Planning Infrastructure Projects by means of Psychoacoustic Quantities in the Joint Project "EAV-Infra"

Abstract

Within the joint project "Real-time Calculation, Auralization and Visualization of Sound Propagation and Noise Protection Measures for Infrastructure Projects" (EAV-Infra), funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, the potentials of digital infrastructure planning based on Building Information Modelling (BIM) and the auralization of different states of planning will be combined. In this contribution, the objectives of the project will be presented with particular focus on the intended application of psychoacoustics. Currently, planning noise protection measures encompasses an elaborate comparison of various planning alternatives in a time-consuming process. Sound pressure levels, which are only informative to experts, are used to communicate states of planning to the public. Auralized signals of noise immissions and a description of the effectiveness of noise protection measures by hearing-oriented quantities could constitute a more intuitive and intelligible evaluation basis for project managers and residents alike. In EAV-Infra, noise exposure will be evaluated based on psychoacoustic quantities. Both classical quantities and newly developed indices, will be considered. In order to find a suitable psychoacoustic annoyance model for the railway context, listening experiments will be conducted, in which subjects evaluate various noise situations. Typical inner- and outer-city scenarios and various noise protection measures will be assessed.