The Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland (EPA) funded from 2006 to 2007 a research project to develop methodologies to meet data-related challenges arising under the European Union (EU) Environmental Noise Directive (END) (2002/49/EC) for Ireland. The research project sought to assess the role of advanced ground- and air-based spatial video and photography in the creation of data required for suitably accurate noise modelling in road environments. These imagery sources can be processed and features recorded from the imagery, with these features in turn being used in environmental traffic noise models. The project undertook surveys using these spatial video and airborne imagery technologies to provide a plan and oblique view of the road environment, thereby facilitating a more complete characterisation of elements of the road environment that have an impact on noise propagation and attenuation.

Various features including natural and artificial embankments and cuttings, buildings, road surfaces, along with vehicle numbers, type and driving speeds all combine to affect how traffic-related noise is generated and propagated. Two essential pieces of information are needed in order to categorise these noise-related features: (i) the geometry (position, height, length) of these route-corridor features together with (ii) attribution describing the nature of the features (e.g. sound barrier, brick wall, grass embankment). Arising from the partners ongoing work in developing these spatial imagery technologies, it became apparent that these technologies had potential application in supporting the collection of the above data to support noise modelling of the road environment. Custom software allowed a team of processors to view the spatial imagery and extract features describing the road environment (such as embankments, walls and noise barriers, bridges, and buildings); the software was also used to record the objects plan position and height. The data generated was used as an input to noise-modelling software.

A pilot noise-modelling exercise served to refine the features captured by the project team and led to fine-tuned processes for additional data capture and noise modelling. The data was actively used in the modelling of road noise by the National Roads Authority (NRA) while a separate follow-on project gathered additional data using the project techniques, supporting the NRA across the majority of routes required to be modelled under the Directive. This noise-modelling and mapping exercise conducted by the NRA was part of the first round of strategic noise mapping under the Environmental Noise Directive and required to be completed by 30 June 2007. The techniques as developed through this project have proven their value in providing selected data requirements for noise modelling. In particular, the role of spatial video has been shown to be of value, supported by aerial imagery where existing mapping is not suitable and where additional plan-view verification of features is required.

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Riain, Ó.G. McCarthy, T.   "Innovative Data Capture and Presentation Techniques in Support of the EU Environmental Noise Directive". Associated datasets and digitial information objects connected to this resource are available at: Secure Archive For Environmental Research Data (SAFER) managed by Environmental Protection Agency Ireland https://eparesearch.epa.ie/safer/resource?id=6d6b6300-d163-102c-9c91-0a68ec663af0 (Last Accessed: 2024-12-14)

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SAFER-Data Display URL	https://eparesearch.epa.ie/safer/iso19115/display?isoID=121
Resource Keywords	Noise Directive EU Data Capture spatial imagery technologies noise-modelling
EPA/ERTDI/STRIVE Project Code	2005-UE-MS-44
EPA/ERTDI/STRIVE Project Theme	Environmental Technologies
Resource Availability:	Public-Open
Limitations on the use of this Resource	Attachments (if any) connected to this resource can be used in journal article or other means of publication provided the original authors are informed of this usage and an appropriate acknowledgement or citation is included within the published article. The EPA advise that this acknowledgement should take one of the following forms dependent upon how heavily the published work relates to the downloaded report: * Co-Authorship(s) for the original author(s)* Written acknowledgement within the body of the article* Written acknowledgement by means of the inclusion of a bibliography entry which clearly cites the original authors. The EPA as a/the primary funder of the research should be acknowledged.
Number of Attached Files (Publicly and Openly Available for Download):	2
Project Start Date	Tuesday 3rd May 2005 (03-05-2005)
Earliest Recorded Date within any attached datasets or digital objects	Tuesday 3rd May 2005 (03-05-2005)
Most Recent Recorded Date within any attached datasets or digital objects	Thursday 3rd May 2007 (03-05-2007)
Published on SAFER	Monday 3rd August 2009 (03-08-2009)
Date of Last Edit	Monday 3rd August 2009 at 11:13:36 (03-08-2009)
Datasets or Files Updated On	Monday 3rd August 2009 at 11:12:10 (03-08-2009)

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Description of Geographical Characteristics of This Project or Dataset
In consultation with the National Roads authority a selection of the primary road network of Ireland was selected for survey. The route selection formed an approximate triangle travelling from Dublin to Galway along the N6 and M6 and from Limerick back to Dublin along the N7 and M7. The route provided a selection of suitable test environments including a mix of villages, rural towns, major urban environments, combined with efficiency in survey operation. The survey also included the Limerick area where the NRA were undertaking a pilot noise modelling excercise.

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In this section some supplementary information about this resource is outlined. Lineage information helps us to understand why this project was carried out, what policy or research requirements did it fulfil, etc. Lineage is important in understanding the rationale behind the carrying out of a project or the collection of a specific dataset etc. Links to web sites, applications, papers, etc are outlined to provide you with additional information or supplementary reading about the project or dataset

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The following is a list of projects, datasets, and resources on SAFER-Data from which users downloaded attachments from soon after downloading attachments from this resource Innovative Data Capture and Presentation Techniques in Support of the EU Environmental Noise Directive. You can view the full description for projects, datasets, and resources by using the links supplied.

• Towards a National Soil Database View Full Metadata Description
• Summary of Irish Soil Data from Scoping Study View Full Metadata Description
• Strategic Environmental Assessment Workshop Series View Full Metadata Description
• Development of a Cleaner Production Programme for Irish Hotels - View Full Metadata Description
• Water Framework Directive: Recharge and Groundwater Vulnerability View Full Metadata Description

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