Environmental noise is today affecting
everyone and is therefore one of the most important challenges to public health. Noise from roads
and railroads, fly-over aircraft, industries and construction sites lead to increased stress and poor sleep. It is told that one single motorbike crossing
Paris a warm summer night, wakes up about 250 000 people. Long exposure
to high noise levels may also cause hearing damage as well as tinnitus.
A common mitigation measure is to build noise screens and barriers. We assess the performance of barriers with respect to sound reduction and absorption
and also measure according to
EN1793-5/6.
Noise mapping is a powerful tool to assess various measures, like sound barriers and limitations in vehicle speed to arrive at the most cost effective solution. The model is used to calculate sound levels where people are exposed, first at the present situation and second, after noise reduction measures. For airports, effects of altered landing and take off patterns can be assessed.
Together with
our partner Akustix we can offer simulations for road and rail noise, commercial
and leisure noise as well aircraft noise. Akustix has a long and proven experience using SoundPlan,
also for airport noise modelling.
The starting
point is 3-d GIS maps (via georeferenced bitmaps or data from DXF,
ASCII and QSI) and relevant
source models. Calculations can be made according to the Nordic Prediction
models Nord2000Road (report 4653) and Nord2000Rail (report 4935). Airport
noise calculations are typically made using SS ISO 9613 or Cnossos EU.
