Noise Mapping: the evolution of Italian and European Legislation

Maps are the most effective methods to represent environmental noise. Noise mapping allows to indicate clearly several aspects of environmental noise: the state of acoustic pollution, noise limits, breaches of limit values, acoustic zones, number of people affected in a particular area. The recent Italian and European legislation in the field of acoustic pollution prescribes the creation of maps. Data about environmental noise levels should therefore be collected, collated or reported in compliance with comparable criteria among the EU member states. This fact implies the use of harmonised indicators and evaluation methods. The recent European Directive 2002/49/EC (June 25, 2002) establishes that each EU member states must apply Lden and Lnight noise indicators when creating strategic noise mapping. Italian and European legislation with particular reference to noise mapping are compared. The most important Italian noise indicators are described such as LVA indicator, peculiar to noise in the surrounding airport areas. Lastly, the effects of the new European indicators on noise mapping in Italy have been evaluated.