Noise mapping is a very powerful calculation tool that can produce noise contour plots over an area, at facades, or noise levels at individual locations. It enables complex calculations from many noise sources to be undertaken over a large geographical area. Changes in situation, such as additional or altered noise sources, or the effects of mitigation (such as barriers) can be readily assessed and presented visually.
WBM regularly uses "SoundPlan" noise mapping software to calculate noise from road traffic, rail traffic and industrial noise sources. The Federal Aviation Administration's Integrated Noise Model (INM) is used to calculate noise from civilian and military fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. The output from both programs can be combined.
WBM projects that have utilised noise mapping include: factory noise; train care depots; residential development adjacent to new and existing roads; motorcycle speedway circuit; external plant near residential housing; recycling site; concrete batching plants; and a large military airfield that combined multiple industrial sources with aircraft noise.
Click here to download a copy of this page as a pdf document.