Data batch direct download service (WFS): Strategic noise maps of land transport infrastructure (road and rail networks) of the Charente-Maritime department

The European Directive 2002/49/EC on the assessment and management of noise in the environment, aims to assess in a harmonised manner exposure to noise in the Member States members. It defines them as representations of data describing a sound situation according to a noise indicator, indicating exceedances of limit values, the number of people exposed. Noise maps are not prescriptive. These are information documents that are not legally enforceable. As they can, however, complement a Local Planning Plan (LDP). As part of an urban travel plan (UDP), maps can be used for establish baselines and target areas where better traffic management is necessary. To quantify the level of noise emitted by an infrastructure over an average day, two indices are used, the Lden index and the Ln index, recommended for all modes of transport at European level: Lden: representative indicator of the average level over all 24 hours of the day, LN: representative indicator of the average sound level for the period 22h-6h. Noise levels are assessed using digital models (computer software) integrating the main parameters that influence noise and its spread (traffic data, field topology, meteorological data, etc.). The noise maps thus produced are then crossed with the demographics of the areas concerned in order to make an estimate of the population exposed to nuisances sound. The noise level shown on the noise maps is derived from a calculation method which gives approximate values and often higher than reality (maximists) in an area of noise considered critical. An in situ noise control can determine precisely the noise at which a construction and its occupants may be exposed. In Charente-Maritime, noise maps relate only to noise sources related to land transport (road and rail).