A study on the development of an emergency evacuation broadcasting system for fire incidents in noise barriers tunnels

This study develops an emergency evacuation broadcasting system tailored for noise barrier tunnels, designed to mitigate traffic noise. Due to the tunnels’ unique acoustics and enclosed nature, traditional systems often fail to deliver clear messages. The proposed system optimizes speaker size and placement, sound pressure levels, control mechanisms, and pre-recorded evacuation messages suited to tunnel acoustics. Acoustic performance was evaluated through on-site tests and fire scenario simulations using the Odeon software. Key metrics, including reverberation time, sound pressure level, and Speech Transmission Index (STI), were analyzed. Field tests showed significant improvements in message clarity and response times compared to conventional systems. These results indicate that the system can enhance tunnel safety by providing reliable voice communication during emergencies. [Work supported by the Technology Innovation Program (RS-2025-05492970) funded by the Ministry of Interior and Safety (MOIS, Korea).]