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Noise in Cities: General Approaches and European Network Solutions
Noise in Cities: General Approaches and European Network Solutions
of these advantages are numerous too! It is not only the density of buildings, roads, works
and activities that takes place in cities but also the density of people as receivers of the
unwanted effects of those things. Noise, air pollution, litter, water pollution, soil pollution
are more present in urbanized areas than elsewhere. The policies on local, national and
European level to strive to a more compact city could lead to more noise problems. As we
know compact cities could avoid urban sprawl which leads to more transport movements
from city to the suburb and areas outside the city. It is also an answer to cope with the
effect of climate change because not built up areas can absorb and retain the rainwater
during and after heavy rainfalls where built up areas cannot. In this paper we focus on
noise but we do not forget that other important environmental problems exist and that
solving more problems by applying integrated measures which are beneficial for more
than one environmental aspect deserves our preferences.
As known from numerous publications in the past decade, traffic noise is considered as
the most dominant source of noise in urbanized areas. This is often based on surveys done
within the framework of the Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EC). In this
directive, abbreviated as END, competent bodies are compelled to make Noise Maps and
Noise Action Plans. Only airport noise, railway noise, road traffic noise and noise
originated by enterprises are subject of the END. Other kinds of noise are neglected like
construction noise, recreational noise, low frequency noise, neighbour noise,
neighbourhood noise and noise from special events like carnival, festivals and similar
temporary events.
This makes that one has to realize that the noise maps according to the END do not cover
the whole noise situation in cities assuming that the production of the noise maps is
properly done by the city and/or their consultant. Noise from some roads, enterprises,
railways do not meet the threshold criteria mentioned in the END and are excluded from
the maps. The same with some kinds of aviation like heliports, model planes, ultra lights
et cetera. As mentioned afore construction noise, recreation noise, neighbour noise is
excluded from the Noise maps too. This means that we have to realize that we may not say
that traffic noise is the most dominant sort of noise in urbanized areas. And one may
expect that the noise caused by transport or traffic will increase. The number of cars and
vehicles will grow the next decades and the number of citizens too. The forecasts are
showing us that the transport movements will grow at least with 1-2 per cent per year.
This was estimated before the global financial crisis. Hence, if measures stay behind the
nuisance will increase as well in Europe. Social surveys done all over Europe by a lot of
Evidence
+++
+++
++
+
++
Metric
LDEN
SEL
LAeq,night
LAeq,night
LAeq,night
Level
42
35
55
55
> 55
+++
+++
+
+
LAeq,night
LAq, 24 hr
> 55
70
The category Ischemic Heart Diseases embraces a wide range of diseases like
angina pectoris, pain on the breast and others. In general it can be said that enough
evidence is found for this category. But for some of the diseases which are known
under Ischemic Heart Diseases there is only limited evidence. Distortion of the
immune system was found in some surveys while other investigations could not
European strategies for noise reduction and noise management in cities
On European level a lot could be done to lower the noise all over Europe. This by
introduction of more severe limits for cars, trucks, buses, trains, trams, motors, mopeds,
Conclusions
It can be concluded that noise levels in European cities are high, much too high and is
affecting the quality of life in cities seriously. Moreover it leads to harmful health effects
in people and it has a significant impact on real estate prices. If measures stay behind the
number of exposed people will increase. Measures are needed, on local, national and
European level as well in a vertical and horizontal way. Cities must apply all possible
measures that can be taken at local level. Quiet road surfaces, insulation, traffic
management, co-mobility and so on, see above. But as mentioned afore this is not
sufficient and measures on national and European level are needed as well. Most of the
cities have problems with funding the measures because of a lack of money. This is not
caused by the financial crisis nor a scarcity of money but councils do not budget these
measures in their municipal budgets. This must be changed by making the council more
aware of the seriousness of long lasting noise and to point them and the policy makers on
the possibilities of including these costs in projects or to find synergy with other
environmental issues like air pollution, energy et cetera.
An important step could be made by raising awareness on all levels. This could be gained
by numerous actions/activities. A brief summary:
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Use of public opinions and the media, politicians are sensitive for this
Amplifying the lobby by using network organisations like EUROCITIES,
CEMR/CCRE et cetera
Amplifying the participation in consultations by visiting the meetings and website
consultations
Sending in proposals for better legislation or demonstration projects that show the
possibilities for noise reductions
By bringing the work done by acousticians, scientists and others involved with noise,
more in publicity.
Quiet Urban Areas are hardly found in cities which is disappointing. Municipalities do
have the powers to designate these type of areas which are especially very beneficial for
their citizens that live in noisy districts.
Literature
1. Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC
2. Green Paper on Future Noise, Towards a new culture for Urban Mobility, COM 2007/55,
European Commission.
3. Night noise guidance WHO, 2008
4. Transportation Noise and Cardiovascular Effect (Babisch)
5. Master thesis Valuation of Noise in Rotterdam, J.de Bresser 2008
6. Traffic noise reduction in Europe: health effects, social costs and technical and policy options
to reduce road and rail traffic noise, 2008 (CE Delft).
7. Can you hear us? Brochure of T&E 2008
8. Draft report on Gaining Political Interest 2009, by W.Witteveen
9. Cities cannot solve their noise problems solitarily 2009 H.Wolfert
10. MSR reports 2006, 2007 and 2008
11. MBO report Province of South Holland 2007 and 2008/2009
12. Noise Questionnaire EUROCITIES 2008
13. The State of the Art of Economic Valuation of Noise by T.Gjestland 2002
14. Hypertension and exposure to noise near airports, Hyena, Lars Jarup
15. Exposure response relationships for transportation noise..H.M.E. Miedema, and H.Vos,
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 104(6),December 1998
16. Stilte heeft zijn prijs, J. Udo and S. Kruitwagen, 2006
17. Benefits of Noise Measures, Jabben et all, 2008
18. Bluebook CALM network, October 2007
19. Working Document Working Group Noise EUROCITIES called Evaluation of the
Environmental Noise Directive (first stage)
20. Provisional data noise maps (circa data base European Commission)
21. Noise and Health in the Greater Rotterdam Area H.Wolfert
22. Non-acoustical factors in environmental noise by Ian H Flindell, Pieter Jan M Stallen Noise
and Health
Acknowledges
European strategies for noise reduction and noise management in cities
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and noise management in cities for getting the opportunity to present this paper during their
congress in Florence. He also thank Mr. JP van Nieuwenhuizen (DCMR EPA) for his editorial
suggestions.
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Henk Wolfert is working at DCMR EPA, an Environmental Protection Agency in the Greater Rotterdam Area. DCMR EPA
works for 18 municipalities in the Greater Rotterdam Area and the Province of South Holland. Until spring 2007 he was
manager of the Noise Section of DCMR EPA, chairman of the Working Group Noise of the Alliance of Dutch Provinces and
noise expert for CEMR/CCRE another European network organization. Since spring 2007 he works as European Policy
Advisor for the DCMR EPA and the city of Rotterdam. From 2006 he is chairman of the Working Group Noise of
EUROCITIES and member of the EUROCITIES Environmental Forum. He is also member of the expert group of
environmental noise of the European Commission. He is chairman of the congress Noise in the City 2008 (Amsterdam) and
published a lot of articles.
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