Noise, as defined by our expert in the field, is nothing more than unwanted sound. To understand all the work that Ineco carries out on linear noise, our expert on linear noise, Concepción Garcés, explains what types of noise exist, where we work and what benefits this type of work has for the population.
What do we call linear noise?
To define "linear noise" one should start by explaining what noise is, which is nothing more than unwanted sound. It is a sound that for one person may be pleasant but for another person it is annoying and prevents them from carrying out their normal activity. Within the noise studies that we carry out at Ineco, we have two types of analysis:
- Aeronautical noise studies: we analyse noise pollution caused by aircraft landings and take-offs at airports.
- Linear noise studies: the noise produced by linear-type infrastructure such as railway lines or roads.
For all this noise analysis we use three-dimensional acoustic simulation software that develops the three-dimensional models we work with.
For these models, we previously have to make an analysis of different layers (layers of buildings, cadastre, cartography...) that have to be previously processed in geographic information systems such as aGIS or QGIS.
What projects has Ineco been working on in this area?
The types of projects we work on are all types of projects: including environmental procedures, impact studies, construction or basic or layout projects. Depending on the discipline, we enter the design or construction phase.
Not only do we work within other projects, but we also have our own noise studio projects. At the moment, we are providing technical assistance to Adif for the preparation of the strategic noise maps for phase 4: these maps are developed every 5 years. Our work here is to provide technical support for the revision of these strategic noise maps for railways and roads. We are currently working with Mitma in which we have a team of people who review the strategic maps that are produced by the different consultancies that are awarded the contract to carry out this type of work. We also do this in Puertos del Estado, with which we have technical assistance to standardise the noise studies carried out by the different Port Authorities and to draw up a standard model specification for noise maps.
Within which management is work carried out?
We work within the Environment and Territory Management, which belongs to the Economics, Planning and Environment Deputy Directorate, within the Engineering and Consulting General Directorate.
In the Environment Management there is a team of highly qualified professionals, including mining, forestry, agricultural and industrial engineers, as well as environmental science graduates who handle a large number of disciplines and specialisations within the environment, such as fauna studies, waste management, landscape studies, noise pollution analysis and noise studies.
We also collaborate with other management areas in which we have an important role to play that complement our work: road and rail project management.
In noise studies, there is not only an analysis of noise pollution or the study of noise itself, but there are also other disciplines involved such as, for example, in the case of a project for acoustic screens: design and calculation of these structure, to see the effect of the affected services that may exist...
Within this environmental management and specifically in noise studies, there is a team of 10 professionals specialised in noise studies.
What improvements are obtained from this type of work?
Noise pollution is one of the most serious environmental impacts. It is currently one of the most socially demanded and most reported. People are becoming more and more aware of noise, they know that they have rights in this respect and they are aware that there is state legislation that all infrastructure must comply with. As a result, public administrations are trying to improve the noise caused by their infrastructure.
It should be pointed out that all work in the preliminary phases, prior to operation, is a more economical solution than working when the infrastructure is already in operation.
What we do at Ineco is trying to improve the acoustic comfort of the population and reduce this acoustic impact on the environment.
