Wicked problems in an aviation noise system

Abstract

There is a growing awareness of impact of aviation noise, such as health an annoyance issues. Community complaints that interfere with airport business has resulted in serious efforts to reduce aviation noise. However, even though improvements have been made, these efforts have not successfully reduced noise annoyance, in fact, community reactions towards airport operations have increased over time. The project INFRA, was initiated based on a community complaint regarding Arlanda airport, with the objective to develop knowledge of noise annoyance. Based on a broad interview study, a number of actors and their perspectives have been identified: neighbors, house and land owners, municipals, county board, land and environmental jurisdiction, transportation agency, transport administration, airports, air service providers, environmental protection agency and politicians. Results show that the aviation system contains opposing perceptions of noise and strategies which induce conflicts and breaches of trust from policies and regulations, all the way down to individual neighbors. An outcome is a set of identified dilemmas representing incompatible worldviews, and deep disagreement of values. After analysis these are concluded to represent conditions associated with what is called "wicked problem". The study results in an increased understanding and representation of the wicked aviation noise system.