Mobility is a basic human need and an essential precondition for economic growth. But mobility on roads, on rails, and in the air is associated with noise. With more and more people feeling affected by and complaining about noise, traffic noise has become a severe environmental problem. If "livability" in traffic noise affected areas is to be maintained or even enhanced without letting noise bottle-neck economical development, measures must be taken to reduce noise levels created on roads, rails and near airport communities.
To help support noise abatement measures, manufacturers and operators, academia and research institutions, and government agencies have decided to join forces and have established a research network in Germany, dedicated to traffic noise abatement.
The strategy is to create an open scientific platform for communication, exchange of information, and cooperation in transparent and interdisciplinary R&D projects. By concentrating their research efforts, the partners hope to increase their output and optimize the use of resources.
To achieve an objective and subjective reduction of perceived noise loads a two-pronged approach is planned. One goal is to enhance noise awareness and demonstrate scientific responsibility in support of Germany's environmental policy, the other is to augment the scientific knowledge and explore technical solutions that will lead to reduction of noise at the source, quieter traffic routes and less noisy operational procedures.