The problem

Environmental noise pollution is of growing concern in Europe. A European Noise Directive (2002/49/EC) was formulated to assess the scale of the problem. Improved assessment methods are needed, however, in order to implement this policy successfully. In particular, the integration of noise assessment from diverse sources (roads, rail, aircraft and industry) into one model will aid in the construction of noise maps, and will help to determine the effectiveness of noise abatement measures.

Overview:

IMAGINE aims to harmonise the assessment of environmental noise for improved noise mapping.

The project will provide:

• Guidelines for noise data management and noise mapping
• Indications on how and when direct measurement should supplement the computation of noise levels to improve the quality of assessments
• Source descriptions of road, rail, aircraft and industrial noise within an integrated environmental noise database
• Accessible output in the form of noise maps for noise action planning.

Contribution to policy development:

IMAGINE will:

• Produce strategic noise maps as required under the European Directive on the Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise (2002/49/EC)
• Provide noise control standards and information to facilitate decision-making for noise action planning and policy
• Contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness of different noise-control policy options

Project deliverables

• Specifications for noise database and GIS mapping – January 2006
• Guidelines for noise monitoring and measurement - August 2006
• Integrated reference database of environmental noise to generate noise maps – January 2007
• Guidelines of how to deal with atypical situations – January 2007

Dissemination

• Website – March 2004
• Internet forum and electronic newsletters – March 2004
• Workshops – August 2004 (N. Europe), November 2004 (S. Europe)
• Final conference – June 2006
• Final synthesis report – February 2007

Technical information

Project acronym: IMAGINE
Project’s official full title: Improved Methods for the Assessment of the Generic Impact of Noise in the Environment
Research priority: 1.5 Environmental Assessment. Task 3
Specific webpage: http://www.imagine-project.org/
Proposal/contract no: 503549
Start date: 01/12/2003
Kick off meeting: Not available
Completion date: 01/02/2007
European Commission scientific officer: Mogens Gadeberg (mogens.gadeberg@ec.europa.eu)

Coordinator:
Name: AEA Technology Rail BV
Abbreviated name: AEAT NL
Address: Postbus 8125
3503 RC Utrecht
Country: Netherlands
Tel: +31 30 300 51 53
Fax: +31 30 300 51 50
Website: http://www.nl.aeat.com/

Partners

Name: AEA Technology plc.
Abbreviated name: AEAT UK
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Anotec Consulting S.L.
Abbreviated name: Anotec
Country: Spain

Name: Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale della Toscana
Abbreviated name: ARPAT
Country: Italy

Name: Autostrade – Concessioni e Costruzioni Autostrade S.p.A
Abbreviated name: Autostrade
Country: Italy

Name: Boeing Research and Technology Centre
Abbreviated name: Boeing
Country: Spain

Name: Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Abbreviated name: BUTE
Country: Hungary

Name: Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment
Abbreviated name: CSBT
Country: France

Name: DeBakom, Gesellschaft für sensorische Messtechnik
Abbreviated name: DeBakom
Country: Germany

Name: DGMR raadgevende ingenieurs
Abbreviated name: DGMR
Country: Netherlands

Name: Electricité de France
Abbreviated name: EDF
Country: France

Name: Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt
Abbreviated name: EMPA
Country: Czech Republic

Name: EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre
Abbreviated name: EUROCONTROL
Country: Belgium

Name: Joint Research Centre Institute for Health and Consumer Protection
Abbreviated name: JRC
Country: Italy

Name: Kilde Akustikk AS
Abbreviated name: Kilde
Country: Norway

Name: Fundación Labein
Abbreviated name: LABEIN
Country: Spain

Name: Leicester City Council
Abbreviated name: Leicester
Country: United Kingdom

Name: M+P raadgevende ingenieurs bv
Abbreviated name: M+P
Country: Netherlands

Name: Müller-BBM
Abbreviated name: MBBM
Country: Germany

Name: Swedish National Testing and Research Institute
Abbreviated name: SP
Country: Sweden

Name: Transport and Mobility Leuven
Abbreviated name: TML
Country: Belgium

Name: Netherlands Organisation of Applied Scientific Research
Abbreviated name: TNO
Country: Netherlands

Name: Transport Research Laboratory Ltd
Abbreviated name: TRL
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Politechnika Gdanska
Abbreviated name: TUG
Country: Poland

Name: INTEC, University of Ghent
Abbreviated name: UGent
Country: Belgium

Name: University of Leeds
Abbreviated name: ULeeds
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Volvo 3P
Abbreviated name: Volvo
Country: Sweden