Noise planning software to map EU roads

Date: 24/2/2006

Source: ITS International

Most countries have a national noise policy to protect citizens from undesirable environmental noise levels from road, rail and air traffic and industrial sources. The European Noise Directive (END) for the Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise outlines a coordinated method to achieve noise reduction in large cities as a first step, to be followed by smaller cities.

The Directive requires Member States to create strategic noise maps of all areas with a population over 250,000, roads with more than 6,000,000 vehicle passages per year, major railways with more than 60,000 train passages per year and major airports within their territories by 30 June 2007.

By 2008, Member States shall ensure that authorities have developed action plans to identify noise exposure, adequate noise reduction measures and long term noise reduction strategies.

HA to consider its role in implementing the requirements of this Directive.