Improved Methods for the Assessment of the Generic Impact of Noise to the Environment 6th Framework Programme, Area 1.2.1, Policy-oriented research, contract number Lessons learned and roadmap to implementation Dirk Van Maercke IMAGINE Final Conference

IMAGINE Final Conference, Budapest, 25 October 2006 N° 2 Implementation of the END Administrative problems are reported more critical than technical problems -Noise mapping: access to data -Action planning: authority and financing -Usefulness of the maps, of a “unified approach”? Common methods -Focus on noise prediction methods: Interim Methods, Harmonoise, Imagine,… -Project setup and methodology? -Input data specifications & requirements? -Presentation of data (to the Commission, to local authorities, to the citizen,…)?

IMAGINE Final Conference, Budapest, 25 October 2006 N° 3 Input data requirements Reported needs depend moderately on calculation method Reflect specific needs of the software used (GIS application + noise prediction software) Reported needs largely exceed the requirements of “standards” Confusion between “formats” and “specifications” Confusion between “digital data” and “digital information” Lack of “common vocabulary” Need for clearer definition of “level of detail” and “accuracy” - what is a “digital terrain model” ? - what is the accuracy of a model using height lines in 5m steps ? Most available software is “ready” for the new methods

IMAGINE Final Conference, Budapest, 25 October 2006 N° 4 Available input data Large differences between countries -Contents of available data -Accuracy and level of detail -Costs and access restrictions Geometrical incompatibility of data from different sources Highest quality & availability, lowest cost: countries with active GIS policy, implemented by public bodies -free access to (raw) data, cost sharing, data-for-data exchange,… -shared topographical model EU / GIS initiatives based on producer/consumer model? Need for clearer product specifications / user requirements.

IMAGINE Final Conference, Budapest, 25 October 2006 N° 5 New requirements ? New methods are compatible with today’s “good practice” Limited gain of accuracy (what you get is what you put in…) Full advantage of the methods requires more accurate input data Physical model: rank ordering of input data based on acoustical criteria Flexible model enables DIY: build your own test cases Generic values at the EU level ? Generic values and “best guesses” at the local/national level Level of detail: identify hotspots, detailed assessment, evaluate action plans

IMAGINE Final Conference, Budapest, 25 October 2006 N° 6 The evolution of GIS Basic digital data is becoming widely available and cheaper. Data providers: basic data + added value Towards standards (ISO TC 211): product specifications, quality assessment, data discovery, data exchange,… Based on a common framework developed by OGC GIS = modeling language with explicit schemas and semantics, based on “abstract specifications”, independent of implementation Producer / consumer model: product specifications and user requirements can be expressed in a common language “Feature with geometry” model is well adapted for sharing geometric and thematic data between “communities” of end-users Open generic standards = basis for application-specific standards

IMAGINE Final Conference, Budapest, 25 October 2006 N° 7 Software Implementation in software is an essential step to bring the new methods to the end-user Further simplification, optimization and economization are required, not optional… Higher accuracy doesn’t necessarily imply improved reproducibility Shareware / freeware solutions ? Full textual description of the method ? ISO = 10 pages for 20 lines of code HARMONOISE P2P = 1000 lines of code IMAGINE = 2.5D geometry + propagation paths + sources + P2P Benchmarking + feedback based on test cases

IMAGINE Final Conference, Budapest, 25 October 2006 N° 8 Lessons learned Roadmap to implementation THANK YOU !