SoundPLAN Update information 6 6.5... · SoundPLAN Update information 6.5 ... (BAB?xxxx.006). ... The data hosted in multiple files in the BDE are compressed into a

SoundPLAN

Update information 6.5

SoundPLAN LLC / Braunstein + Berndt GmbH

January 2008

Table of content Seite • i

Update Information 6.5

Table of content

Modifications in Version 6.5 1

Highlights 1

Installation 1

Path for global settings and templates 2 Convert projects to version 6.5 2

An overview of all modifications 3

Details of the changes in version 6.5 5

New actions and procedures under Edit, Geo-tools and Tools 5

Reassign receivers to buildings 5 Mark points with elevation <= [m] 5 Separate objects that occur multiple times into multiple Geo-Files 5 Mark road segments with gradient > |x|° 6 Adjust sharp elevation steps (out of bounds gradients) 6 Convert object type – standard properties 6 Estimate multiple reflections 6 Modifications of the Embankment-tool 7 Assign texts to buildings 7 Distribute Occupants /Distribute Dwellings 8 Reset emissions for roads and railways 8

Modifications in the parking lot noise study between 2003 and 2007 9

Processing Noise Mapping Results according to the EU Directive 10

Schools, hospitals, kindergartens 10 Subdividing multiple areas 10 Calculation 11 Post processing in the SoundPLAN Spreadsheet (area table) 12 EU-Statistics in the graphics 16

Conversion of sound pressure spectra into sound power spectra 17

Import of Grid Noise Maps 18

Statistical accuracy 18

Draw a sample in the Calculation Core 19 Draw a sample in the Graphics 19 Statistics run and processing 20

Subscript for texts 21

Scale with hatch patterns 21

Intervall - Layout 22

Highlight the calculation area 22

Seite • ii Table of content


Graphics Sheet manager + Sheet components 23

Sheet components 23 Sheet manager 24

Noise allotment according to DIN 45691 28

Introduction 28 Preparations for the Allotment optimization 28 Start the Allotment 29 Carry out the Allotment 30 Additional contingents 30 Further processing of the results 31

Hotspot-Calculation 31

Calculate Hotspots 32 Graphically present hotspots 33

Implemented Calculation Guidelines and Standards 36

Highlights page • 1


Modifications in Version 6.5

Highlights Sheet based manipulations in the Graphics New tools used for noise allotment of industrial sites Additional geo-tools in the GeoDB (some have been

already introduced in the existing version 6.4) EU statistics in the Spreadsheet (already published

with the version 6.4) Hotspot-Calculation Color scale with hatch patterns Highlight the calculation area Conversion of sound pressure spectra to sound

power spectra

Installation SoundPLAN 6.5 can be installed and run parallel to the existing version 6.4, thus the existing version does not have to be uninstalled. SoundPLAN 6.5 can be installed and run parallel to the existing version 6.4, thus the existing version does not have to be uninstalled.

In order to assure that SoundPLAN runs under Windows VISTA without a problem, the Borland Database Engine (BDE) needed to be replaced with another database product. SoundPLAN with the version 6.5 is based on the Absolute Database. This will make projects much more transparent and improved the file handling.

To install SoundPLAN please log in as the Administrator. Insert the CD and trigger the installation by clicking on the field INSTALL SOUNDPLAN in the CD Browser. The installation program will guide you through the installation. At the beginning of the installation the installation program is searching for the license file used by a previous installation (BAB?xxxx.006).

As soon as a license file has been found, the path is displayed and of course can be edited to point to the location of the setup file to be used.

Before the installation finishes, select the language for user interface, templates, libraries and help files.

Seite • 2 Installation


By default the installation will choose the language set as the Windows language or English if this language is not available. Additional languages can be added to the default setup.

Templates (pre-settings for Geo-database and selection of standards, templates for the tables in the Documentation and Spreadsheet and settings in the Graphics) and the libraries can differ with languages and also by country.

When you open SoundPLAN for the first time, you are asked to select the languages for software, help file, libraries and system files, so that SoundPLAN uses the correct files in your user profile.

Important: If during the installation you should be requested to reboot for sure leave the CD in the drive and log on as the same user as you did before you started the installation (in general as the administrator).

Path for global settings and templates As the user accounts are organized a different way under Windows Vista, the path to the global folder (Globdata) is no longer tied to the folder “my documents”.

With the first call to SoundPLAN 6.5 you will be asked to enter a path to a folder where the folder “SoundPLAN Globdata 6.5” will be hosted. In this folder SoundPLAN keeps all data (templates and settings) not bound to a specific project. After providing the path to the new location the installation will ask if you want to copy the Globdata information from a previous version. The libraries are not copied automatically.

Convert projects to version 6.5 When you open a project generated under the version 6.4 or older with the version 6.5 you are asked for permission to convert the project. This procedure is important as the version 6.5 is no longer based on the Borland Database Engine (BDE) and therefore all files are having a different structure. Please note that version 6.5 projects cannot be read by an older version.

Define how the program shall organize the conversion:

Depending on the settings the project is first archived (packed) or copied. Afterwards the files used by the database engine are converted to the new format. The data hosted in multiple files in the BDE are compressed into a single file for the new database manager, this procedure, depending on project size, can take several minutes.

Projects prepared with an older version of SoundPLAN are marked with a gray project folder. When you click on the project folder, you will be asked if you want to convert the project...

An overview of all modifications page • 3


An overview of all modifications • For the processing of very big projects such as the EU noise mapping

projects new tools were needed and have partly been implemented during the course of the life cycle of the version 6.4. The Geo-Database has received several new tools, see the chapter „New actions and procedures under Edit, Geo-tools and Tools" on page 7.

o Geotool EVALUATE MULTIPLE REFLECTION ADDITION

o With the Geotool REASSIGN RECEIVERS TO BUILDINGS you now can transfer changes in the building to the attributes of the receivers.

o ADAPT RAOD COURSE and ADJUST SHARP ELEVATION STEPS O PLACE MULTIPLE IDENTICAL OBJECTS IN SEPARATE GEO-FILES

o Reset EMISSIONS of roads and railways

o The property dialog for an object to be converted from another object type is now displayed during the conversion.

o Multiple texts can be assigned to text fields in buildings

o Elevations now can be manually adjusted in the side propagation

o Bavarian Parking Lot Noise Study (Parkplatzlärmstudie) 2007: Modifications compared to the version from 2003, see page 10 (was implemented during the life of version 6.4)

• During the life span of version 6.4 several modifications were made to improve and complete the implementation of the EU Environmental Guidelines, such as the statistics of residents and areas. The statistical functions are part of the SoundPLAN spreadsheet,”Post processing in the SoundPLAN Spreadsheet (area table)” on page 12.

• Library: Conversion of sound pressure into sound power, see page 17 • Calculation Core:

Façade Noise Map: Moving receivers from the corners of the buildings can now also be expressed in percent. (This was needed to accommodate requests for a region that required receivers to be moved in from the corner by 1/6 of the façade length (which represents 16.66%))

o Façade Noise Map: For aircraft noise calculations, you can now

select to calculate only one receiver per building.

o The calculation-run-info is now displayed below the run file entry.

This way you can check the run setting during a calculation and can verify that the correct situations and geo-files are in fact loaded without having to load the data. This saves a lot of time, especially in gig projects.

o For multiple calculation runs the block function can now be used to enable the calculation runs (setting the "yes" for the calculation).

o In the run file you can now import several result files at a time to generate calculation runs from run information (right mouse button -> import result file). Press shift or Ctrl keys and select the result files with the left mouse button.

Seite • 4 An overview of all modifications


o Under OPTIONS -> RUN SETTINGS you now can find a checkbox to „Save runfile before each calculation“. By default this setting is active.

o New: Noise Grid Import in the calculation core so that results from other noise calculation programs can be imported (for example aircraft noise calculations) and combined with the SoundPLAN results, see page 18.

• Result tables: It is now possible to open multiple result files at a time using shift and control keys. With FILE -> CLOSE ALL files currently open are closed.

• Spreadsheet and Graphics: It is now possible to use text in the subscript mode, see page 21.

• Graphics:

o The color scale for grid maps can be set alternatively to have a solid fill or to use a hatch in color, see page 21.

o The calculation area can now be displayed in a raised fashion, see page 22.

o The new SHEET MANAGER now allows undertaking actions for multiple sheets at the same time (for example exporting and printing) or to spread formatting and content from one sheet to multiple sheets. Furthermore opening sheets contained in the sheet tree by Drag & Drop is a very quick. SHEET COMPONENTS in a similar way was available in previous versions however it was confined to the elements of the open sheet. The Sheet Components are available under the file menu in the graphics. For details see page 23.

o The coordinate text in the frame of the sheet now can be customized to place the text parallel to the edges of the sheet.

Select the map property and under the tab frame select the box FIT TO FRAME.

o For the display of noise contour lines it is now possible to suppress

contour lines that define smaller areas, enter the minimum size [m²] of the area in the plan object types. This parameter also affects the export of contour lines.

• New module for Noise Allotment, see page 28. • New: Hot-Spot-Calculations for the action plans of the EU Noise

Mapping, see page 31. • Aircraft Noise: New AzB 2007

Details of the changes in version 6.5 Seite • 5

Update Information 6.5 New actions and procedures under Edit, Geo-tools and Tools

Details of the changes in version 6.5

New actions and procedures under Edit, Geo-tools and Tools

Reassign receivers to buildings Aside from the assignment of receivers to buildings you can now use a Geo-tool to assign the buildings properties to the receivers.

Activate GEO-TOOLS -> REASSIGN RECEIVERS TO BUILDINGS.

Select REASSIGN RECEIVERS TO BUILDINGS, if you the connection between buildings and receivers has been lost because you changed the file containing the buildings (red receivers). As the reassignment, depending on the size of the project, may take a while, you may use the button USE EXISTING BUILDING REFERENCES to reassign the attributes from the buildings to the receivers.

Under options click on the relevant checkboxes if you want to update the receiver properties from the building. You can independently from each other reassign the area usage, the RECEIVER NAMES, or the information on FLOORS and ELEVATIONS (this option also derives the ground floor height (z1) from the building).

Hint: For the first assignment of receivers you can suppress the copying of the buildings properties if you click on the façade with Ctrl + left mouse button. The elevation of the receiver above ground floor then is set to = 0,00.

Mark points with elevation <= [m] EDIT -> MARK POINTS WITH ELEVATION <= [M] is a good tool for example to find objects that have been imported without any elevation. The marked points afterwards can be deleted or corrected with elevation information from the DGM.

Separate objects that occur multiple times into multiple Geo-Files For each object to be relocated a new Geo-File is generated. The object with the lower object ID will remain in the original Geo-File while the one with the higher ID is placed into the new Geo-File. If a third identical object is found, this object is again placed in a new Geo-File. After the separation, go through the Geo-File list and decide about the objects to use and the objects to reject.

Seite • 6 Details of the changes in version 6.5

New actions and procedures under Edit, Geo-tools and Tools Update Information 6.5

Mark the data that may contain multiple identical objects and trigger TOOLS -> SEPARATE MULTIPLE OBJECTS.

After checking and finding the duplicates you are asked to enter a name for the duplicate object Geo-Files.

Mark road segments with gradient > |x|° Use EDIT -> SELECT ROAD SEGMENTS WITH GRADIET > |X|° to visualize road gradients up or down that are greater than the threshold entered.

Geo-database-editor with projection: the arrows indicate the marked points

Right click on the points with problems to correct the elevations manually -> EDIT OBJECT PROPERTIES. A second choice is the Geotool ADJUST SHARP ELEVATION STEPS to automatically change the elevation problems.

Adjust sharp elevation steps (out of bounds gradients) When objects imported without elevation information are placed on top of a DGM, it can happen that DGM triangles are intersecting the road and are pulling the coordinates unreasonably up or down. Mainly this problem will be occurring for road and railway objects.

The Geo-tool ADJUST SHARP ELEVATION STEPS searches for gradients between 2 coordinates and corrects the gradients that are above 10% by adjusting the elevation of the road coordinates (a planned extension of this function is to make the threshold user definable). The terrain elevation is not changed in the process. It is also possible to combine coordinates that would yield sections that are smaller than a user definable parameter. Coordinates that contain attribute information are also adjusted in their height but not averaged when they are very close.

Please check the result in the projection and via EDIT -> SELECT ROAD SEGMENTS WITH GRADIENT > |X|°.

Please also observe that the alternative elevation tool under GEO TOOLS -> LINE -> SMOOTH HEIGHT, that for cases of inexact DGMs delivers good results whereas the tool described only marks elevation inconsistencies.

In the projection you can manually adjust the elevations grabbing and moving individual coordinates with the mouse.

Convert object type – standard properties When you convert object types – for example after a DXF import - all preset properties are opened.

Estimate multiple reflections The multiple reflection addition Drefl, which so far could only be set for a single coordinate of a road or railway source line can now be set for an entire network of road or railway source lines at the same time.


Update Information 6.5 New actions and procedures under Edit, Geo-tools and Tools

For big projects where only the direct noise and the first reflection is calculated, but multiple reflections in a street canyon may make a difference, it would be prohibitive in time and entry discipline to set the parameter manually. Allerdings geht aus den Richtlinien nicht eindeutig hervor, wie lange ein Abschnitt sein muss, um die Properties Baulückenanteil und Höhe der Randbebauung zu berechnen. Deshalb bietet SoundPLAN eine Prüfstrecke an, die entlang der markierten Straßen geschoben wird.

The Geo-tool ESTIMATE MULTIPLE REFLECTIONS checks according to this check line for homogeneous building situations on both sides of the road and calculates, if this is the case, the average height of the lower side and the average spacing of the buildings and calculates the multiple reflection addition. For the length of the checking line, values between 10 and 50 meters seem reasonable.

At the position on the road/railway where the multiple reflection addition changes the value, coordinates with the new multiple reflection addition are inserted. The object elevation is interpolated between the existing points. The terrain elevations are interpolated from the loaded DGM; if no DGM is present the terrain elevation is set to zero. Therefore please check your terrain elevations of you roads.

The program always assumes hard facades; the program only uses facades of buildings, not noise control walls. This addition can only be estimated for noise levels derived from calculations, it cannot be incorporated for levels that are calculated elsewhere and set in the program.

Modifications of the Embankment-tool The embankment tool that was available to set the embankments for roads is now also available for railway lines. The distances left and right are calculated using distances calculated from the master alignment. The distances from the master alignment may be different to the right and to the left. If the ADDITIONAL DISTANCE FROM ROAD EDGE respectively DISTANCE AXIS TO EMBANKMENT BASE LINE is zero (left and/or right), no embankments are calculated for the left and/or right side; only the elevation line parallel to the source is generated.

Assign texts to buildings With the Geo-tool ASSIGN TEXTS TO BUILDINGS it is now possible to automatically set texts in all available fields for example the plot number and the owner of the building.

Select the assignment type ASSIGN TEXT (OVERWRITE). This assignment type overwrites whatever text/value was assigned before. When multiple texts are found inside the building, the text found first will be used as the text assigned to the field.


New actions and procedures under Edit, Geo-tools and Tools Update Information 6.5

Gather multiple texts in a single field When multiple texts are inside a building, the texts can be concatenated to a one single field. For this option select ASSIGN MULTIPLE TEXTS (ADD).

If multiple buildings of terraced houses have been digitized as a single building and the house number as part of the address or the number of inhabitants are available for each of the terraced houses, the text assignment will treat the data appropriately.

Value fields (inhabitants, # of dwelling units) are added to a single value, for text fields (house number, name…) the individual texts are concatenated with a blank in between.

Existing texts are now overwritten but amended.

Distribute Occupants /Distribute Dwellings „Distribute occupants /dwellings“ is now able to distribute the inhabitants or # of dwellings from area usages to buildings, even if the assignment between area usage and building is not unique:

EXTENDED ASSIGNMENT distributes the inhabitants also to buildings that are not completely inside the areas as long as the center of gravity or the multitude of the corners is within the area.

Reset emissions for roads and railways With the TOOLS -> RESET EMISSIONS FOR… you can reset the emission records that are the basis of the emission calculations (for roads for example traffic volume, speeds and corrections). If no objects (roads or railways) are marked, the program will reset the emissions for roads or for railways.

As this is a deliberate step, first confirm that you want to reset the emissions. The first emission definition can be conserved. Before the tool is executed, it will ask which one of the data structures shall be reset.


Update Information 6.5 Modifications in the parking lot noise study between 2003 and 2007

Modifications in the parking lot noise study between 2003 and 2007 The Bavarian Parking Lot Noise Study paper is now available in its 6th revision (2007). This study now replaces the 5th revision from 2006 which contained problems with the transit portion KD and which therefore was never implemented in SoundPLAN. Compared to the 4th revision from 2003 the following changes have been made: • Introduction of new parking lot types. • The additions KPA and KI for the various parking lot types where

modified and completed. • Low noise shopping carts where added as a new item in the calculation. • The summarily calculation is now acceptable for parking lots with more

than 150 places. • K*I for the separate calculation of parking slots and drive path now is

obsolete. Here the parameter KI is also used now. • The formula to determine the portion of pass through cars KD was also

modified. • An addition to accommodate for different road surfaces KStrO has now

been introduced. This addition however is not identical with the road surface addition from the RLS-90!

• Guidelines for the turnover in the parking lot also has been updated and amended.

• In the data entry it is now possible to declare the reference of the units. The guideline for manually calculating the turnover from the size of the shopping area is now obsolete. If the values seem not to fit the situation it is still possible to manually enter the number of parking slots for the parking lot.

• The volume of turnover is now only defined via the day history. With the change of the day history from the number of moves per parking lot per hour (2003) to the current number of moves per parking slot and hour, the suggested values from the parking lot study can be directly be used in the day history.

What are the effects of Parkplatzlärmstudie 2007 (parking lot noise study 2007)? • Truck parking lots increase the noise by 2 dB. • Through traffic inside the parking lot KD : up to 1,1 dB depending on the

number of parking slots. • Shopping markets with low noise shopping carts are 2 dB lower in the

emission. • Only for the separate calculation of parking slots and drive path:

• Up to 4 dB quieter for cars • Up to 3 dB quieter for truck parking lots • Up to 2 dB quieter for bus parking lots

• Road surface: Up to 1 dB quieter or up to 2 dB louder as compared to RLS-90


Processing Noise Mapping Results according to the EU Directive Update Information 6.5

Processing Noise Mapping Results according to the EU Directive The transfer of the EU Environmental Noise Guideline into national law gave a lot of the reporting requirements a local component where details of the statistics of exposed inhabitants, exposed areas and special buildings (schools, hospitals..) are defined. Please acquire the information about the procedures locally in your country, SoundPLAN may not know all details to be a reliable source here.

Schools, hospitals, kindergartens Schools and hospitals (in some countries kindergartens too) must be accounted for and their numbers have to be assigned the individual noise zones.

In the Geo-Database always enter the usage type for each building. The following building types (graphics object types) to be set as the building types in the Geo-Database are used in the statistics (in brackets the ID for the attribute function “building type” is printed):

Unknown (-1)

School (-2)

Hospital (-3)

Kindergarten (-4)

Important: When using the attribute function it is important to enter „=-2“ in the field OPERATION because if the „=“ sign is omitted the program would not set -2 but instead subtract 2 from the value that is at the moment in the cell.

Another option is to set the building type via EDIT -> GRAPHIC-OBJECT TYPE. The advantage here is that the building type can be assigned with a readable text rather than via a code.

Special buildings are treated as normal buildings, that means that if inhabitants are assigned (for example for the care taker family) the inhabitants are accounted for the normal way.

Marking buildings as special buildings does not have to be done before the noise map is calculated as the information is directly taken from the geometry data.

Building clusters A special building can be comprised of multiple single buildings. As soon as the field PROPERTY NUMBER contains the same text for multiple buildings, the cluster of buildings in the final processing for the statistics will be treated as one building cluster.

When defined as a building cluster, the statistics for the „loudest level“ and the „energy mean value“ are derived and accounted for the entire building cluster (see Settings for the EU-Statistics, page 14.).

Subdividing multiple areas You can divide your investigation area into multiple areas (community, borrow) and generate a joint statistics with entries area by area. The borders of the areas must be contained in the data as „area usages“. In the tabular results the object name is presented, the number of inhabitants and the area usage are irrelevant here


Update Information 6.5 Processing Noise Mapping Results according to the EU Directive

Area and inhabitant statistics in the SoundPLAN Spreadsheet (area table) are based on the area usage and assign area size, number of inhabitants, number of dwellings and special buildings.

The areas are even accounted in the statistics if they have been generated after the calculation of the noise map.

Calculation

Calculation of the façade noise level If you set the calculation of the facade noise levels (Facade Noise Map) to VBEB (Germany) in the calculation settings for RECEIVERS ACCORDING TO VBEB.

Receivers then are generated in accordance to the rules of VBEB:

• Facades longer that 5 meters are divided into smaller segments for

which a single receiver is calculated. • Facades with a length between 2.5 meters and 5 m are represented by a

single receiver • Smaller facades are ignored except if multiple subsequent facade

segments reach the combined length of more than 5 meters. In this case the combined façade is then treated as a façade longer than 5 meters and if needed subdivided into 5 meter sections.

This procedure is advisable for non German areas as it generates a sensible distribution of inhabitants and dwelling units as long as the accounting does not required setting the loudest level as default for the entire building.

The EU Noise Mapping leaves the member states some freedom, for example has Austria chosen to set receivers along a facade at a spacing of 3 meters, select the setting RECEIVERS SPACED with a distance of 3 meters.

Hint: As soon as at least one facade has been activated in the Geo-database for the calculation with the Facade Noise Map, all receivers for that building are switched to be calculated in accordance to VBEB. For the calculation of the façade noise levels in Austria, all facades must be activated. Calculation of noise contours For the calculation of noise contours (Grid Noise Map) in Austria for example a grid spacing of 5x5 meters is required, in Germany the standard is a 10x10 grid. Additional settings are not required.

Hints for the calculation of very large areas For the calculation of facade noise levels and grid noise maps for very large calculation areas it is paramount to analyze the ratio of invested calculation time and accuracy up front. This for example can be accomplished with a statistics calculation run, see „Statistical accuracy“ on page 21.



The following recommendations for the calculation parameters in the calculation core should be checked in any case and possibly should be coordinated with your client:

Tabs settings Angular increment 1 Number of reflections 1 Hint: In city environment use the Geotool „Estimate multiple reflections " to account multiple reflections in street canyons at the side of the emissions. Reflection depth 0 - 1 Source side reflections Enabled Search radius Restrict this parameter to between 2000 meters and

4000 m depending on the question of how far prominent noise sources can be heard

Tolerance 0,5 – 0,8

Tab Façade Noise Map Distance to the facade 0.1 m (default for Germany and Austria)

SEARCH RANGE DEFINED BY FACADE checked. The potential error of ignoring noise coming over the building is small but it saves approximately half the calculation time.

Tab Grid Noise Map The default interpolation criteria are relatively conservative, for big strategic noise map it is recommendable to set the DIFFERENCE between the corner receivers to 0.5.

Post processing in the SoundPLAN Spreadsheet (area table) The post processing of the EU statistics has been implemented in SoundPLAN flexible enough that the same procedures in SoundPLAN can be used throughout the entire EU with their diverging national implementation of the EU Directive. As there are big differences in the national ways, you first of all need to settle what data is required for your country and how the data shall be processed (for example the accounting of the quiet façade or the distribution of the number of inhabitants amongst the façade receivers). As soon as the table with all settings, title texts and other settings is fulfilling your needs, you are best advised to save the table as your template for the noise mapping project.

The accounting can be accomplished for the entire calculation area or it can be based on individual usage areas. For that reason the EU –Statistics are integrated into the area table.

Normally the area table only processes „area usages “. In case the selected Geo-file or Situation does not contain any area usages, the EU-statistics is then applied for the entire calculation area.

Which EU-Statistics are available? • Inhabitant statistics: Accounting on the basis of façade noise levels

(from Façade Noise Maps or City Noise Maps) Area statistics: Accounting of the noise in outside areas (Grid Noise Map,

City Noise Map)

Open the Spreadsheet and in the file manager select the FILE TYPE „Area table (conflict map)“.



Hint: The file type EU Statistics is outdated and is only available to display already existing building statistics that have been generated with older versions.

In the initial selection select the Geo-file or Situation in which area usages and calculation area are contained.

Caution: The data for the statistics (buildings, dwellings, residents) are taken from the Situation that was used during the calculation of the Facade Noise Map or Grid Noise Map. The request to enter a situation for the area table only will effect the area definition by loading the areas from either the same situation or from a secondary situation where mistakes in the areas have been corrected.

With the switch COLUMNS you can deactivate the columns for „inhabitants" and „size“, that are irrelevant for the statistics, before the file is loaded. The dialog whether to calculate with the shown decimals or the full range is irrelevant here, so click on OK.

Via FILE -> ADD ADDITIONAL COLUMNS select the desired EU statistics.

After selecting the proper result file (depending on the selected statistics a Facade Noise Map or City Noise map for the building statistics or the Grid Noise Map or City Noise Map for the area statistics), you get to the dialog where you define how and with which time slices the EU-statistisc shall be evaluated (see „Settings for the EU-statistics“, page 15).

Afterwards select which data and which time slices you want to use.

After selecting the columns the EU-statistics will be calculated separately for each area. When more than 2 areas are present, the program automatically will generate a sum line that sums up the data of the areas.

Hint: • The calculation depending on the size of the areas and the requested task

can take several minutes or even longer! • The buildings needed for the statistics are automatically loaded from the

data of the run file that is kept with the results. • One area table can only contain a single EU-statistics. The area table

thus cannot contain both the building- and the area- statistics, neither is it possible to have a comparison of variants in the area table.



Settings for the EU-statistics Because of the diverging requirements for the EU-statistics, some clarifications need to be made:

Level ranges: First you need to decide if the results are accrued for an interval (for example levels between 50 and 60) or if the level is understood as a threshold value (i.e. >50 includes values above 50 and values above 60).

This selection can be changed at a later time via OPTIONS -> DOCUMENT SETTINGS -> CURRENT DOCUMENT, for other changes the statistics must be regenerated with FILE -> REBUILD TABLE!

Statistics of exposed residents Assignment of residents to dwellings:

ASSIGN ALL INHABITANTS AND DWELLINGS TO LOUDEST VALUE accounts all residents and dwelling by using the loudest on the building occurring noise level interval for all residents and dwelling.

When you choose the setting ASSIGN INHABITANTS AND DWELLINGS ACCORDING TO THE LEVEL ON THE FACADE SECTION, there are 2 different ways to proceed:

1. When the facade receivers were generated according to VBEB (Germany), all inhabitants are distributed equally amongst the facade receivers, likewise the dwellings.

2. For all other settings in the calculation of the Facade Noise Map, the inhabitants and dwellings are distributed according to the facade length representing each individual receiver.

Assessment of the quiet facade

Like in many places in the execution of the END, here too there are many national ways of determining what the quiet facade shall be, here some possibilities:

The relevant receivers for the assessment of the quiet facade can be located on the facade or 2 meters in front of it. The additional receivers 2 meters in front of the façade are calculated when you request ADDITIONAL RECEIVERS 2 METERS IN FRONT OF THE FACADE in the RUN SETTINGS under the tab Façade Noise Map or City Noise Map (Caution the calculation time will double!). In case the 2m receivers were calculated, they will be used to



assess the quiet facade, otherwise this is done directly with the receivers on the façade itself.

To assess the quiet faced, the loudest noise level found on the building is determined and compared with other receivers on the facades (or 2 meters in front). If the difference between the maximum and the assessed receiver exceeds 20 dB, the inhabitants and dwellings associated with the receiver are accounted for as being on a quiet facade.

As long as a maximum acceptable noise level has been set for the quiet facade, this is also checked. Only receivers below the threshold level that make the 20 dB difference criterion make the grade to be accounted for in the table of the quiet façade.

To set the threshold, check the box USE MAXIMAL VALUE FOR QUIET FACADE.

Caution: • The assessment assumes that the first time slice in the assessment library

is the Lden. The first threshold value always assumes that is meant for the Lden for all other time slots the second threshold value is used.

• In Austria the level must be 5dB below the threshold value, i.e. if the threshold value is 50 dB the value set in SoundPLAN must be 45 dB.

Assessment of hospitals, schools and kindergartens:

If inhabitants and dwellings have been assigned to these buildings, those figures will be used in the accounting.

For the assessment of special buildings, the property number is used to determines which structures belong to the same building complex and then the accounting is dome treating the building complex as a single entity.

Example inhabitant statistics:

Area statistics The area size for the individual noise level intervals by internally rastering the contour map and accounting the level found in the middle of each grid cell to the interval it falls in. The areas within buildings are ignored, that means that in a situation where all levels are above 50 dB and also the buildings are exposed to high noise levels, the area accounted for as being above 50 dB is smaller than the entire area itself, in fact it will be the area minus the cumulative size of all buildings.

The settings and the processing of all other values is the same as in the inhabitants statistics, the only difference is that checkpoints along the facades must be generated first. These checkpoints are generated in



accordance to the procedures from VBEB (see „Calculation of Façade Noise Levels”).

Example area statistics:

EU-Statistics in the graphics As the procedures for the graphical representation of the statistics have not been modified significantly, please read the handbook and on-line help for details. The building statistics is selected in the graphics via the data type EU BUILDINGS (ANNEX VI).

Settings and calculations are the same as in the area table except that in the area statistics you must define the intervals separately, in the graphics this is done via the scale.

The difference may be in what data are used: in the area table the accounting is done on the basis of areas or the entire calculation area and in the graphics it is always representing all data loaded.

The area statistics may show a little variance between the area table and the graphics as the area table accounts only grid cells where the center is in the calculation area, the graphics accounts for all loaded grid points.

With a 10 x10 m grid for the calculation, some of the scan points will be outside the calculation area but will also be added to the area size.

Peculiarity in the presentation of the areas: • For the calculation of the area sizes for each noise level interval

(respectively above a threshold value) the contour map is always rasterized in a 1x1 m raster.

• The receivers for the assignment of inhabitants, dwellings and special usage buildings to the noise level intervals is always done in accordance to VBEB (see „Calculation of Facade Noise Levels“ page 12), except when all values are set only to the highest level found on the entire building.

Peculiarity of the Facade Noise Map: If the Facade Noise Map was computed only on a single elevation (most often in a height of 4 meters above ground), there is no difference in the statistics of the area table and the graphics.

If multiple floors were calculated, for example in the framework of an action plan, the floors are treated as separate entities as if each were a separate building. This means that inhabitants and dwellings are equally distributed amongst all floors and per floor the questions of the quiet façade is evaluated separately.

In the area table the statistics is always calculated for all floors. In the graphics select the floor for which you want to display the statistics. The


Update Information 6.5 Conversion of sound pressure spectra into sound power spectra

statistics is then computed only for the selected floor, including the selection of the loudest façade and the quiet façade.

In addition you have the option via the floor selection to set it to all floors. Here the loudest façade and quiet façade are evaluated jointly for all floors of the building and thus the results should be the same as in the area table (provided you have calculated the same content and loaded it).

According to the selected scale, the building itself is filled with the color of the loudest noise level found on the building; the façade where this level occurred is marked. For the quiet façade the values with theh loudest floor are used, therefore it can occur that a building in the statistics is set to have a quiet faced but in the graphics it is not indicated as the loudest floor in the position where the quiet façade exists, may be above the noise threshold.

CAUTION: For the calculation of the statistics (regardless if area table or in the graphics) the data are used that were used in the calculation run, the situation requested in the area table is not used here; neither is the geometry loaded in the graphics relevant here. If you rename or delete Geo-files or Situations after the calculation run was done, this will result in a change in the statistics as the result files keep a copy of the file names rather than a copy of all data.

This procedure still allows you to start calculating the noise maps before you have entered all data for the inhabitants or have sorted out the special usage buildings. Or it might be that you get more accurate information on the number of residents; you can add the information and just recalculate the statistics.

Conversion of sound pressure spectra into sound power spectra When emission data in the SoundPLAN Emission Library are only available as sound pressure spectrum and the situation is sufficiently simple (assumption source is a point source..) the spectrum can be converted to a sound power spectrum.

Open EDIT -> CONVERT SOUND PRESSURE TO SOUND POWER (or click right mouse button while the cursor is on the spectrum).

Hint: The reference must be set to “Level”, before, afterwards it will be referenced per “Unit”.

Select the surface type that was the basis of your measurement of the sound pressure level. Enter the distance D in meters at which the measurement was taken and for machines the equivalent size of a box enter the width, length and height in meters. By clicking the OK button the sound pressure spectrum is converted into a sound power spectrum and the reference is set to per unit.


Import of Grid Noise Maps Update Information 6.5

Import of Grid Noise Maps If you have received Grid Noise Maps calculated by other software products than SoundPLAN (for example from a aircraft noise model) and the data is given as a text file (TXT file), it is possible to import the data directly into the calculation core of SoundPLAN and convert the data into SoundPLAN's format; Grid Noise Maps generated this way can be overlayed with other SoundPLAN data.

To trigger the import function select the calculation type “tools” and the select the sub-type “Grid Noise Import”.

Select the TXT file in the DATA section (select the “text files” in the selection list for the file types.

Under the tab Grid-Noise-Map-Import the structure of the import file is visible in the top portion. Select if a title line is present and from which line the regular data shall begin.

In the lower section the columns from the import file are assigned to the columns of the grid noise map. Depending on the selected noise assessment the time slices are displayed for the assignment.

Statistical accuracy The German DIN 45687 in its annex F demands that the accuracy of the noise level simulation is to be classed and different parameters influencing the balance between calculation speed and accuracy can be disclosed.

Via a statistics calculation run the program first draws a sample with highly accurate reference settings; the results of this run later are compared with results from calculations with different calculation settings or abbreviated geometry.

The samples can be taken up front in order to determine the calculation settings needed in order to attain a desired accuracy or as a post calculation check to verify that the calculations were done correctly. The following options are sensible:

Up front • Single Receivers • Façade Noise Maps • Grid Noise Map (without interpolation of grid values)


Update Information 6.5 Statistical accuracy

For existing, already calculated maps • Grid Noise Map with interpolation • Contour lines

Draw a sample in the Calculation Core (Statistics up front)

Like normal generate the entries for a normal calculation run with the reference settings and the data you want to check with the accuracy statistics. Under the tab statistics select the option DRAW STATISTICS (NUMBER OF RECEIVERS) and select the size of your sample. According to DIN 45687 the minimum is to evaluate a sample of 20 but the recommendation is to draw a sample of 1 %. For very large calculations with big areas and thus a very high number of receivers the number sampled will certainly be between the 2 values.

In the calculation core you can calculate the samples for single receivers, Façade Noise Maps or Grid Noise Maps.

The samples are calculated with the settings you define, however for the grid noise map the criteria for interpolation will be ignored, the receivers are always calculated in the statistics calculation run.

Draw a sample in the Graphics (Statistics of maps already finished)

Samples for the check of contour lines and the City Noise Map can only be drawn in the Graphics, samples from Grid calculations either in the Calculation Core or the Graphics. Reference receivers can only be generated if a DGM was used in the calculation.

If you generate the statistical sample for a Grid Noise Map from within the graphics also interpolated grid points are selected as reference points. If a sample is drawn in the calculation core, all reference points are calculated.

First calculate the Grid Noise Map or City Noise Map and load all data into the Graphics.

Open EDIT MAP and open EDIT -> GENERATE STATISTICAL SAMPLE FROM CONTOUR LINES or GENERATE STATISTICAL SAMPLE FROM GRID MAP.

In the following dialog define the number of reference receivers. The recommendation is to use 1 % of the map you want to generate the statistics for – for large areas this is probably too much. For contour lines also enter the minimum size in [m²] (default is the square of the grid spacing) at which „islands“ in contour lines are drawn and the minimum distance of the contour line to sources and obstacles.

Hint: The distance of the reference receivers from the geometry is ignored for grid points as it does not have any relevance in the results.


Statistical accuracy Update Information 6.5

Left statistics sample from contour lines, on the right statistics sample for grid maps

If you are using smooth Bezier type contour lines, please also enter the Bezier tension coefficient.

For contour line statistics samples the program only evaluates the time slice displayed in the Graphics.

Statistics run and processing Generate a calculation run with different calculation settings or different geometry (for example tolerance, search radius, smoothed buildings, rougher DGM) and select the tab statistics for a statistics run: COMPARE WITH STATISTICAL SAMPLE FROM CALCULATION RUN NO. Enter the number under which the reference calculation results were saved.

For statistical samples from the Calculation Core enter the number under which you saved the reference statistics results, for samples in the Graphics the results are saved under the same number as the original results.

After the statistics run finished successfully, the run file receives an extra tab for the statistics.

To analyze here results, a diagram and a table is for your disposal. The differences for the receiver locations and the elevation of the receiver and the elevation of the terrain at the receiver as well –of course- the noise levels of all time slices contained in the noise assessment is contained (for contour lines only the time slice of the loaded data is processed). Via the LEVEL FILTER receivers with a value < then the threshold value will be ignored in the processing.

The processing of the statistics is done in accordance to DIN 45687. As the result you will get the confidence interval (deviations up or down) in which 80% of all results will lay.


Update Information 6.5 Subscript for texts

Subscript for texts

Subscript text

In text boxes, legends, scales and with general texts in the graphics as well as for headers in the Spreadsheet it is now possible to have texts with the attribute subscript. Write the text like normal, mark the spot that needs to be turned into subscript and click on the symbol SUBSCRIPT. As you still process the text, control characters are marking the subscript part.

R’w,res for example will be displayed as "R'@\l+w, res@\l-". As soon as you finish editing the text, the subscript will be effective.

In case you need other text attributes, you can manually insert them:

@\l+text@\l- = subscript

@\h+text@\h- = superscript

@\i+text@\i- = italic

@\b+text@\b- = bold

Scale with hatch patterns In addition to having solid colored surfaces, it is now possible to display the areas with hatch patterns and color brightness.

Scale layout

In the scale layout select the interval layout WITH HATCH.


Highlight the calculation area Update Information 6.5

Interval - Layout Click on the hatch field to customize the interval-layout.

You can also combine the fill color with the hatch and brighten the colors by a certain margin.

For the hatch the standard hatch types are available. Define spacing, and color and width of the hatch lines.

To speed up the definition you can select the border line to coincide with the hatch line style or define a different border line.

Highlight the calculation area The calculation area has been amended with a new Cartography attribute to highlight the calculation area.

In the map object types for the calculation area open the tab Cartography and select the tab background.


Update Information 6.5 Graphics Sheet manager + Sheet components

You have multiple options of highlighting the calculation area: • Put a SHADDOW to the right and bottom or all around it. • Make the colors or the gray scale a bit brighter

o In addition you can select a masking color that will be additively overlayed over the rest of the picture

• Use a 3D-effect that raises the data within the calculation area.

Just experiment what option you like best!

Graphics Sheet manager + Sheet components The sheet manager in the Graphics is a new addition to perform tasks on multiple sheets at the same time. For example to change the scale colors for all sheets with grid noise maps it is not necessary to open each sheet that has a grid noise map in it, set the scale to the new colors by hand and then save it again. This operation and others can be performed with the sheet manager effectively.

The sheet manager and the sheet components are displayed on the left hand side as a tree diagram. To open it select FILE -> SHEET MANAGER (ALT+ A) or FILE -> SHEET COMPONENTS (ALT+ B). The area where the sheet manager or the sheet components are visible can be varied with the window splitter. Sheet manager and sheet components are mutually exclusive, only one of them can be presented at a time.

Via the sheet manager you can transfer elements, content and settings from one sheet to other sheets, it is also possible to print and export multiple sheets at the same time. With Drag&Drop sheets that are not loaded at the time can be opened very quickly. With the sheet components you can modify the content, properties and settings of an element and assign these to other elements of the same sheet.

For example if you decided that the background color of all your text boxes is no longer what you want, adjust it in one element and then transfer the new settings to all others without opening each individual box.

Sheet components Under the menu FILE -> SHEET COMPONENTS or via <Alt+B> the sheet component box is made visible/disappears. For the sheet components all structured components are placed into a tree structure indicating the hierarchy between the components (who inherits what from which parent…).


Graphics Sheet manager + Sheet components Update Information 6.5

The tree structure and the sheet itself are coupled, which means that by clicking on an element in the tree, it is active in the sheet and vice versa.

On top of the tree there are 4 buttons:

The buttons DELETE ELEMENT, EDIT ELEMENT CONTENTS and EDIT ELEMENT PROPERTIES are only active as long as an element in the tree or on the sheet is active. To take over content or properties from an element to another is only active if multiple elements in the tree are activated.

Take-over element components With the pressed Ctrl key mark one or multiple elements in the tree which you want to assign the properties of other elements. Now click on the element of the tree from which you want to assign content or properties. Click on the arrow symbol and select what you want to take over. The selection of content, properties and actions depend on the selected element.

On the left the take-over from a plan, to the right for a text

Sheet manager Via the menu FILE -> SHEET MANAGER or with <Alt+ A> the sheet manager is activated/deactivated. For the sheet manager a tree structure is generated that lists all sheets but the currently open one. As sub nodes of the tree all elements contained in the sheets are visible.



On top of the tree several buttons are placed.

Depending on which element you have selected, you can take-over different attributes: • Sheet colors • Properties • Content • Section layout (text attribute settings) • Map viewport • Map object types

With the properties the receiver element will take on the layout of the doner element, for text boxes that would be the box color, line settings, for a plan it would be the frame parameters, however size, docking parameters and position of the boxes would remain unaltered.

For text boxes, texts, scales, legends and graphics boxes “content” is clear, everything but the section layout is transferred as this item can be selected separately.

Hint: For the map TAKE-OVER CONTENT means that the file selections are taken over, map viewport parameters and map object types are activated separately.

Sheets where anything was altered are marked with bold type in the tree.

If you only want to transfer (take-over) one or a few object types from plan to plan, open the plan object types and mark the desired object types and press on TAKE-OVER ELEMENT COMPONENTS or simply drag them in the tree to the destination.


Graphics Sheet manager + Sheet components Update Information 6.5

If you want to load a different sheet from the same project, simply click on it in the tree and drag it to the right side (Drag&Drop).

In the preview window below the tree you see the active element: • for sheets the preview bitmap • for elements the content and the child elements,

As it is not possible to load all data for all sheets at the same time, for maps the file list is displayed.

With this tools you can very quickly get an overview over all sheets, maps and the data contained in them. The tree area and the pre-view panel can be resized by dragging the divider to the desired position.

Except in the sheet itself you can use the right mouse button in the preview window to get to the properties and the content and for the plan into the file selection and the plan-object types. In the file selection you can only alter the settings of the data already loaded or swap data for a data type already present. This restriction is needed because for new data types new elements might become necessary that are not included in this frame work. It is for example not possible to generate a new scale here and place it somewhere on the sheet.

Actions for entire sheets: You can mark multiple sheets and jointly perform the following actions • print, • export (as a bitmap, WMF or with the contained contour lines) • delete.



Hint: As an open sheet is not part of the tree, you need first close the open sheet in order to apply the actions to it. To close the sheet use FILE -> CLOSE SHEET.

When you close sheets, please also remember to save alterations made in the sheets of the tree and save the changes before printing or exporting them.

In the main branch, where the project name is the active element, all actions will apply to all sheets of the project.

When printing multiple sheets please be aware that only sheets with the same sheet sizes can be printed jointly because the sheet settings for example the sheet sizes are the same for all sheets. If you print into a file or save the sheet as a PDF, SoundPLAN will request the file name for each document, again this request comes from Windows and unfortunately cannot be suppressed entirely. Export

When exporting you first get to a selection where you select what you want to export. For the export of contour lines you also must define for which file format you want to generate the export. The export files are written into a sub folder in the active project, the program will suggest a name which you can alter to suit your needs or select an existing folder.

By dragging a sheet from the tree to the graphics pane, you open the sheet.

Actions from a loaded sheet These actions are the same as actions in the sheet components section.

These actions are only active in the tree, in order to have them executed in the sheet, the tree must be saved.

Actions from the tree Likewise you can assign an attribute setting of the tree to the active element of the sheet.

When dragging an element onto the sheet, you can select if the element shall be taken-over into the drawing.

Hint: • Sheets where anything was altered are marked with bold type in the tree. • All actions in the tree are final, there is no “undo”! The actions before

they are saved however are only existing within the tree and thus leaving the tree and not saving it will act as an "undo" for all actions since it was saved last, not only the last change will be lost.


Noise allotment according to DIN 45691 Update Information 6.5

• By making modifications it can be that the preview-bitmap does not reflect the content of the sheet any more. Please regenerate the preview-bitmap by clicking on the paint-brush-symbol.

Noise allotment according to DIN 45691

Introduction This new module offers the following new options in managing the noise emissions of multiple noisy facilities within an area (such as an industrial park with multiple plants under multiple different ownership). The program helps set noise generation limits for various facilities within the area to make sure the overall noise limit is not violating the laws and the individual areas are minimized in their restrictions: • The noise background base load from existing industrial facilities can be

taken into account:

o In detail (the base load can be defined for each individual receiver or as results from a calculation.)

or

In general (reduction of the design noise threshold by a fixed margin –for example 6 dB(A)-. The margin can be set individually for each receiver.)

• Marking partial sources with colors in accordance to the limit violation they cause at the receiver, it is easy to see which of the sources need to be mitigated further during the interactive dimensioning process.

• Additional noise allotments: By increasing the emissions rate for individual directions, it is possible to further maximize the emission rates. The definition of the directions for an increase of the noise allotment is done quickly with the mouse.

• The results of the allotment simulation can be printed or via the clipboard moved to programs such as Word. Fixed user defined text formulations are available.

Preparations for the Allotment optimization In the Geo-database enter the areas representing the sections of the industrial area as area sources without defining the sound power and model the receivers in the surrounding buildings. As in this stage of the planning process the geometry such as buildings within the industrial area is unknown, therefore the allotment uses only the 2D spreading to optimize the distribution of sources in the entire area, as such the definition of areas and receivers is sufficient to generate the allotment calculation.

When the location of buildings is known, you can use this information in order to adjust the directionality of the sources for additional contingents or to improve the graphical presentation.

After the definitions open the Calculation core and carry out a precalculation.


Update Information 6.5 Noise allotment according to DIN 45691

Select the category "Outdoor Noise" and the calculation type "Noise Allotment". This calculation in accordance with the DIN 45691 regards only the horizontal distance of the spreading into a full 3D sphere.

Start the Allotment Open the Allotment in the SoundPLAN Manager via EXECUTE -> NOISE ALLOTMENT.

Select FILE -> NEW and load the results of the pre-calculation done in the Calculation Core (file name RNATxxxx.res) via the symbol button OPEN.

Back ground base level An existing base level can be determined in a SoundPLAN calculation for single receivers or be entered manually for all receivers. For the allotment it is possible to alter the defined base level. The allotment can also be defined as an offset to the noise limit (example -10).

Click on OK.


Noise allotment according to DIN 45691 Update Information 6.5

Carry out the Allotment

In the top section the receivers are displayed with their noise limits and if applicable the base level that needs to be taken into account. The plan value then shows the magnitude of the remaining noise levels under the constraints of the background base level.

In the lower section the industrial areas are listed that were defined in the Geo-Database together with the resulting assessed noise level and the remaining level contingent for each receiver.

Enter the emission contingents for each industrial area. Keep the shift key pressed and click on multiple adjacent areas to jointly assign their source contingents. As soon as the plant value is exceed, the partial noise level that causes the excess and the receivers that show the problem are marked in red.

Change the emission contingents of individual partial areas until the part value is not exceeded anywhere.

Assign additional emission contingents for all time slices used in the noise assessment.

Additional contingents


Update Information 6.5 Hotspot-Calculation

The reference point is placed in the center of the partial areas and the directional sectors for the additional contingents are split up for each receiver. For the arrangement in the land-use plan, the reference point you can set the coordinates of the reference point to even numbers and adjust the sectors roughly to the areas represented by the receivers. Correct the angles of the sectors to even numbers afterwards.

The angle segments can be changed, because they represent the different usage areas in the project. The angle segments can only be adapted until the position or the next receiver. In case this should be necessary, please delete the receiver first (at the moment this is only possible in the Geo-database).

Additional information you could have entered in the Geo-database (buildings, areas) is shown in the graphical representation in the tab "additional contingents".

You can change the representation of the single objects as usual with OPTIONS -> OBJECT TYPES. New object types have been inserted for the noise allotment.

Further processing of the results You can print the documentation of the Noise Allotment or copy the graphics of the additional contingents and sector lines into the clipboard and paste it in your report. Likewise you can transport the data about the receivers, industrial areas and additional contingent.

These results can be copied under the menu FILE into the clipboard: Receiver R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 R 5 R 6 Noise limit 55 55 60 60 55 55 Noise background base level -10 -10 -5 -10 -10 -5 Target value 45 45 55 50 45 50

Sub areas Size [m²] L(EC) R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 R 5 R 6 PA 1 16512,3 55,0 40,0 36,3 29,6 33,4 35,5 37,3 PA 2 17363,9 57,0 38,5 35,8 31,6 37,4 41,5 42,1 PA 3 15960,5 59,0 38,3 40,2 37,0 39,8 37,5 36,7 PA 4 18269,1 55,0 32,7 33,2 33,1 42,5 36,2 33,6 Sum 44,1 43,1 39,7 45,4 44,4 44,6 44,1 additional

contingent 0,9 1,9 15,3 4,6 0,6 5,4 0,9

Sector Start End L(AC)T L(AC)N A 40 100 5 12 B 100 180 4 5 C 180 230 0 2 D 230 280 5 2 E 280 340 0 2 F 340 40 1 3

To print the data via SoundPLAN as an annex, select FILE -> PRINT. Headers and footers can be formatted under FILE -> PAGE LAYOUT.

Hotspot-Calculation In order to pinpoint what measures should be taken in the action plan phase of a noise mapping project, it is necessary to combine the information of exposure from Grid Noise Maps or City Noise Maps with the population numbers.

In SoundPLAN for this purpose there is a new Hotspot-Calculation.


Hotspot-Calculation Update Information 6.5

First façade receivers are generated in accordance to the VBEB. In the vicinity of a grid cell (default value is 100m) all inhabitants are searched and via the curves from the "Position paper on dose response relationships between transportation noise and annoyance" the residents are assigned to the categories "little annoyed", "annoyed" and "highly annoyed". Afterwards all affected residents are assigned to the center grid cell. As the values are threshold values, the category “little annoyed” also contains the figures from the “annoyed” and the “highly annoyed” tally.

Example curves for the Lden from the position paper:

Calculate Hotspots You need: • Calculated Grid Noise Maps or Façade Noise Map • Situation (or Geo-File) with buildings and assigned inhabitants • Calculation area • DGM (only for the 3D presentation)

Select in the run properties the calculation type "Grid Noise Hotspots" in the category "Tools".

Under DATA enter the situation with the buildings and the inhabitants, a calculation area and the already calculated Grid Noise Map or Façade Noise Map.

Under the tab Hotspots define which results you want the receive:



The Grid Spacing is set by default to 10 m and should remain like this for traffic noise. A smaller grid spacing only increases the calculation time but would not result I high accuracy. For aircraft noise it may be wise to increase the grid spacing.

In the HOTSPOT-DEFINITION you define which results are to be saved. The search radius of 100 m for the determination of hotspots in the action planning is a sensible setting as the results are standardized to inhabitants per square kilometer. As the calculation run type for hotspots is useful for other projects too, the search radius may be adjusted to different settings in these projects.

Graphically present hotspots In the file selection select the situation and choose the calculated hotspot map via the selector for General Grid Maps.

Hotspots can be superimposed in general Grid Operations.

Implemented Calculation Guidelines and Standards Seite • 34


Implemented Calculation Guidelines and Standards Unfortunately not all standards and guidelines have official test procedures and sample answers. We regard a standard only as tested when the official test questions are fulfilled or we have calculated all key parts of the standard by hand (Excel). As generating such test procedures constitutes a demanding, time consuming challenge, there are differences in the test status between the standards and guidelines. All tested cases are checked for each update if any values have changed.

Road • RLS-90 (D), test questions are fulfilled and are on the CD, additional

details beyond the normal test questions have been tested. • DIN 18005 (D) road tested • VBUS (D) - tested • RVS 3.02 /4.02 (A), the test questions are fulfilled and are contained on

the CD, additional details beyond the normal test questions have been tested.

• NMPB 96 (F/EU) examples tested according to the standard • EMPA StL 86, StL 95, StL 97 (CH), tested • CoRTN (GB), tested • FHWA (USA) tested with examples from the standard • TNM Road (USA) • Statens planverk report no. 48 (DK), 1980 tested • ASJ RTN Model B 1998 (Japan) Quality control done by OnoSoki • ASJ RTN Model B 2003 (Japan) Quality control done by OnoSoki • Nordic Traffic Noise Prediction 1996 tested • Nord2000 road, tests still in progress • Emissions calculation for Hungarian roads • Russian roads

Railway • SCHALL-03 (D), test questions are fulfilled and are on the CD,

additional details beyond the normal test questions have been tested. • Transrapid (D), the test questions are fulfilled • DIN 18005 (D) with emission calculation for rail tested • VBUSch (D) - tested • Calculation of Rail Noise CRN 99 (GB) tested • ONR 305011(A), tested • RMR 2002 (NL/EU), no official test questions available, in comparison

calculations with third party products there are still unresolved differences.

• SEMIBEL (CH) tested • Nordic Prediction Method for Train Noise NMT 98 (Scandinavia) tested • Nordic Rail Prediction Method Kilde Report 130 (Scandinavia) tested • Nord2000 rail, tests still in progress • Japan Narrow Gauge Railways (Japan), Quality control done by

OnoSoki • Emission calculation Hungarian railway • Russian railway • French rail NFS 31-133

Implemented Calculation Guidelines and Standards Seite • 35


Industry • DIN ISO 9613-2 tested • DIN 18005 Industry (D) tested • VDI 2714/2720 tested • TA Lärm simplified procedures tested • ÖAL-28 (A) and General Prediction Method for Industrial Plants (DK)

were tested on the basis of the version 4.2 in the framework of the quality assurance program. For the ÖAL 28 with the rubber band method for screening the test procedures were adjusted

• Nord2000 Industry (Scandinavia), tests still in progress • Construction Noise (Hong Kong) tested • BS5228 (GB) not tested – no test procedures available • ASJ CN Model 2002 (Japan), Quality control done by OnoSoki • Concawe (NL) untested • TNM Industry (USA) • VDI 3760 (D), tested

Aircraft noise

The aircraft noise model in accordance to the AzB was checked by Umwelbundesamt (German EPD). The calculation methods for single receivers, Grid Noise Maps and contour calculations are certified. • AzB • AzB 2007 • ECAC Doc 29 (incl. EU interim) • DIN 45643 • DIN 45684 • ÖAL 24

Air pollution standards • TA-Luft (Gauss-Model) tested • MISKAM und MISKAM Screening tested • AUSTAL 2000

Documents

SoundPLAN Update information 6 6.5... · SoundPLAN Update information 6.5 ... (BAB?xxxx.006). ... The data hosted in multiple files in the BDE are compressed into a