INSPIRE REPORTING OF STRATEGIC NOISE MAPS · PDF fileINSPIRE Reporting of Strategic Noise Maps...

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INSPIRE REPORTING OF

STRATEGIC NOISE MAPS

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Version 2.0

May 2016

Informatie Vlaanderen ///

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2 /// 13 /// INSPIRE Reporting of Strategic Noise Maps

Auteur: O. Kissiyar & T. Akkermans

Datum aanmaak: 01/05/2016

Datum afdruk: 25 mei 2016

Interne bestandsnaam: INSPIRE REPORTING OF STRATEGIC NOISE MAPS

Documenthistoriek:

Versie Opmerking Datum Auteur Status

1.0 [opmerking] 15/04/216 OK & TA [status]

2.0 Updated after consultation 25/05/2016

Informatie Vlaanderen

Hoofdzetel

Boudewijnlaan 30, 1000 Brussel

+32 (0)2 553 72 02

Regionale zetel

Koningin Maria Hendrikaplein 70, 9000 Gent

+32 (0)9 276 15 00

[email protected]

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INSPIRE Reporting of Strategic Noise Maps /// 3 /// 13

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................................... 3

1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 5

2 Identified bottlenecks: ..................................................................................................................................... 6

2.1 INSPIRE Theme............................................................................................................................................ 6

2.2 Produced Data ............................................................................................................................................ 7

2.3 Input Data ................................................................................................................................................... 7

3 Tentative solutions .......................................................................................................................................... 9

3.1 Flanders ...................................................................................................................................................... 9

3.2 France – COVADIS ....................................................................................................................................... 9

4 Data Harmonisation ......................................................................................................................................... 9

5 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................................... 10

6 Annex 1: example Environmental Noise Maps .............................................................................................. 11

6.1 Raster Images with continuous values (Rc): this corresponds to the crude output of the acoustic model.

11

6.2 Raster Images discrete classes (Rd) .......................................................................................................... 11

6.3 Vector Files "jagged" contours (Vk) .......................................................................................................... 12

6.4 Vector Files "smoothed" contours (Vs) -> as we do ................................................................................. 12

7 Annex 3 : Contact details ............................................................................................................................... 13


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1 INTRODUCTION

On April 11th 2016 the commission published a minimum list of spatial datasets linked to reporting obligations in EU

environment legislation to be made available through the European INSPIRE Geoportal.

This list is a first draft of a minimum list of spatial datasets in the sense of Article 3.3 of Directive 2007/2/EC. A total of

46 unique spatial data sets were identified. These datasets are expected to be reported “as-is” as soon as feasible.

One of these datasets relates to directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental

noise (END). This memo is a result of the outcomes of the discussions at Flemish level and are meant to gather

responses and ultimately solutions at the national and European level to the described problems.

The European Noise Directive (END) EC/2002/49 obliges all member states to report their environmental noise levels

every 5 years. Strictly speaking this reporting is done by reporting exposure figures derived from modelled “strategic

noise maps”. These maps are constructed by entering a variety of spatial data on noise emission and noise attenuation

in a spatially-explicit noise propagation model (no measurements!). This model creates an output that takes the form

of spatial raster images with a horizontal resolution of 10 meters (single grid cell = 10x10m).

The current position of the Belgian INSPIRE community is to wait with data harmonization of data falling both under

INSPIRE and one or more other directives until the reporting requirements of all concerned environmental directives

have been aligned.

In this specific case the data that is currently provided in accordance to the directive 2002/49/EC cannot be provided

under the current INSPIRE specifications as at this point in time this would require a duplication of work and represents

an unfair burden on the already resource stretched administration. It is also our firm belief that the duplication of

what is essentially one dataset is not conform with the underlying philosophy of the ongoing REFIT exercise at the

Commission level.


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2 IDENTIFIED BOTTLENECKS:

Three different bottlenecks have been identified: the INSPIRE theme under which these data should be reported, the

format of the data to be reported under INSPIRE and the publication of other datasets needed for the production.

2.1 INSPIRE THEME

The exact theme under which the strategic noise maps should be reported is not clear.

Whilst seemingly trivial, it is of the utmost importance since the data harmonisation depends on the reporting theme.

The "priority INSPIRE datasets" list mentions theme "Annex III.11 Area management / restriction / regulation zones

and reporting units", but currently we are reporting these strategic noise maps under the theme "Inspire III .5 Human

Health & Safety ", as some other countries do.

Figure 1 shows under which 10 different themes these maps (or derived products) are currently being reported.

Figure 1 : Current reporting themes for END products (May 2016)

Whilst some countries (or regions) report these datasets under different themes it is clear that some uniformity

amongst member states might be useful.


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2.2 PRODUCED DATA

Directive 2002/49/EC stipulates that environmental noise maps have to be produced every 5 years for major roads,

railways and airports agglomerations.

In Flanders these maps are currently being produced by means of an acoustic model (software) which produces a

series of raster-grids, representing the noise level at each pixel in decibel (dB).

These grids are converted to isolines at 5dB interval before being published on the Geopunt geoportal (by using the

keyword "geluid" you can find the 6 noise maps1 ).

However, it is far from certain that this is the correct format to make the noise maps (publicly) accessible in compliance

with INSPIRE. From the data currently available on the INSPIRE GeoPortal the following inventory was made. There

are four types of maps that are being used interchangeably and / or published by the different member states (see

Annex 1) :

• Raster Images with continuous values (Rc): this corresponds to the crude output of the acoustic model.

• Raster Images discrete classes (Rd)

• Vector Files "jagged" contours (Vk)

• Vector Files "smoothed" contours (Vs) -> as we do

The "Data Specifications" from the "Human Health & Safety" do indeed mention noise, and even Directive 2002/49.

But the specifications are not written to describe this kind of modeled and full coverage maps.

This issue was already raised, but it barely elicited any responses on both the Thematic Cluster pages 23 and on the

INSPIRE Data Specifications Special Interest Group forum4. We believe that the inclusion of these datasets on the

priority lists makes a revival of this discussion appropriate.

We hereby invite other MS to join these online conversations.

2.3 INPUT DATA

The input data used for the production of the Environmental Noise Maps also needs to be published and reported

under the INSPIRE directive.

As listed in the Irish Guidance Note for Strategic Noise Mapping5 the noise mapping process requires a wide range of

input datasets, many of which need to be spatially referenced. An overview of the type of datasets required in order

to carry out the noise level calculations is shown below:

• 3D Model Environment:

o DTM – 3D surface model;

o DEM – 3D building heights;

o Break lines;

1 http://www.geopunt.be/catalogus/search?facet=catalog&q=geluid

2 https://themes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/discussion/view/53288/environmental-noise-directive

3 https://themes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/discussion/view/5333/human-health-and-safety-implementation-examples

4 https://inspire-forum.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mod/groups/topicposts.php?topic=2034&group_guid=1747

5 P28 of Guidance Note for Strategic Noise MApping version 2 (august 2011) – EPA Ireland -

https://www.epa.ie/pubs/advice/noisemapping/EPA%20Guidance%20Note%20for%20Strategic%20Noise%20Mapping%20(version%202).pdf


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o Embankments & Cuttings;

o Topography;

o Bridges / Underpasses; and

o Barriers.

• Road source:

o Carriageway centreline;

o Traffic flow;

o Traffic speed;

o %HGVs;

o Road surface type; and

o Road texture depth.

• Rail source:

o Rail centreline;

o Traffic flow;

o Train speed;

o Train type; and

o Railhead roughness.

• Industry source:

o Location;

o Process type; and

o Noise emission level.

• Aircraft Source:

o Flight track;

o Aircraft type; and

o Power level along flight track.

The analysis environment will typically require a number of datasets, including several not required for the noise

calculation process:

• Information on residential population numbers;

• Population distribution information;

• Identification of buildings as dwellings or other noise sensitive premises, such as schools and hospitals; and

• Location of premises with special noise insulation measures.

The gathering and reporting of some of these datasets has already happened (under Annex I &II), but for other data

this seems more challenging. Especially for the case of radar tracks from airports which are potentially subject to

copyrights.

Questions arise as to the feasibility, (restricted) public access (for data that may not be published) and maintenance.

At this point in time it seems appropriate to inquire about the plans of the other MS.


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3 TENTATIVE SOLUTIONS

This is not meant to be a comprehensive overview of solutions. It only highlights efforts that have come to our

attention. MS are invited to add or highlight their experiences and tentative solutions.

3.1 FLANDERS

Due to the state of the current requirements the Flemish approach boils down to converting the Shapefiles to GML

and subsequently reprojecting from the local CRS to ETRS89.

An additional problem of the current ambiguity is that there are difficulties to accurately define what a contractor

needs to deliver when subscribing to public procurements. The easy way out is saying that all data has to be INSPIRE

compliant. But how can one expect contractors to comply to requirements one has not yet fully understood.

3.2 FRANCE – COVADIS

At this point it is useful to mention the work of the French COVADIS6 workgroup on the strategic noise maps. A detailed

data standard7 was developed and published in November 2015. Especially interesting in this context are Chapters B

and C where a full proposal is worked out for a conceptual data model and physical data structure.

But it also highlights the problems we encounter in that local or national initiatives can be initiated, but they are not

imbedded in existing (INSPIRE) data specifications. In this light the work realized by COVADIS could be extended to all

Member States.

As far as we are aware this document from COVADIS is not binding, because there are no binding specifications for

strategic noise maps within Directive 2002/49. As such the application of the COVADIS data model does not guarantee

its compliance with a yet to be developed uniform data model for all MS. And thus the explicit risk exists that the data

harmonization effort would have to be started all over again.

4 DATA HARMONISATION

We would like to re iterate our position on the harmonization of the Environmental Noise Maps reported under the

requirements of Directive 2002/49/EC.

The data will be harmonized only if, and when the reporting requirements of both directives have been officially

aligned. The data that is currently provided in accordance to the directive 2002/49/EC cannot be provided under the

current INSPIRE specifications as this would require a duplication of work and represents an unfair burden on the

already resource stretched administration. It is also our firm belief that the duplication of what is essentially one

dataset is not conform with the underlying philosophy of the ongoing REFIT exercise at the Commission level.

This being said we are aware that our current approach does not answer the INSPIRE harmonization requirements.

External experts (SADL) were asked to verify our current (meta-) data for compliance with the INSPIRE Directive. The

conclusion has been that under the current circumstances where the data cannot be mapped to the requirements the

data might be exempt from the harmonization requirement. We are interested in the opinion of the other MS and of

the Commission.

6Commission de validation des données pour l'information spatialisée -

7 http://www.territoires-ville.cerema.fr/IMG/pdf/COVADIS_standard_BruitEnvironnement-CartographieBruit_v1-0_cle522f8b.pdf


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5 CONCLUSION

As pointed out in this document there are several barriers to the reporting of the Environmental Noise Maps

produced under the requirements of Directive 2002/49/EC.

In order to overcome these barriers we would like to hear in depth reactions from the other MS (outlining their

approach and problems if possible) and of the Commission.

We specifically appreciate the detailed work by COVADIS, but it is as yet no guarantee to reach INSPIRE conformity in

the future. For our purposes it remains to this day an excellent, but not standard initiative to solve the problem of

lacking guidelines.

As it seems most appropriate to start this discussion at the MIG-T level this document will be submitted as starting

point for a MIG-T issue.


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6 ANNEX 1: EXAMPLE ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE MAPS

6.1 RASTER IMAGES WITH CONTINUOUS VALUES (RC): THIS CORRESPONDS

TO THE CRUDE OUTPUT OF THE ACOUSTIC MODEL.

6.2 RASTER IMAGES DISCRETE CLASSES (RD)


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6.3 VECTOR FILES "JAGGED" CONTOURS (VK)

6.4 VECTOR FILES "SMOOTHED" CONTOURS (VS) -> AS WE DO


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7 ANNEX 2 : CONTACT DETAILS

More information can be gathered from the authors by contacting them at the following addresses

Mr. Tom Akkermans - Beleidsmedewerker geluidshinder

DEPARTEMENT LEEFMILIEU, NATUUR & ENERGIE

Afdeling Lucht, Hinder, Risicobeheer, Milieu & Gezondheid

� +32 (0)2 553 62 55

� [email protected]

Koning Albert II-laan 20 bus 8, 1000 Brussel

www.lne.be

Mr. Ouns Kissiyar - INSPIRE NCP

INFORMATIE VLAANDEREN

� +32 (0)9 276 14 80

� [email protected]

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