An innovative approach for the realization of a noise action plan: the experience of Vicenza agglomeration

The Environmental Noise Directive introduced two useful instruments for dealing with noise management and planning: strategic noise map and noise action plan. The first uses noise simulations to define a clear picture of the acoustic environment generated by some selected sources in a study area. The outcomes of noise maps are then used for the realization of the noise action plan, a tool that allows to recognize areas in which the noise exposure is higher than the law limit and to plan tailored mitigation measures. The European Commission supplied guidelines for the realization of strategic noise maps, and the adoption of the recent Directive 996/2015/CE has introduced a common method for noise assessment. Contrarily a standardized approach for the definition of noise action plans has not been defined yet. The EU funded Project LIFE+ 2009 NADIA (Noise Abatement Demonstrative and Innovative Actions and information to the public) aimed at defining and testing an innovative approach for the realization of noise action plans specifically designed to meet the needs of the involved public administrations. In particular the procedure allows not only to identify the noisiest areas, in which mitigation actions are more urgent, but also to select the most efficient actions from the technical and economic point of view. The paper describes the proposed methodology for the realization of noise action plans within the NADIA Project and an example of its application for the case study of the agglomeration of Vicenza. This application proved the technical feasibility of the proposed method, which can give new and useful indications for a standardized approach in noise action plans preparation throughout Europe.