Prediction of quiet side levels in noise map calculations - an initial suggestion of methodology

Paper in proceeding, 2019

Urban morphology, i.e. shape and position of buildings in relation to streets, affects the distribution of noise and air pollution and can thus, through urban planning and design, be used to improve urban areas. This is of interest in an ongoing project where both air quality and noise are in focus. The present paper concerns the prediction of noise levels at positions of non-direct noise exposure such as noise levels at inner yard facades and values of noise contour maps at inner yards. With increasing densification, housing is built closer to the roads and the directly exposed facades receive higher noise exposure levels. The balancing effect of access to a quiet side is often counted on, supported by regulation, whereas the noise levels predicted using commercially available software are often incorrectly low at those points. A suggested methodology is described for how to combine the previously developed Qside model with a commercial noise mapping software to improve the prediction for non-direct noise exposure situations like essentially enclosed inner yards. We present also initial noise level results as outcome of a model study of varying building morphologies.