Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Publication
    Estimating human exposure to transport noise in central Dublin, Ireland
    This paper reports on research conducted to determine estimates of the extent of environmental noise exposure from road transport on residents and workers in central Dublin, Ireland. The Harmonoise calculation method is used to calculate noise values for the study area while a Geographical Information System (GIS) is utilised as a platform upon which levels of noise exposure are estimated. Residential exposure is determined for Lden and Lnight while worker exposure is determined for Lden. In order to analyse the potential of traffic management as a noise abatement measure, traffic was redirected from the main residential areas to alternative road links and the revised exposure levels were determined. The results show that the extent of noise exposure in Dublin is considerable, and in relative terms, it is worse for the night-time period. In addition, the results suggest also that traffic management measures have the potential to lead to significant reductions in the level of noise exposure provided that careful consideration is given to the impact of traffic flows on residential populations.
      1058Scopus© Citations 84
  • Publication
    Environmental noise prediction, noise mapping and GIS integration : the case of inner Dublin, Ireland
    (East-European Acoustical Association, 2006-06) ; ;
    The recent Environmental Noise Directive (END) of the European Union (EU) requires that noise maps and action plans are compiled for agglomerations with a population greater than 250,000 individuals. This paper reports on research conducted to predict and map road transport noise for a study area in central Dublin. Noise emission levels were calculated for Lden and Lnight using the Harmonoise prediction method as recommended by the European Union. Emphasis was placed on integrating noise data with a Geographic Information System (GIS). The results demonstrate that using a GIS to integrate noise data with other available spatial data can enhance the accuracy and visualisation of noise maps. In this regard, 3D noise animation was undertaken with a view to increasing public awareness in relation to environmental road transport noise. The results suggest that GIS based noise mapping has the potential to be more effective at informing environmental policy decision-making, particularly in terms of the actions to be taken as a result of excessively high environmental noise levels. The research also demonstrates that noise maps are visually sensitive to different methods of data interpolation. This is something which has not been explored to any great extent in previous noise mapping studies.
      1735