Traffic Noise: Road and Rail

Mobility connects people and regions – yet wherever vehicles roll and trains run, noise emissions inevitably arise. Whether public road traffic noise, railway noise or aircraft noise: sustainable, conflict-free planning requires a well-founded, differentiated analysis. Our aim is to support you reliably through these complex effects – from urban noise prevention for new residential areas to the noise remediation of heavily loaded main roads or entire road networks – with precise noise immission forecasts, calculations, early involvement and transparent results.

Your Expert Partner

We support you in implementing your project – whether for specific building applications, land-use planning procedures or questions concerning existing situations and remediation. Whether for municipalities, cities, local authorities, public bodies, planners, architects, investors or private clients – we offer you a precise investigation of the existing or expected traffic noise situation, solution-oriented acoustic advice and the preparation of robust expert reports on all questions relating to traffic noise.

Traffic Situation and Potential Noise Sources

Road traffic: Public road traffic noise and road traffic sound (e.g. federal motorways, federal, state and district roads, as well as municipal access roads and junctions).
Rail traffic: Public railway noise and rail traffic sound (e.g. Deutsche Bahn rail routes, regional railways, light rail as well as freight traffic on public rail lines).
Aircraft noise: For questions relating to aircraft noise or civil and military air traffic, we integrate the corresponding data seamlessly into the overall analysis.

Where required, we naturally also provide a summary analysis of the combined effects of different traffic noise sources.

For questions arising within a land-use planning procedure that involve several noise types, please refer to our urban development planning service module.

Technical Scope & Core Services

Thanks to our many years of specialist expertise, we can assess your project at the stage of initial investigations or feasibility studies on request, clarify the key questions and advise you constructively. We prepare well-founded noise immission forecasts, acoustic traffic noise investigations and traffic noise calculations, through to recognised, robust noise protection expert reports in the following areas:

Noise Prevention (e.g. Land-Use Planning, Building Projects)

Where new residential areas, sensitive uses or individual building projects move closer to existing roads or railway lines, we investigate the incoming traffic noise situation in accordance with DIN 18005. Where guide values are likely to be exceeded, or where otherwise required, we develop concepts for active noise protection measures or – where active measures are not sufficient – dimension passive noise protection for buildings in accordance with DIN 4109 (governing outdoor noise level – on request directly as facade levels, which can equally be used for the specific building approval procedure).

New Road Construction & Material Alteration (16. BImSchV)

Where a new road is being built, or an existing public road or railway line is materially altered, the 16. BImSchV applies in conjunction with the current calculation codes RLS-19 and Schall 03. In these cases we verify the statutory immission limit values and requirements under the 16. BImSchV.

Noise Remediation & Existing Situations

For heavily loaded main roads and road networks, we analyse the current and future exposure of residents. In doing so we compare the applicable noise remediation values and trigger values and – depending on the road type and in consultation – also take into account the limit values under the 16. BImSchV, the VLärmSchR 97 and the Lärmschutzrichtlinien-StV (where required on the basis of RLS-90, which is still to be applied for this purpose). We examine the potential for mitigation through speed reductions, improvements to the road surface or structural noise protection measures.

As the noise remediation of roads plays a relevant role within noise reduction and noise action planning in the course of national implementation, please refer to our noise action plan module. For further questions on construction execution or the structural sound insulation of buildings, please also refer to our building acoustics service module.

Solution-Oriented Concepts & Presentation of Results

Where required, we develop practical strategies for reducing traffic noise. As a rule, we use state-of-the-art 3D model calculation software for these forecast investigations. In addition to a presentation in conformity with regulations and codes, we offer highly illustrative, striking map displays and difference maps on request (e.g. along streets with individual residential buildings highlighted directly), in order to convey compliance with – or exceedance of – noise remediation values, selected trigger values or official requirements transparently in political committees, among stakeholders and in public.

Support with Neighbourhood Questions, Private Clients & Existing Situations

We also support private homebuilders and residents with specific questions: how much noise arrives at my own property boundary or on the terrace? Would a planned wall or noise barrier bring any improvement? As a knowledgeable partner, we are at your side for an objective clarification of the situation, in order to work out pragmatic and legally sound solutions.