Noise effects/Effects of noise

Concerning the effects of noise IfADo adopted a leading role in various interdisciplinary and multi-center research initiatives, aiming at a global reduction of traffic noise. Current research activities focus on the identification of fundamental knowledge that allows effect-oriented evaluation of noise and adequate dimensioning of noise insulation measures while taking into account the various modes of traffic noise and their temporal-spectral structure. In the fore are acute and long-term consequences of noise experienced during working hours on performance and mood as well as on subsequent sleep and the assessment of a temporal traffic ban.

With the application of the Directive 2002/49/EU that concerns environmental noise and aims at a high level of environmental protection and health large interdisciplinary and multi-center research projects are supported by the States, the Federal Government and the European Union. IfADo was already involved into the conceptualizing of this research and plays a leading role in the current activities. The respective research aims at the provision of basic knowledge for the global reduction of noise by technical measures at the source (i. e. the individual vehicles), by operational (traffic management) and by administrative measures. A further task is the evaluation of noise abatement measures.
 

Current projects are

• The Europäische Akademie (European Academy to study the consequences of scientific and technological advance) has initiated a project where the problems of noise are considered from an interdisciplinary point of view initiated by. Involved are several disciplines such as physiology, psychology, medicine, philosophy, engineering, economy, and jurisprudence.
• A multi-center project 'Quiet traffic' supported by the Ministry of Research and Education focuses on the significance of different traffic modes, of various frequency spectra, of the temporal distribution of noise during the day and during the night and of the isolated and the combined influence of various traffic modes on mood, performance, communication, rest and sleep.
• The EU-funded Project SEFA (Sound Engineering for Aircraft) aims at the design of frequency spectra of aircraft noise that annoy less than the spectra of currently operating aircrafts.
• The EU-funded project SILENCE (Quieter surface transport in urban areas) focuses on the reduction of noise from surface transport. Under the aspect of performance, mood and physiological reactions the effects of noise emitted from single and from multiple sources, with low and high density, various temporal structures over several hours up to entire work shifts are investigated. Test with high demands of memory capacity will be applied. The effects are indicated by cardiovascular and endocrine reactions.