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A Guide Based on Selected Case Studies of Strategic Noise Maps (SNM) and Noise Action Plans (NAP) in Medium and Large Urban Areas

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A Guide Based on Selected Case Studies of Strategic Noise Maps (SNM) and Noise Action Plans (NAP) in Medium and Large Urban Areas environments Case Report Changing the Urban Sound Environment in Greece: A Guide Based on Selected Case Studies of Strategic Noise Maps (SNM) and Noise Action Plans (NAP) in Medium and Large Urban Areas Konstantinos Vogiatzis 1,* and Nicolas Rémy 2,3 1 Transportation Department, School of the Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly, 38221 Volos, Greece 2 Department of Architecture, Polytechnic School, University of Thessaly, 38221 Volos, Greece; [email protected] 3 School of Architecture, Université Grenoble Alpes, Research Unit AAU-CRESSON, F-38036 Grenoble, France * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +30-24210-74170 Received: 14 March 2018; Accepted: 17 May 2018; Published: 28 May 2018 Abstract: Within the frame of European directive 2002/49 for Strategic Noise Mapping and the relevant environmental Noise Action Plans, which included preparation for the management of environmental noise and the rehabilitation of the sound environment, Greece had the opportunity to develop an innovative and comprehensive methodology to analyze the sound environments of several urban and semi-urban residential neighborhoods in the large and medium-size cities of the country e.g., Volos, Larissa, Heraklion, Chania, Agrinio, Corfu, and Thessaloniki, between 2012 and 2016. This paper presents the determined multidisciplinary approach, showing how the environmental noise data are cross-analyzed with urban and architectural data and perception descriptors by inhabitants. Furthermore, it shows how these specific results have been implemented in the developed noise actions plans that have been proposed to the authorities for immediate implementation. Finally, the paper discusses the necessary development of this approach to reduce noise exposure problems, as well as assist the cities in their evolution toward the introduction of a sustainable urban sound environment. Keywords: sound environment; soundscape; traffic noise; environmental noise; European directive 2002/49; sound maps; sound perception; quiet zone; neighborhood; sound identity 1. Introduction The first scientific works on sound environment can be traced back to the essays of the Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer in his book “The tuning of the world” [1], which was the first to discuss the neologism of soundscape in order to describe “an environment of sound (or sonic environment) with emphasis on the way it’s perceived and understood by the individual, or by a society”. Since this first definition, the notion of sound environment had the objective of characterizing the perception by a group of individuals, which also depends on a spatial context and a particular culture. This notion has made it possible to propose a qualitative approach to sounds that analyzes the natural dimensions of these landscapes, and classifies landscapes in order to preserve them. Within the context of the transport outburst (cars, buses, railways, aircrafts, etc.) in Europe and other industrialized countries, the first crises in the energy field, have awakened different social groups and research teams toward an environmental conscience that marked the beginnings of environmental noise research. At the same time, in Grenoble (France), Jean-François Augoyard, of the research center on Sound Environment and built Space (CRESSON), with his young team of acousticians and architects, explored the notion of sound effect in a similar logic, proposing for the first time a repertoire of sound effects [2] Environments 2018, 5, 64; doi:10.3390/environments5060064 www.mdpi.com/journal/environments EnvironmentsEnvironments 2018, 5, x FOR2018 ,PEER5, 64 REVIEW 2 of 18 2 of 19 explored the notion of sound effect in a similar logic, proposing for the first time a repertoire of sound effectsin order [2] toin describeorder to thedescribe interactions the interactions of the sound of the environment sound environment with the actionswith the and actions the perception and of the perceptionthe inhabitants of the inhabitants [3]. Based on[3]. that Based work, on thisthat group work, has this been group able has to proposebeen able a conceptto propose formalization a concept offormalization the sound environment of the sound that environment includes not that only includ the ecologicales not only approach the ecological of Murray approach Schafer, of but also Murray relativeSchafer, worksbut also in acousticrelative works engineering in acoustic [4,5]. engineering Actually, this [4,5 research]. Actually, aims this to define research the aims environment to in define thethe environment way we’re listening in the way to it, we’re and it’slistening the reason to it, why and itit’s develops the reason this why idea it of develops three different this idea dimensions of three ofdifferent the sound dimensions environment: of the sound environment: • Environmental• Environmental dimension dimension level level describing describing all all physical,physical, emission, emission and, propagationand propagation characteristics characteristicsfor all for types all types of environmental of environmental sound sound sources, sources, including including e.g., e.g. noise, noise barriers barriers andand various various propagationpropagation obstacles,obstacles, roadroad surface surface characteristics, characteristics, urban urban terrain terrain morphology, morphology, shape shape and use of and use buildings,of buildings etc., etc. (see (see Figure Figure1 as 1 as an an example). example). This This dimension dimension is is quite quite predictable predictable and and permits permits evaluatingevaluating with high accuracy i.e.,i.e., the quantity aspect in noise reduction resulting from various various mitigationmitigation choices.choices. FigureFigure1 1illustrates illustrates visually visually an an analysis analysis of theof environmentalthe environmental dimension dimensioncontaining containing e.g., e.g. street, street morphology, morphology, building building heights, h terraineights, morphology,terrain morphology, urban road urban width, traffic road width,synthesis, traffic humansynthesis, activities, human etc. activities, etc. • Social• practicesSocial practices dimension dimension level (milieu level dimension) (milieu dimension),, describing describing all of the all uses ofthe that uses the thatarea the area already alreadyoffers, and offers, additionally and additionally any other any uses other that uses may that additionally may additionally be offered, be offered,as well as well as acting onacting a master on aland master use plan land level use planthat welcomes level that (or welcomes discourages) (or discourages) some distinct some uses, distinctsuch uses, us opensuch-to-public us open-to-public or “intra muros” or “intra spaces, muros” restaurants, spaces, restaurants, cafés, bars, caf publicés, bars, places, public schools, places, schools, playgrounds,playgrounds, markets markets allowing allowing multiple multiple events, events, etc. etc. This This dimension dimension levellevel isis not not fully fully predictable, predictable,but thebut possibility the possibility of choosing of choosing to implement to implement or avoid andor avoid even excludeand even certain exclude activities certain may affect activitiesthe may global affect acoustic the global environment. acoustic environment. Figure2 illustrates Figure the 2 milieuillustrates dimension the milieu that dimension analysis contains. that• analysisSoundscape contains. dimension level, characterizing the most aesthetic and symbolic links that residents • Soundscapeestablish dimension with thelevel, particular characterizing sounds the of most their aesthetic neighborhood. and symbolic These links are highly that residents valued by their establishaesthetic with the characteristics, particular sounds such of as their some neighborhood natural sounds,. These city sounds,are highly e.g., va churchlued by bells, their markets, aestheticplay-yards, characteristics, etc. (seesuch Figure as some3 as natural an example). sounds, This city dimensionsounds, e.g. is, church also quite bells, difficult markets, to predict; play-yards,however, etc. (see it contains Figure 3 an as important an example) factor. This for dimension the success is of also a broader quite difficult noise action to predict plan.;Figure 3 howeverillustrates, it contains visually an important an urban factor agglomeration for the success location of a broader in Chania noise action (old city plan. port) Figure where 3 both illustratesinhabitants visually andan urban tourists agglomeration can rest and enjoy location the spatialin Chania landscape (old city with port) the adjoining where both soundscape. inhabitantsThis and view tourists presents can the rest dimensions and enjoy the of thespatial sound landscape environment with the to focusadjoining on. The sou sourcesndscape. and their This viewrelative presents impact the dimensions on people’s of perception the sound wereenvironment therefore to described focus on. inThe order sources to understand and their where relative peopleimpact mayon people’s enjoy theperception soundscape’s were therefore full length described in each location,in order to and understand eventually where the minimal people mayconditions enjoy ofthe their soundscape’s existence. full length in each location, and eventually the minimal conditions of their existence. Figure 1.Figure A typical 1. A urban typical road urban section road at section Alikarnassos at Alikarnassos district, Herakleio, district, Herakleio, island of islandCrete: ofthe Crete: sound the sound environmentenvironment
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