Strategic noise mapping
The strategic noise mapping is used to better identify and prioritize relevant actions on noise.
The European Union has imposed Directive 2002/49/EC concerning ”The evaluation and management of environmental noise”, in order to define an integrated common approach for preventing exposure of the population to high noise levels and, thus, reducing the harmful effects of noise on the population. Noise levels must be mapped in all larger municipalities (>100,000 inhabitants) and around major roads, railways and airports in accordance with the Ordinance on environmental noise. The impending mapping covers 2021.
Target group
Municipal authority and the Swedish Transport Administration.
Reporting
Municipal authorities and the Swedish Transport Administration must report their data to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency by 30 June 2022. Among other things, the strategic mapping will show the number of people and homes exposed to noise in different noise bands, the exposed areas and maps showing the noise situation.
The mapping will be carried out using the EU indicators Lden and Lnight. In addition to reporting using these EU indicators, noise levels should ideally also be reported in equivalent levels and maximum levels (Swedish indicators). This will enable the impending measures to be related to the Swedish guidance values for equivalent and maximum noise levels. When the mapping has been completed, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency will compile and submit Sweden’s information.
The mapping for 2021 will be the first time CNOSSOS-EU will be used and a new reporting system that are compliant with INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe). The goal is to harmonize the mapping and make data easier available.
The CNOSSOS-EU assessment method
From 31 December 2018, it is obligatory to use the new CNOSSOS-EU (Common Noise Assessment Methods in EU) assessment methods in connection with strategic noise mapping (in accordance with Directive 2002/49/EC and Swedish Ordinance 2004:675).
This means that it is mandatory to use in the fourth phase of noise mapping, i.e. the phase that must be reported to the Commission in 2023.
Previous noise mapping
The mapping that was reported to the EU 2022-2023 included municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants (Huddinge, Stockholm, Uppsala, Eskilstuna, Linköping, Norrköping, Jönköping, Malmö, Lund, Nacka, Halmstad. Helsingborg, Gävle, Göteborg, Borås, Örebro, Västerås och Umeå). Roads carrying more than three million vehicles per year, railways with more than 30,000 trains per year and airports with more than 50,000 flights per year were also included. In addition to this, the Swedish Transport Administration mapped around 4,000 km of roads, approximately 1,400 km of railway and noise levels at Arlanda, Landvetter and Bromma airports. All mapping concerns conditions as at 2021.