Noise Assessment of Espoo and Kauniainen 2022

The aim of the environmental noise directive (2002/49/EC) of the European Parliament and the Council is to define a common operating model for the community. It is used to avoid, prevent or reduce the harms of exposure to environmental noise, which is also considered noise disturbance. The directive requires noise mapping and noise abatement action plans to be carried out every five years for the areas with population concentrations of more than 100,000 inhabitants, main traffic routes and large airports.

In the Helsinki metropolitan area, the noise mapping was carried out in cooperation between Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen and the Finnish Transport Agency. The Uusimaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment was also involved in the project team. Based on the noise mapping of the metropolitan area, each city publishes its own noise mapping report. Espoo and Kauniainen will carry out a joint report. Based on the report, a noise abatement action plan will be carried out in accordance with the environmental noise directive and it must be completed by July 18, 2024.

The calculations and report templates for the report are provided by Promethor Oy. The noise calculations were carried out in the mapping area with the CNOSSOS-EU calculation method at a calculation height of four meters using the noise level values day-evening-night noise level Lden and the night noise level Ln of the environmental noise directive. In addition, the noise calculations were carried out with Nordic prediction method at a calculation height of two meters using national noise level quantities, equivalent noise levels LAeq,7-22 and LAeq,22-7. In the mapping, noise zone maps were prepared, and the number of residents and sensitive objects exposed to noise was estimated. The calculations are based on 2021 data.

Based on the mapping, the number of residents in the areas where the day-evening-night noise level Lden caused by street and road traffic exceeds the value of 55 dB, is 74,027 in Espoo. The number of residents exposed to railway noise level of 55 dB is 2,594 in Espoo.

The number of residents in the areas where the day-evening-night noise level Lden caused by street and road traffic exceeds the value of 55 dB, is 77,375 in Espoo. The number of residents exposed to railway noise with LAeq,7-22 value of more than 55 dB, is 975 in Espoo.