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Several major cities have begun publishing detailed noise maps, colour-coded charts showing average sound levels street by street throughout the day and night. These maps combine traffic counts, construction permits, and microphone readings from fixed sensors to model exposure across neighbourhoods. Urban planners use the data to identify hotspots near airports, railway lines, and nightlife districts, then prioritise sound barriers or quieter road surfacing where residents face the highest exposure. Health researchers have linked chronic noise above certain thresholds to disrupted sleep and elevated stress hormones, which is why some cities now factor noise maps into housing approvals, denying permits for bedrooms facing the loudest streets unless additional insulation is installed. Critics argue the maps rely on modelling rather than constant real-time measurement, so short bursts of noise, like a single loud event, may be underrepresented.