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Project title

Environment Transportation Interface - Noise module

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD)

Lead Applicant

Henry Rice

Project Abstract

The Environment Transportation Interface project consists of three modules on air pollution economics and noise. The noise module has initiated activities ahead of schedule and has attracted wide interest from a number of concerned bodies including the National Roads Authority Dept of the Environment Iarnrod Eireann Dublin City Council and others. Although this has been primarily driven by a need to comply with European legislation it is being recognized that Irish best practice in infrastructural design particularly from a noise viewpoint needs to be upgraded. In addition to minimising environmental impact this will ensure that economic advantage is maintained by such developments into the future. To facilitate this development the establishment of a national centre of expertise in environmental noise design has now been identified as a priority.The original objectives of the noise module of ETI may be summarized by the 4 work tasks identified in the proposal i?1. Creation of Baseline noise maps2. Enhancement to Noise maps3. Networked Monitoring Instrumentation4. Advanced Noise Propagation TechniquesThe progress to date in these areas is as follows1. Creation of Baseline noise maps: Objective: To apply tools/methods currently being used in Ireland to two different areas and to assess their suitability. Progress: Two contrasting sites have been chosen - Shannon/Ennis N18 and Pearse Street/Quays area in Dublin. The mapping is complete with full contouring in the N18 study. The ArcGIS/ Predictor 4 software which is currently being used Nationally fell well short as a suitable tool to efficiently perform this task. A complimentary measurement programme consistent with best European practice was also performed on these sites. A new version of the software Predictor 5 which addresses many of the Predictor 4 short comings will be released in Summer 2005. An alpha version of the code has been made available to TCD as a result of this investigation and the sites were efficiently remapped. This task is completed.

Grant Approved

�108,787.00

Research Hub

Healthy Environment

Research Theme

Environment and Human Health

Start Date

01/09/2005

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/08/2007