PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The regular updating of noise maps using a standardised approach is required by the Environmental Noise Directive (END). Collated information is processed using acoustic models to produce the updated noise maps. This procedure is time consuming and costly, and has a significant impact on the budget of the authorities responsible for providing noise maps. Furthermore, END requires that simplified and easy-to-read noise maps are made available to inform the public about noise levels and actions to be undertaken by local and central authorities to reduce noise impacts. To make the updating of noise maps easier and more cost effective, there is a need for integrated systems that incorporate real-time measurement and processing to assess the acoustic impact of noise sources.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE - DYNAMAP project aimed to develop a dynamic noise mapping system that is able to detect and represent in real time the acoustic impact of road infrastructures. This would help implement the END (European Noise Directive 2002/49/EC), which requires the updating of noise maps every five years. The main project’s objective was to develop an integrated system for automated data acquisition and processing of road noise. The specific objectives of the project were therefore to:
- Automate the noise mapping process using the information retrieved from a low-cost monitoring network;
- Develop low cost sensors and communication devices to collect the information needed to update noise maps in real time;
- Implement and test the system in two sites with different characteristics: an agglomeration and a major road;
- Demonstrate that the automation process will lead to a significant reduction in the resources needed to update noise maps (time, costs and dedicated personnel);
- Improve and ease public information through different access levels of the system to provide user-friendly information; and
- Check the possibility of improving the system with additional information to dynamically report multiple environmental data.
RESULTS
The LIFE DYNAMAP project developed a dynamic noise mapping system that is capable of detecting and representing the acoustic impact of road infrastructure in real time. The team demonstrated the viability of the system in two pilot cities, Milan and Rome. In the latter, it was installed on the great ring road, while in Milan the system covered an entire district (in Rome, the system comprised 19 devices; in Milan, 24).
The system also integrates an Anomalous Noise Event Detection (ANED) filter that allows non-traffic noise to be removed. The final output is a map that is accessible to the public and to operators through a web interface. Analysis of the maps produced in Rome and Milan showed that any errors are within 3 dBs and are thus compliant with the EU’s European Noise Directive.
Additionally, the system’s acoustic maps can be produced at a cost that is 18% to 33% lower than those that are conventionally produced. Moreover, its greater accuracy and use of continuous data improve the day-to-day management of noise interventions.
Finally, the technology developed by the project is in line with the Smart City concept. The hardware can be equipped with other environmental sensors.
