and regulatory compliance. In Algeria, however, acoustic insulation remains an overlooked aspect in the construction process, particularly for partition walls and floors. This study investigates the acoustic performance of typical partition configurations using INSUL software, an internationally recognized sound insulation prediction tool. The main objective of this study is to promote for this software as a useful tool for practitioners to employ it in building early stages for better acoustic comfort. Results demonstrate the significant influence of wall thickness, cavity design, and insulation materials on airborne noise reduction. The findings provide practical insights for architects and engineers to enhance acoustic design from early project stages.

Résumé: This research employed the NoiseCapture application to efficiently document noise data, mapping the continuous weighted equivalent noise level LAeq across several kilometers of city centers streets of Annaba, Constantine, and Guelma, which are situated in the eastern region of Algeria, over a week. The study aims to encourage the use of smartphone applications for self-monitoring daily noise exposure, rather than relying on advanced technological devices. This methodology allows for the visualization of noise spatial distribution, identification of noise sources, and formulation of preliminary action plans. The findings mainly indicate the easiness of Smarter noise pro app to be used as a credible tool for noise documenting, also that noise levels exceeded the limits established by national noise regulations in Constantine, Annaba and Guelma, respectively. Therefore, using applications as noise detection tools is increasingly recognized in environmental acoustics and basic noise mapping, thereby raising the challenge facing noise pollution administration. Keywords: NoiseCapture ; Environmental Noise ; Noise Monitoring ; Noise Data ; Algeria

Résumé: Les techniques modernes du savoir constructif s’orientent vers la recherche écologique et le confort durable afin d’optimiser le cadre de vie des occupants dans leur lieu habité. Cette contribution porte un exemple d’étude concernant l’évaluation des performances acoustiques de deux types de vitrages d’une fenêtre ordinaire appartenant à une pièce d’habitation à Annaba, face au bruit extérieur émis particulièrement par le bruit routier immédiat. Cette expérimentation peut représenter une solution intéressante en rénovation pour offrir un environnement sonore adéquat pour le bien-être de ses usagers. Les résultats obtenus ont montrés que le vitrage épais (6mm) est plus performant que le vitrage mince, d’où le vitrage de 6mm d’épaisseur réduit le bruit de 39,7 %, or le vitrage de 2mm attenu le bruit de 32,9 %. L’analyse des résultats à travers cette étude démontrent qu’il y a une relation entre l’épaisseur du vitrage, les fréquences et les performances acoustique des fenêtres.

Résumé: Road traffic noise is one of the most important issues that must be considered in the context of environmental challenges, human health and sustainability. While advanced software tools have been developed to perform accurate predictions of road traffic noise levels, these tools are often not accessible due to their high cost and complexity for many local administrations. In resource-constrained planning contexts, there is a growing need for simple, transparent, and easily accessible digital tools that can support early-stage environmental assessment. This study aims to explore the potential of online road traffic noise calculators as user-friendly decision-support interfaces for policy-makers and practitioners. A structured comparative analysis was conducted on three web-based tools representing different implementation contexts: the classical CoRTN (Calculation of Road Traffic Noise) method, the government-endorsed NZTA Road Traffic Noise Calculator, and the open-access RIGOLett environmental noise calculator. The comparison evaluates input requirements, methodological transparency, usability, operational simplicity, and suitability for screening-level urban planning applications. The analysis highlights notable differences in complexity, institutional legitimacy, and data sensitivity. While the NZTA tool offers structured guidance aligned with official practice, CoRTN implementations provide methodological clarity, and RIGOLett demonstrates high accessibility and educational value for preliminary assessments. While these tools are not considered substitutes for accurate and complex models of road traffic noise calculation and assessment, they have strong potential to be used as decision-support tools in the context of the democratization of road traffic noise evaluation and assessment. Keywords: Road noise, CoRTN, NZTA, RIGOLett environmental noise calculator, urban planning

Résumé: Acoustic quality in conference halls and amphitheaters is essential for clear communication, particularly in educational and professional contexts. This literature review examines key acoustic principles and design strategies that affect speech intelligibility and listener comprehension. Drawing on standards, theoretical models, and documented case studies, the review identifies critical factors such as reverberation time, spatial geometry, surface materials, and electroacoustic support. Emphasis is placed on architectural and engineering solutions that enhance clarity and reduce acoustic distortions. The paper consolidates current knowledge to inform better design and renovation practices for speech-focused spaces. Keywords: Room acoustics, speech intelligibility, conference hall design, architectural acoustics

Résumé: One of the loudest—and most ignored—types of urban pollution that demands attention is tire-pavement noise. The most promising materials for quieter roads are examined in this review: porous asphalt, rubberized asphalt and recycled plastic composites. By absorbing or lessening the sound produced when tires strike pavement, these materials can reduce road noise by 3 to 10 decibels. Although porous asphalt is the most popular, rubberized asphalt is a reliable and long-lasting alternative, and if plastic composites are improved, they can also provide sustainability benefits. We explain how these materials function, and their potential futures based on current research and real-world case studies. Keywords: Road noise, porous asphalt, rubberized pavement, recycled plastic composites, tire-pavement interaction