NOISE AWARENESS FOR SMART CITIES

Sergio Luzzi and Rossella Natale

Vie En.Ro.Se. Ingegneria, Florence, Italy

Raffaele Mariconte
INAIL, Rome, Italy e-mail: sergio.luzzi@vienrose.it In this paper some smart noise awareness activities and campaigns connected to the International Noise Awareness Day (INAD) are described and proposed, together with case studies developed in the frame of past four INAD editions (2010-2013), .

1.

Introduction

A Smart city, with its intelligent information and communication system, should be the perfect place where to develop awareness on environmental problems. At the same time, citizens and stakeholders involvement in smart cities design is essential. The campaign called INAD (International Noise Awareness Day) was launched by the American Center for Hearing and Communication in 1995 and celebrated every year on April 24th or another day around. In Europe, the EAA (European Acoustics Association) and some National Societies of Acoustics, together with Governments and Local Authorities, support yearly activities in schools to raise awareness on noise and its effect, culminating in the final event of INAD. Students and teachers are invited, with the help of experts in acoustics, to study and work, giving in this way their own direct contribution to the campaign, in terms of participative design of quieter schoolyards and green areas open to neighborhood as well as more comfortable classrooms and other rooms of school buildings. In the frame of INAD, Inter-active soundscapes based methods, networking among schools of different countries and specific educational games on acoustics have been produced and collected.

2.

The Smart Cities approach

A city can be defined as smart when investments in human and social capital and traditional (transport) and modern communication infrastructure (ICT) are oriented to improve sustainable economic development and high quality of life, with a wise management of natural resources, through participatory action and engagement1.

ICSV20, Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013

20th International Congress on Sound and Vibration (ICSV20), Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013 Smart cities use ICT to be more intelligent and efficient in the use of resources, resulting in cost and energy savings, improved service delivery and quality of life, and reduced environmental footprint,all supporting innovation and the low-carbon economy3,4.

Figure 1. The smart cities chain of dimensions.

In July 2012, the European Commission issued a Communication on the Smart Cities and Communities European Innovation Partnership (SCC EIP). The Partnership seeks to pool available resources to further a more effective integration between the energy, transport and information and communication technologies (ICT) sectors in cities and communities. The main aim is to enable innovative, integrated and efficient technologies, placing cities at the centre of innovation. According to this recent initiative of EU Commission, a network for Smart Cities and Communities development has been established, together with a Smart Cities Stakeholder Platform. A Platform Annual Conference brings together technology developers, city representatives, high-level financial managers and EU-level policy makers from across the European Union aiming to review achievements and look at the next steps for application of smart solutions in member cities and countries. A stakeholder-driven, bottom-up, and concrete smart cities agenda, named Smart Cities 10 Years Rolling Agenda 2, has been defined in January 2013. Another project, named European Smart Cities, dealing with medium-sized cities and their perspectives for development, proposed a ranking methodology that considers smartness of cities, applying a model based on six characteristics of smartness (governance, economy, mobility, environment, living and people) and developed through a clever combination of them. The project2, coordinated by the Centre of Regional Science at the Vienna University of Technology, involved 70 EU cities as a representative city sample fulfilling two criteria: cities of medium size and covered by accessible and relevant databases with data on population and some functional data.

3.

Noise Awareness in Cities

One important aspect that has to be considered is making a city smarter is the awareness of its inhabitants. Awareness must regard all aspects of smartness, and can be a part of smartness itself. Noise Awareness Day is an event organized for the first time in USA in 1995 by Centre for Hearing and Communication, to promote the awareness on long term exposure to noise and its effect on health. Since 1995, every year, some private and public institutions, together with schools, in a growing number of nations, organize initiatives involving students and citizens.

ICSV20, Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013

20th International Congress on Sound and Vibration (ICSV20), Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013 3.1 Awareness and Participation The International Noise Awareness Day represents an opportunity to raise awareness among children, young people and communities on problems associated with exposure to excessive noise and to educate them in listening to sounds and soundscapes. INAD involves schools and communities6. In the frame of INAD initiatives, schools can have the role to heighten student awareness about noise. They can ask to young acoustics to have an age-appropriate lesson on noise issue and its impact on hearing.; students can measure and compare the loudness levels in different parts of the school (i.e., library, cafeteria); students can choose a noise issue (i.e., noisy toys, transportation, movies,soundscape) and write to officials to effect change; they can follow the recipe for the Quiet Diet and observe no noise for a minute on International Noise Awareness Day,in the same time for every school around the world. On INAD Communities can hold a town meeting to "sound off on noise" inviting local officials from the Police Department, City Council and the Department of Environmental Protection; attend public meetings, meet with town or city officials and educate them about the harzard of noise; request a Mayoral Proclamation for INAD; analyze local noise ordinances and enforcement procedures and request a Model Noise Ordinance to share with local officials. 3.2 The International Noise Awareness Day experience In the past four years AIA (the Acoustic Society of Italy), working group has involved schools of different level in educational events on the theme of Noise Awareness. Original materials have been produced and distributed in schools, the Quiet Diet has been presented and a web connection among schools of the world participating at the event has been established on April 24th or another day around. A very active facebook group has been created, developed and updated in the following months with news and information regarding sound and noise, stimulating interest of the numerous young and adult members of the group itself.

Figure 2. INAD-Italy: some activities in Italian Schools

ICSV20, Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013

20th International Congress on Sound and Vibration (ICSV20), Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013 AIA has also defined the general objectives of Noise Awareness Day Italia, the sensibilization program to be implemented in Italy, drafting the initiatives yearly organized in Italian schools, aiming to: inform and increase awareness of students and citizens on noise reduction by social media (posters, publications, social networks, etc..); measure and assess noise in schools (indoor and outdoor); design solutions for noise mitigation and improve acoustic climate; describe soundscapes of schools and scholastic gardens; write and / or draw an advertising campaign on noise; understand, define and observe a "quiet diet"; distribute and collect questionnaires and interviews about sound quality in schools and in living environments; invent games and playing activities related to acoustic and noise; take a minute for listening to silence; create links between schools in different cities and countries to share the actions taken.

4.

Smart Acoustic solutions and their feedbacks

4.1 Intelligent noise barriers Multi-functional is the keyword for smart noise barrier. The main function of an acoustic barrier is to reduce noise at receivers (users of a building or a specific area in general), that is, in other words to protect a space from a noise source. However this elements can have also complementary functions related to a particular contest: urban equipment, energy, information and communication, better if in interactive mode. Intelligent barriers use these needs and hotspots transforming them in benefits. A number of researches and application are moving in this sense. Along an Italian highway A22 an acoustic barrier is fully assembled with solar panels. Barriers use this energy to light up the road and some residential quarter as well16. Some projects are studying the way to reverse the idea of road as environmentally aggressive, in a smooth energy producer that exploits both natural factors present in the site (sun, wind ...) and the passage of vehicles, to produce renewable energy. Through the use of smart technologies and smart solutions environmental impact is reduced and safety for drivers increased. ICT dedicated systems allow smart monitoring and control of noise and air pollution, at the same time an intelligent and balanced use of photovoltaic and wind-turbines modules help road safety in terms of better visibility and anti-frost asphalt with electro-heated5. In the pilot case of the EU funded project Life+ HUSH (Harmonization of Urban noise reduction Strategies for Homogeneous action plans) traditional intervention for noise reduction has been adapted to end-users wishes. A noise barrier has been built with a continuous bench very useful as a part od playground for children, and as a seat for teachers and parents as well7.

Figure 3. Noise barrier for energy production16,8,5

The barrier can help in communication: barriers with textile applications are commercially available for advertising. The micro-perforated layer thanks to an innovative mounting system can be simply and timely changed10.

ICSV20, Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013

20th International Congress on Sound and Vibration (ICSV20), Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013

Figure 4. Noise barrier for fun and comfort7,9

Figure 5 Noise barrier for communication10,9

4.2 Other Smart Acoustic solutions in noise awareness Working in close cooperation with local residents and businesses, the Dutch province of Gelderland and the municipality of Wijchen come up with an innovative integrated solution to reduce traffic noise and improve the community, creating an historic and sustainable solution. Over a series of open discussions with the residents and business owners of Alverna, the underlying principles for the reconstruction of the Graafseweg were drawn up. This local involvement was essential, as it is they who know the situation best. Their experience and expertise helped define the following basic aims for the work: Improve environmental aspects, in particular reduce traffic noise and improve air quality Improve traffic flow, reduce congestion Accentuate the green of the surrounding area Preserve the appearance of Alverna Preserve or improve Alverna as an attractive place to live To reduce traffic noise, five basic measures were adopted which, together, would be as effective as the four meter high sound barriers: Move and reduce the number of lanes of traffic Partly sunken road Low-level sound barriers Use of special quiet asphalt Reduce the maximum speed through Alverna The combination of these measures leads to a reduction in noise levels of more than 10 dB. Based on the invaluable input from residents and businesses, the aims of the project led to a new design being drawn up by the province of Gelderland and the municipality of Wijchen: Traffic lanes are now joined and have been sunken by 0.5 meter

ICSV20, Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013

20th International Congress on Sound and Vibration (ICSV20), Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013 Low-level sound barriers were designed for both sides of the road - unlike the original plans, the new solutions are just one meter high The sound barriers have a stone-like surface, a reminder of the Roman road that once traversed the region This special historical element has been enhanced by green surroundings, as the sound barriers are covered with earth to enable grass to grow on the banking The sustainable plans also include a tree planting scheme Energy-saving LED street lighting provides a warm welcome to passes by and locals alike Reducing the speed limit from 80 to 50 kilometres per hour not only reduces noise but also CO2 emissions Improved air quality and newly created space is enabling the creation of attractive pedestrianised areas for caf and restaurant terraces New and enhanced cycle routes link neighbouring countryside with the village and beyond

Figure 6. The final design of the Graafseweg

The Nauener Platz city parks new design in Berlin allows for a more attractive acoustic environment cutting off traffic noise. It was developed by a consortium led by the Technical University of Berlin. This new design was developed in order to offer a creative solution to an excessive noise problem and used an innovative approach to its design by involving the local community and businesses in the area to help in the process by holding public discussions and workshops in order to generate ideas and develop a design for their local park. The project also organised sound walks to ensure that local people were able to share their views and expertise in the reconstruction of the parks soundscape, by identifying areas which they felt were most noisy and so on. The overall design featured the installation of audio devices in sculptures and benches which play bird and water sounds as well as building a 1.5 metre soundproof barrier created using stone and plants. Although some traffic can still be heard it has created a more pleasant environment throughout the park. The redesign of the park has also included more attractive playgrounds, sports areas and green spaces which have increased the level of lively sounds from human activities. Both the projects described above, have been awarded with The European Soundscape Award, a prize promoted by The European Environment Agency (EEA) and Noise Abatement Society in order to raise awareness about the health impacts of noise and to reward European initiatives that can help reduce excessive noise11. NSG, the Dutch Noise Abatement Society, wanted to tackle one of the top three most complained about noise in Holland scooters and mopeds. They launched a campaign targeted at 16-24 year old to entice them to switch to electric scooters, with the Electric Heroes Go smart, Go electric initiative. The E-scooter hardly produces any noise and is far cheaper to run than traditional petrol/diesel ones. Young people were encouraged to sign up for the 2 day e-scooter test-drive, produce a movie of the experience, upload it, and be in with a chance of winning an e-scooter if the public voted their video the best. The NSG is continuing to raise awareness of e-scooters and the residual benefits to city dwellers13.

ICSV20, Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013

20th International Congress on Sound and Vibration (ICSV20), Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013

Figure 7. Nauener Platz city parks new design

Figure 8 Homepage of Electric Heroes Go smart, Go electric initiative

Some examples in Social Innovation14 strategies for noise awareness are described below. Gloucester City Council has streamlined the noise complaint system with the aim to mitigate the source of the noise more efficiently, and minimize its effects on residents. The environmental protection team has abandoned the use of Noise Log Sheets and aims to dispatch an officer upon receiving a complaint in order to witness the noise as it is occurring (an example of holistic and sustainable approach)12. lmbridge City Council created an engaging and interactive Online Noise Toolkit, empowering local residents and businesses to deal with noise 24/7 through pro-active on-line reporting12.

Figure 9. Extract from the homepage of Elmbridge Borough Council online noise toolkit

Another smart example for noise managing and open public information and consultation, is the live data streams from airplane flights around Schiphol Airport, based on Google Earth too for a user - friendly visualization15.

ICSV20, Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013

20th International Congress on Sound and Vibration (ICSV20), Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013

Figure 10. Schiphol real time flights and noise data

5.

Conclusions

Cities worldwide are looking for creative and innovative solutions to reduce energy consumption, preserve enviroment by pollutants, while developing culture, creativity and economic activity.A Smart City is a well performing city, built on the smart combination of endowments and a ctivities of self-decisive, independent and aware citizens. In the frame of Smart Cities agendas, including both strategies and practical tools to help administrations and their technology providers in building their smart cities, awareness campaigns could give a clear and effective contribution. In this paper after a general definition of smart cities, some examples of smart solutions in connection with acoustics have been shawn. Finally the importance of awareness campaigns for students and citizens as a effective method of education in the field of Acoustics could help in finding smart solutions as final results of participative design projects.. Some smart solutions concerning urban noise have been proposed in the frame of INAD campaign.

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ICSV20, Bangkok, Thailand, 7-11 July 2013