Bullerkartor

Bullerkartor, or noise maps, are visual representations of environmental noise levels in a given area. They are used to assess the impact of noise from sources such as road traffic, rail, aviation, industry, and other activities on people and the environment. Produced by national or local authorities, research institutions, and sometimes private consultants, bullerkartor inform urban planning, land use decisions, and the design of mitigation measures like sound barriers, traffic management, and zoning rules.

Bullerkartor are often created under requirements from the European Union's Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC), which mandates strategic noise mapping and action planning for major cities and transport corridors. Maps typically cover daytime, evening, and night periods, and express noise levels in indicators such as Lden (day-evening-night level) and Lnight, or other standard metrics like Leq depending on national methods.

Production methods combine spatial data on transport networks, population distribution, land use, and emission data with standardized calculation procedures (for example CNOSSOS-EU, or national variants). Acoustic measurements from monitoring stations may supplement or validate modelling. Outputs usually include color-coded maps, legends, and data tables showing the number of people exposed above certain thresholds, as well as distribution by area type.

Use and accessibility: bullerkartor are generally published for public access, enabling residents to understand exposure and enabling authorities to prioritize interventions. They are updated periodically, typically every five years, and are integrated into broader environmental assessment and planning processes.