Noise in Utrecht

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Noise policy and noise abatement in UtrechtReinier Balkema

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Introduction

• Facts and Figures Utrecht

• Planning Process

• Noise Act and Local Noise Policy

• Noise Map and Action Plan

• Examples

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Facts and Figures Utrecht

Located in the centre of The Netherlands

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Facts and Figures Utrecht

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Facts and Figures Utrecht

• Population >316,000

• Surface area 99.3 km²

• Residents per km²: 3,185

• Utrecht Central Railway station >164,000 passengers/day

• Motorways >150,000 cars/day

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Planning Process

• Early in the process: planners and architects

• National Noise Act

• Local Noise Policy

• Noise surveys

• Building permits

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Good planning - example

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National Noise Act

• Planning instrument

• Noise limits

– Traffic, Rail and Industry

– Preferable limit: 53 dB

– Maximum limit: 68 dB

– … under conditions

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Noise Policy Utrecht

Investigation of noise measures

• Sound barriers in the city?

• Quiet road pavements?

Clear additional conditions

• Quiet façade (<48 dB)

• Living areas at quiet facade (30%)

• Garden/balcony at quiet facade

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Noise survey

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Investigate noise measures

1. Source

2. Transmission

3. Receiver

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Investigate noise measures

Source

• Reduce traffic

• Noise reducing road surfaces

• Quiet tyres

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Investigate noise measures

Transmission

• Absorbing ground

• Distance

• Noise barriers

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Examples

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Examples

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Examples

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Investigate noise measures

Receiver

• Shielding

• Insulation

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Examples

Noise barrier on balcony

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Examples

Acoustic louvre / air inlet

Double glazing

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Noise policy Utrecht

Clear additional conditions

• Quiet façade (<53 dB)

• Floor plan: living areas at quiet façade (30%)

• Garden/balcony at quiet façade

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Quiet façade – the classical way

• One side exposed

• One side quiet, with gardens

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No quiet façade?

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No quiet façade?

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Floor plan

Bad example

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Noise Map and Action Plan

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Noise Map and Action Plan

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Noise Map

Lden dwellings people annoyed highly annoyed

55 - 59 dB 34.284 (27%) 78.900 16.569 (6%) 6.312 (2%) 60 - 64 dB 21.883 (17%) 50.300 15.090 (5%) 6.539 (2%) 65 - 69 dB 8.518 (7%) 19.600 8.036 (3%) 3.920 (1%) 70 - 74 dB 968 (1%) 2.200 1.188 (0%) 660 (0%) >= 75 dB 19 (0%) 0 0 (0%) 0 (0%)

Total >=55 dB 65.672 (52%) 151.000 40.883(15%) 17.431 (6%)

Total Utrecht 125.399 (100%) 278.000

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Noise Action Plan

•December 2009

•Not very ambitious – lack of money

•Traffic measures

•Investigate quiet urban areas

•Investigate noise barriers

•Policy for quiet roads, quiet tyres

•Electric transport

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Examples

Electric transport

• Cargohopper

• Beer boat

• Scooters

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Quiet urban areas

• Compensate bad health effects

• Large aparks

• Courtyards

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Create new quiet urban areas

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Create new quiet urban areas

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Conclusion

What is good:

• Noise limits

• Policy: we strive for a good acoustical quality of the residential area

• Process: we regard noise early in the planning process

• Measures

What can be improved:

• Political interest

• Money

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Questions ?

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