19-04-23

Application of Low Noise Road surfaces in the Netherlands:

Excellent results but not enough to meet the legal targets

Prepared by the Netherlands

For GRB 44 Sept 2006 Geneva

Informal document No. GRB-44-5(44th GRB, 4-6 September 2006agenda item 6.)

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

2 

Why should we reduce noise? Noise = Health

DALY= Disability Adjusted Life Years

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

3 

Noise abatement

Health Laws Levels of protection

Conventional way: barriers and insulation.

High growth of traffic uncontrollable rise of cost

NL: 4 bln EURO for national infrastructure alone

All studies: source abatement is most effective and most cost efficient

(max 1 bln EURO)

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

4 

Sources of road traffic noise

engine

intake

exhaust

gearbox tyre/road contact

wind

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

5 

Source related noise abatement in the road sector

• Direct noise abatement at the source

• Vehicles (power train and wind noise)

• Tires

• Road surfaces

• Indirect noise abatement at the source:

• Town & infrastructure planning

• Traffic management−Speed & Driving behavior

−Restriction of vehicles allowed in areas or time

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

6 

Responsibilities

• Vehicle Noise limits: EU and UN/ECE

• Tire Noise limits: EU and UN/ECE

• Road surfaces: national or local

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

7 

Potential of traffic noise reduction engine, tyre and road surface

0

2

4

6

8

10

red

uct

ion

po

ten

tial

in

dB

40 km/h 70 km/h 100 km/h

enginetyre

road

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

8 

Porous asphalt:

Since 1940? reduction of splash & spray on airport runways

Since 1980: application as low noise road surface (-3 dB at 120 km/h)

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

9 

Acoustic optimisation of porous asphalt

1990: Two layered porous asphalt with improved surface texture

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

 

new types of silent Roads

2000: application of semi porous thin layers (very smooth

surface texture

Two-layered Porous Asphalt

Thin Layer (semi porous)

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

11 

Noise reducing Asphalt Layers

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

30 50 70 90 110 130

car - speed [km/h]

SP

B-l

evel [d

B(A

)]

Dense Asphalt Concrete

Porous Asphalt 0/16 (standard)

Two - layered PA (fine)

Silent thin Layer

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

12 

History of low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1990 1995 2000 2005

aa

nta

l s

tille

we

gd

ek

pro

du

cte

nN

um

ber

of

reg

iste

red

low

no

ise

road

su

rfac

e p

rod

uct

s

2001: Stimulation program Min Env

2004: Innovation program

Min Env + Min Transp

1998: Type approval system

Min Env

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

13 

Cwegdek lichte motorvoertuigen

40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130

-8,0

-6,0

-4,0

-2,0

0,0

2,0

4,0

Snelheid [km/h]

Re

du

cti

e [

dB

(A)]

2L ZOAB

SMA

1L ZOAB

uitgeborsteld beton

fijngebezemd beton

oppervlakbew erking

beton discontinu 4/7

2L ZOAB fijne toplaag

Geosilent

Novachip

Microville

Tw inlay-M

ZSA-O

Micropave

Stilstone

Fluisterfalt

Accoduit

Tapisville

Nobelpave

Micro-Top 0/8

Microflex 0/6

Micro-Top 0/6

DuBoFalt

ZSA-SD

Redufalt

SilenTONE

ZSM

VIAGRIP®

0 = reference

- 2

- 4

- 6

- 8 dB(A)

50 km/h 120 km/hspeed

Croad for light vehicles

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

14 

Status low noise surfaces in the Netherlands 2006

Highways:

•60% single layer porous

•3% double layer porous

•Pilots on thin layers

Future

•Double layer = standard in high noise regions

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

 

Can we sit back and relax now?

Inhabitants of EU15 exposed to road traffic noise (data from 2000):

>55 dB(A) >65 dB(A) >75dB(A)

Percentage of population 32% 13% 2%

Number of inhabitants (mln) 120 49 8

Conclusion: NO!

the necessary reduction is much bigger than the 5 dB we get from road surfaces

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

16 

Spread in vehicle noise levels build up of two components: road surface effect, tyre/vehicle effect

Geneva, Sept 2006Low noise road surfaces in the Netherlands

17 

What if we do not achieve the vehicle/tire targets?

Health targets are often not reachable

Local situations will enforce more often drastic measures

• drastic reduced speed

• Toll tunnel

• total vehicle ban

Final cost for society is much higher than necessary

19-04-23

The endThank you for your attention