transportstøj

Transportstøj refers to environmental noise produced by transportation systems, including road, rail, aviation and maritime traffic. It is a major component of urban noise exposure and depends on traffic volume, speed, vehicle types and distance to receptors such as homes and schools.

Road traffic is typically the largest source in cities, but rail and air traffic can dominate near their corridors and airports. Noise levels are commonly represented by metrics such as LAeq, and by day-evening-night levels (Lden) or night levels (Lnight). Measurements are often mapped across regions to show patterns of exposure.

Health and well-being: Long-term exposure to transportstøj is associated with sleep disturbance, annoyance and potential cardiovascular effects, including increased risk of hypertension and myocardial infarction in some studies. Children exposed to high noise may experience effects on concentration and reading.

Regulation and planning: The European Union's Environmental Noise Directive requires member states to produce strategic noise maps and action plans for major roads, railways and airports, using Lden and Lnight. Similar national measures exist in many countries to set exposure limits and guide mitigation.

Mitigation: approaches include noise barriers, low-noise road surfaces, speed reductions, rerouting and land-use planning to increase distance between receptors and sources. For rail, further gains come from wheel-rail noise reduction, electrification, and timetable optimization. Aircraft noise can be mitigated with flight-path design, curfews and operational restrictions, along with better land-use planning and building techniques to insulate dwellings.