Strategic environmental noise mapping : methodological issues concerning the implementation of the EU Environmental Noise Directive and their policy implications

This paper explores methodological issues surrounding the implementation of the EU Environmental Noise Directive (END) across Member States. It also highlights future policy implications arising from the analysis which ought to be considered for improving strategic environmental noise mapping in the future. Methodologically, the paper focuses on two key issues relevant to the Directive: calculation methods and mapping methods. For the former, the paper focuses, in particular, on how differing calculation methods influence noise prediction results as well as the value of the EU noise indicator Lden and its associated implications for comparability of noise data across EU states. With regard to the latter, emphasis is placed on identifying the issues affecting strategic noise mapping, estimating population exposure, noise action planning and dissemination of noise mapping results to the general public. The implication of these issues for future environmental noise policy is also examined.