Environmental Noise Mapping 2017

Welsh Government

The Environmental Noise Directive required the Welsh Government to produce noise maps in 2017. This data package contains all the sound level contours calculated in 2017, in 5-decibel “A-weighted” contour bands. It also contains spatial data on the sources modelled (the major roads and industrial sites in agglomerations).

Note: (1) Although described as noise maps for the purposes of the Directive, it would be more correct to call these sound maps. The term noise refers to unwanted or harmful sound. (2) The values are calculated, not measured, and should be treated with caution when looking at specific locations. (3) Human response to industrial noise is highly dependent on the nature of the sound being heard and on the level of masking by road traffic, and these factors are not reflected in the industrial noise maps, making them of limited practical value to regulators.

Road traffic noise (for major roads)

  • LA10,18h: indicates the average of the sound levels exceeded for 10% of each hour over the 18-hour period from 0600 to 2400. Not identical to the LA10,18h indicator used in the Noise Insulation Regulations, as these values are calculated at a height of 4 metres and do not include façade reflections.

  • Lday: indicates the average sound level for the 12-hour period from 0700 to 1900.

  • Lden: indicates the average sound level around the clock with extra weighting given to the evening and night periods.

  • Levening: indicates the average sound level for the 4-hour period from 1900 to 2300.

  • Lnight: indicates the average sound level for the 8-hour period from 2300 to 0700. Similar to the LAeq,8h indicator used in TAN11 assessments, but here calculated at a height of 4 metres rather than 1.2-1.5 metres.

  • LAeq,16h: indicates the average sound level for the 16-hour period from 0700 to 2300. Similar to the LAeq,16h indicator used in TAN11 assessments, but here calculated at a height of 4 metres rather than 1.2-1.5 metres.

Industrial noise (for industry in agglomerations)

  • Lday: indicates the average noise level for the 12-hour period from 0700 to 1900.

  • Lden: indicates the average noise level around the clock with extra weighting given to the evening and night periods.

  • Levening: indicates the average noise level for the 4-hour period from 1900 to 2300.

  • Lnight: indicates the average noise level for the 8-hour period from 2300 to 0700. Similar to the LAeq,8h indicator used in TAN11 assessments, but here calculated at a height of 4 metres rather than 1.2-1.5 metres.

  • LAeq,16h: indicates the average noise level for the 16-hour period from 0700 to 2300. Similar to the LAeq,16h indicator used in TAN11 assessments, but here calculated at a height of 4 metres rather than 1.2-1.5 metres.

Supplementary data sets

  • Industry: Industrial sites identified in 2016 as operating under Part A environmental permits, and located within or just outside an agglomeration.

  • Major roads: roads identified in 2016 as having more than 3 million vehicle passages per year.

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Type:
Spatial data
Category:
Environment

Environmental resources, protection and conservation. Examples: environmental pollution, waste storage and treatment, environmental impact assessment, monitoring environmental risk, nature reserves, landscape

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Creation date:
01 December 2017
Licence:
Open Government Licence for Public Sector Information (OGL)

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Copyright:

None

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Language
English
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