Urban space and the sound environment: Transport system, urban morphology, quiet side and space users in the SONORUS project

Paper in proceeding, 2016

Awareness on urban environmental quality is leading the built environment resilience and sustainability vision, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary framework on urbanization processes. A main concern is the negative impact of outdoor noise due to road traffic, determined largely by the source strength, i.e. the vehicles. This paper summarizes the work within the optimization of urban areas inside the SONORUS Urban sound planning project. The purpose is to provide urban planning tools focusing on interacting approaches through the traffic planning and buildings as instruments supporting a better urban environment, with noise as the main indicator. First, the prediction modelling for quiet sides based on the Qside model is implemented and tested on cases measured in situ. Second, a microscopic road traffic modelling tool gives useful output for noise level predictions as function of time, opening the possibility to calculate noise indicators and test traffic configurations. Discussion extends towards the study of urban morphology diversification, considered a key strategy to increase liveability of spaces, its interaction with the transport system and the impact on the sound environment. Finally, interest focuses on space users modelling their environment beyond noise control, using the soundwalk as a tool to study urban sound experience.