Press Release
Entec UK and Hepworth Acoustics team deliver first "Noise Mapping England" maps for Defra
Issue date: 3 March 2006
Environmental consultancy Entec UK and noise consultant Hepworth Acoustics have combined to deliver completed road noise maps to Defra under the Noise Mapping England project. The two maps cover the Manchester and Merseyside conurbations, a total area of 2,000km², as part of a series of 15 contracts Defra has commissioned to cover over 20 major towns, cities and regions in England.
The key aim of the Defra Noise Mapping England Project (www.noisemapping.org) is to gather information on the ambient noise climate in England. In simple terms, this means determining the number of people affected by different levels of ambient noise, the source of the noise (i.e. road, rail, air and industry) and the locations of the people affected. The project is calculating noise levels and producing noise maps across England to determine noise exposure data, identify relatively quiet areas and noise 'hotspots' and provide information to assess the relationship between noise and other policy areas. This information will be used to gain knowledge which will assist in the implementation of the Environmental Noise Directive, e.g. on the location, acquisition and accuracy of input data.
ithin the project, Entec and Hepworth Acoustics have undertaken a series of project tasks, including a detailed field-survey of noise barriers across the two areas; GIS processing and analysis of detailed terrain, buildings and traffic survey datasets; and development of detailed resolution noise models. Due to the large geographical area and detailed resolution required, the project team used specialist Lima noise mapping (produced by German firm Stapelfeldt) and ArcGIS software. In total, more than seven million calculation points were calculated at a horizontal grid resolution of 10m, resulting in highly detailed maps for the two contract areas. These outputs have recently been delivered to Defra together with technical reports describing the processing steps undertaken and modelling techniques adopted.
Enquiries should be addressed to:
Neil Thurston
Entec UK
Tel: 01743 342704
Email: thurn@entecuk.co.uk
www.entecuk.com
Peter Hepworth
Hepworth Acoustics
Tel: 01925 579100
Email: peter.hepworth@hepworth-acoustics.co.uk
www.hepworth-acoustics.co.uk
Notes to Editors
- Entec UK Ltd is a leading multi-disciplinary environmental and engineering consultancy with around 700 staff and associates working in 10 main offices across the UK. Approximately half of Entec’s staff is engaged in environmental consultancy business, and work across a diverse range of sectors. These include: acoustics, GIS, planning, water management, environmental appraisal, contaminated land, energy and property. Entec’s philosophy is about going the ‘extra mile’ and, with over two thirds of our turnover generated from satisfied clients coming back to us for further services, this is a statement and philosophy we can demonstrate in practice. More information on Entec UK is available at www.entecuk.com.
- Hepworth Acoustics has carried out noise maps of all major types of noise source including roads, railways, industry, quarries and aircraft (and various combinations of the above). The company is virtually unique in the UK in having experience of all of the main noise mapping software that implement UK standards. Previous road traffic noise maps produced by Hepworth Acoustics include Westminster City Council. More information on noise maps and all aspects of acoustics consultancy is available on www.hepworth-acoustics.co.uk.
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