A holistic approach to noise reduction
Noise as an environmental pollutant remains a major concern, given unabated increases in freight and passenger transport. Researchers acknowledge how critical it is to reduce the adverse effects of noise while respecting the need for mobility. The latter is in turn vital for ensuring economic prosperity and wealth in an expanding Europe. The 'Advanced noise reduction systems' (Calm II) project focused on synchronising and encouraging research on European transport noise through a holistic system approach, taking into account all related research areas. The initiative was designed to facilitate organisation networking, the coordination of activities and the dissemination and exchange of knowledge. Calm II efforts were also directed at updating the Community Noise Research Strategy Plan. Towards these ends, the EU-funded project included the most relevant stakeholders and agencies to support European Commission work on an agenda for future transport noise R&D. To achieve their various objectives, team members held public workshops with project coordinators, researchers and other stakeholders. The events facilitated cross-sectoral information exchange, thus engaging young researchers, promoting the coordination of European noise research, disseminating project results and elaborating new technology requirements and research needs. Calm II also organised a final conference to consolidate work and efforts over the three-year project duration. European Technology Platforms (ETPs) such as the European Road Transport Advisory Council (ERTRAC) were an important part of Calm II, and enabled a broad basis on which to establish results as well as coordination with the Strategic Research Agendas of various ETPs. Other project successes included the launch of a reworked interactive website, a project database offering a freely accessible inventory of noise research projects, the 'Blue book' (an inventory of the most relevant European noise research projects), and an updated strategy paper representing the Noise Research Strategy Plan. project outcomes contribute to the vision for 2020 'to avoid harmful effects of noise from all sources and preserve quiet areas'.
