Scope of the project
Scope of the project is the Directive 2002/49/EC (END) of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise. The aim of the Directive is to define a common approach intended to avoid, prevent or reduce the harmful effects due to exposure to environmental noise. To that end, noise maps must be provided and updated every five years in order to report about changes in environmental conditions (mainly traffic, mobility and urban development) that may have occurred over the reference period.
The updating of noise maps using a standard approach requires that the authorities responsible for providing noise maps collect and process new data related to such changes. This procedure is time consuming and costly and has a significant impact on the financial statements of the authorities responsible for providing noise maps. To facilitate the updating of noise maps and reduce their economic impact, noise mapping can be automated by developing an integrated system for data acquisition and processing, that is able to detect and report in real time the acoustic climate due to noise sources. This approach seems quite promising in areas where noise sources are well identified, such as those close to main roads. In complex scenarios, such as in agglomerations, further considerations and testing are needed to make the idea feasible.
Furthermore, the END states 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 the noise impact on the environment. To that end, the Dynamap System will provide different access levels to the on-line database. This function will deliver simplified data for the public and different levels of information to skilled and authorised users.
Finally, the Dynamap System will be designed so as to be adaptable to other kinds of sensors collecting information requiring periodic assessment, such as air quality, meteorological and road conditions, traffic volumes, to provide a more comprehensive and integrated overview of the environmental impact of noise sources present in the monitored areas.