Noise Mapping and Noise Scoring - Software Techniques and Result Presentation

Abstract

Noise scoring is based on noise level maps and on exposure distribution. Different techniques can be used to develop the areal distribution of these values and to present them as coloured maps. Especially more complex ratings that are not only based on an exposure level and on population densities need relatively complex procedures to develop them from noise maps. It must be taken into account that there are two important steps in this procedure: One is the calculation of the noise score itself and the other is the presentation as coloured map to detect and focus on Hot Spots. Different techniques have been developed, were integrated in the software and have been applied in the frame of the QCity project. The consequences of different parameter settings are presented and discussed. The second step is the assignment of colours to a given scale of result values and even this simple process must be handled carefully to transport the needed information.