From noise abatement to soundscape rehabilitation through strategic noise mapping

In the framework of the European Directive 2002-49-EU, the Greek medium sized cities of Volos and Larissa in central Greece, recently completed (2012) their strategic noise maps. These maps come with strategic noise action plans that usually define the main strategies to reduce noise exposure of residents and introduce and preserve "quite zones". For the first time in Europe, it has been decided to realize as well a general study for 5 specific city sections covering not only the measurement and modeling of noise levels but also qualitative surveys on the sound perception by residents and several analyses of the urban and architectural tissue. Indeed, five sectors (respectively 4 areas in Volos and 1 in Larissa) were chosen as representatives of urban situations because they are close to transportation infrastructures (ring road, main roads, industrial harbor and train - both inter urban and intercity network) and because they represent different architectural typologies (residential district, downtown area with or without shops, more or less dense neighborhood, etc⋯). Sociological surveys on sound and noises perception have been implemented on more than 80% of the residents using opened questionnaires. Soundscape analysis was also conducted and analyzed through qualitative criteria. A cross-analysis of these data will explain in detail the physical reasons for the existence of sound qualities that contribute to the identity of the neighborhood. This work allows us, in a strategic plan level, to specify recommendations in the aim to preserve the sound quality on the existing sites but also empower developers (mayors, architects, town planner) to evolve them positively over time. This paper presents the general methodology that underlines this work and the main results