Noise Mapping in the EU

Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 2018

In this paper the results of noise maps counted for cars and trams, in 10 areas in the city of Poznań, are analyzed in the context of possible action plans. These results are compared with the information from surveys, involving 794 participants, performed at the same 10 areas. The general results showed that basing solely on the values of noise indicators, i.e. information from the noise maps, is not sufficient for reliable planning of noise action plans, particularly those created in response to multiple noise sources. The exceedance of a noise limit for a given sound source does not necessarily mean that this source is the most annoying for inhabitants. To find a solution to this problem, we propose conducting dedicated noise surveys in the specific areas in each city (in which the noise maps are calculated) where we know a priori that more than one noise source will occur at the same time and could be potentially annoying. In the proposed survey we suggest using two specified questions: whether a given sound source is annoying or not, and which sound source should be the first one to be eliminated, if this is possible. This new survey proposal is the result of an analysis of the survey performed within this study. Some methodological changes are proposed with regard to the survey that was actually used. This new approach could improve decisions about action plans and provide more complex information about peoples' assessment of noise annoyance evoked by different sound sources.

PROCEEDINGS INTERNOISE 2019, 2019

The design of noise mitigation actions, after strategic noise map evaluation of urban environments, is always a challenging task that normally relies on technology for the definition of proposals for noise prevention and control. Taking into account that the main objective of strategic noise maps and noise action planning in agglomerations is citizens' quality of life, comfort and health rather than just putting decibels down, the main effect of environmental noise on people living in urban areas, that is annoyance, must be taken into consideration when deciding about proposals for noise control and mitigation. Citizens' noise exposure comes as a direct result from strategic noise maps, both as percentage of people exposed to noise ranges, usually 5 dBA intervals, and as noise exposure mapping. In this work we focus on urban road traffic noise annoyance mapping, evaluated by means of recommended exposure-response relationship and recent WHO Europe revision formula, as a complementary tool to assist the design of effective noise mitigation actions that strengthens the advocacy of the person in the process of selecting proposals.

The Science of the total environment, 2014

In the framework of the European Directive 2002-49-EU, the medium sized cities of Volos and Larissa in central Greece recently completed (2012) their strategic noise maps and relevant action plans that define the main strategies to reduce noise exposure of residents and introduce and preserve "quite zones". For the first time in this framework, it has been decided to introduce, as well, a general study for five specific urban districts covering not only the measurement and modeling of environmental noise levels but also qualitative surveys on the sound perception by the residents and several analyses of the urban and architectural tissue. The districts (respectively four in Volos and one in Larissa with the two of them in the center of both agglomerations) were chosen as representatives of urban situations due to their proximity to transportation infrastructures (main road network, industrial harbor facilities and both regional and intercity train network) and also because...

Experience on noise mapping and action plans of agglomerations and transport infrastructures in recent years in Portugal is presented and discussed with a focus on the requirements of the Euro-pean Noise Directive. Issues concerning data management, calculation procedures, validation of results, and the estimation of exposure of people to noise are addressed. Methodologies adopted in the preparation of noise action plans are portrayed, detailing the drawing of acoustic sensitivity maps, acoustic zoning, conflict identification, together with noise management issues. Noise abatement measures are highlighted with specific examples presented and discussed. Strategies related to the preservation as well as to the development of quiet areas in urban areas are also addressed.

Aviation Noise Impact Management

Noise impact management goes hand in hand with the capability to predict the noise impact on exposed communities. Three tools to that purpose are presented in this chapter: the Noise Management Toolset (NMT), the Demo Virtual Community Tool (VCT) and Dynamic Noise Mapping. The NMT is a web-based tool giving stakeholders the opportunity to evaluate scenarios through not only noise exposure, but also noise impact, by introducing annoyance related metrics like the awakening index, with an easy-to-use interface. The VCT is the underlying research tool exploring and testing new indicators and options that might be of relevance to target audiences, such as land use planning information about location dependent activities or window insulation. The third approach, Dynamic Noise Mapping, adds the important aspect of population movement to classical noise mapping approaches where temporal changes of noise maps are tracked and included in noise exposure evaluation.

Applied Acoustics, 2011

The main purpose of this work is to establish a methodology which uses the advantages of stratified sampling to study noise perception. Taking as a starting point the results of an existing psychosocial survey of a large population sample, the proposed procedure consists in stratifying the original sample into homogeneous groups (clusters or classes) as far as noise perception/annoyance, and then select some representatives within each group. Those representatives will be used for further inquiries relating to noise annoyance perception (i.e. action plans follow up) and may facilitate further data acquisition making it faster and cheaper to acquire without significant precision loss. According to the European Directive 2002/49/EC, action plans for noise perception and noise level conflicts reduction shall be based both on existing noise maps and existing psychosocial surveys. It is in this context that the proposed methodology can be useful, since it will allow action plans follow up and thus evaluate in a fast and cost effective way the impact of action plans on the population. The methodology has been applied to the Málaga psychosocial survey results and the variability of estimates when working with subsamples (representatives from each group) has been studied. It is observed that performing a stratified sampling technique on the clusters optimizes the cost/precision ratio of estimators.

In the guidelines about the management of areas of good environmental noise quality recently published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) it is suggested to combine different methodologies, like noise mapping, sound level measurements and the soundscape approach. Such a recommendation has started to be recognised by a number of local authorities in Europe that are gradually integrating a holistic concept into their environmental noise policies. This research aimed to explore and demonstrate the possibility to integrate conventional noise mapping methods and soundscape methods in an actual urban redevelopment project. A case study was made using the Valley Gardens project in Brighton & Hove (UK). Different scenarios of sound-pressure level distributions were simulated for both traffic sound sources (i.e. noise maps) and natural sound sources (i.e. sound maps). Additionally, individual responses about the sound environment of the place collected during an on-site question survey were used to implement soundscape maps. The overall picture revealed that the road traffic noise should be reduced, but also it is feasible that preferred sounds like water features or birdsong could be introduced to make the sound environment more appropriate for the place. Generally, within the framework of this research, noise maps, sound maps and soundscape maps were used together to "triangulate" different layers of information related to the acoustic environment and the way it is perceived, providing a possible working procedure to consider for planners and policy-makers in the future

Noise Mapping

Journal of Social Issues, 2007

Because effects of environmental noise do not require extremely high or long exposures, they occur, with different degrees of intensity, in a substantial part of the world population, especially in areas with a dense population and dense transportation networks. As a consequence, noise is a global issue that continues to detract from sustainable development. This article attempts to contribute to evidence-based noise policies by providing a review and systematization of noiseeffects modeling and findings. The results presented can be used in noise abatement policy to find the best practical ways of reducing noise-induced effects through the reduction of noise exposure. At present, it is possible to calculate noise maps showing the exposures to noise in residential areas. With the relationships between exposure and effects as presented here, these can be translated into estimates of the number of people affected. Estimates of effects can be made on the basis of existing noise exposures, but also on the basis of scenarios for future noise levels, so that the consequences of different scenarios can be explored and decisions with respect to noise abatement measures can be optimized. Such an evidence-based approach may be instrumental in reducing the worldwide burden of environmental noise.