A practical framework for strategic noise mapping

Abstract

Environmental noise is a major form of pollution and it is estimated that at least one quarter of the population of the EU suffer a reduced quality of life due to exposure to noise. To address the problem the European Union issued Directive 2002/49/EC with the aim of developing a uniform approach towards the assessment and subsequent management of environmental noise. The directive requires Member States to ensure strategic noise maps are produced for designated areas and presented in terms of universal noise indicators. These maps nmst also be presented to the public in a clear, comprehensible and accessible manner. Given that public involvement is central to the directive it is thus important that noise maps are accurate, or perhaps more particularly, it is important that predicted results will satisfy independent public analysis.