The data includes the results of the noise survey (in Finnish) completed in Helsinki in the summer of 2017. The noise mapping in accordance with the EU Environmental Noise Directive was carried out for the third time. The previous surveys were carried out in 2007 and 2012. The City of Helsinki’s mapping project covered road, rail and air traffic noise.
Road and rail traffic noise mapping was carried out in the Helsinki metropolitan area in cooperation between the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, the Finnish Transport Agency and the Uusimaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. In order to define the noise levels and the numbers of residents and targets exposed to noise within the mapping area, the noise zones and facade noise levels were calculated using the following indicators: the day-evening-night noise level Lden and the night noise level Lnight at a height of 4 metres.
The 2017 noise calculations were carried out in accordance with the Environmental Noise Directive, using the Common Noise Assessment Methods in Europe (CNOSSOS-EU) for road and railway traffic noise. The previous mapping project in 2012 used pan-Nordic noise calculation methods, so the results are not fully comparable with each other. The new calculation method takes into account, for example, that some residents’ homes are located on the quieter façades of buildings. With the new population calculation method, the number of exposed persons is approximately half of those calculated with the old calculation method.
The share of Helsinki residents exposed to noise is in the same order of magnitude as before, taking into account the increase in the number of residents. New residential construction in noise areas leads to an increase when calculating the number of residents exposed, regardless of sufficient noise abatement measures being taken. The modelling does not take into account noise abatement measures in residential buildings.
The data is available for download in several formats, including JSON, KML, CSV, Esri Shape, and XML. Available formats can always be found under OutputFormat in the GetCapabilities query for the service.
Results of the EU noise survey
Using the new method, the number of people in Helsinki exposed to road and street traffic noise with a day-evening-night level Lden exceeding 55 dB is 163,270. The number of residents exposed was also calculated using the previous population calculation method in order to better compare the results from different years. Calculated in this way, the number of residents exposed to road traffic noise is 14% higher than in the 2012 survey.
Using the new method, the number of people exposed to railway noise with a day-evening-night level Lden exceeding 55 dB is 6,520. Using the old calculation method, the number of residents exposed has grown 20% since the 2012 mapping project. The growth in the number of residents exposed to such noise levels can primarily be explained by new construction alongside tracks.
Using the new method, the number of people exposed to tram traffic noise with a day-evening-night level Lden exceeding 55 dB is 23,920. Using the old method, this figure is 20% higher than that recorded in the 2012 mapping project. The reasons for the increase in the numbers exposed to tram traffic noise include changes to the rail network and rolling stock, and use of more detailed resident data in the calculations, as well as refinements to the methods used to determine tram noise emissions. On average, the results are consistent at city-level, but there may be significant local differences due to the refinements made.
The day-evening-night noise levels Lden for metro traffic are lower in this survey than in the previous survey rounds, but due to the construction of a new metro track, the number of people exposed has remained almost the same as in 2012. Using the new calculation method, the number of people exposed to tram traffic noise with a day-evening-night level Lden exceeding 55 dB is 3,290. The reduction in the noise level can be explained by the use of weather correction, changes to metro operations and the rolling stock used, refinements to resident data, and differences in the calculation models.
National noise mapping
As additional work for the noise study, calculations were carried out using a pan-Nordic calculation model for the noise quantities Laeq 7–22 and Laeq 22–7 at a calculation height of two metres.
In Finland, environmental noise is regulated based on the Government decision on reference values for noise levels (993/1992). The guideline values refer to the average noise levels during the day and night (LAeq) and are linked to the Nordic calculation model. The supplementation of the noise mapping was carried out because the results of Helsinki’s 2017 noise mapping project carried out in accordance with the EU’s Environmental Noise Directive cannot be directly compared with national noise level reference values. In addition, the introduction of the new CNOSSOS-EU noise calculation model in the noise mapping project carried out in accordance with the Environmental Noise Directive called for more comparable data on the number of residents exposed to noise compared to the 2012 noise survey.
The results obtained with the Nordic calculation model are highly consistent with the results of the previous survey round and the population growth. The number of residents exposed to an average daytime noise level for road and street traffic above 55 dB (LAeq 7–22) is 4% higher than in 2012.
Noise abatement action plan
On the basis of the noise mapping project, Helsinki’s Noise Control Action Plan for 2018–2022 is currently being drawn up. The action plan must be ready by 18 July 2018.
Coordinate systems
- Maintained in ETRS-GK25 (EPSG:3879), can be projected to other coordinate systems. See GetCapabilities query for other possible coordinate systems.
API addresses:
Layers
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_01_tieliikenne_L_Aeq_paiva
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_02_tieliikenne_L_Aeq_yo
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_03_maantiet_L_Aeq_paiva
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_04_maantiet_L_Aeq_yo
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_05_raitioliikenne_L_Aeq_paiva
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_06_raitioliikenne_L_Aeq_yo
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_07_metro_L_Aeq_paiva
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_08_metro_L_Aeq_yo
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_09_rautatiet_L_Aeq_paiva
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_10_rautatiet_L_Aeq_yo
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_11_tieliikenne_L_den
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_12_tieliikenne_L_yo
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_13_maantiet_L_den
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_14_maantiet_L_yo
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_15_raitioliikenne_L_den
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_16_raitioliikenne_L_yo
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_17_metro_L_den
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_18_metro_L_yo
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_19_rautatiet_L_den
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_20_rautatiet_L_yo
- Meluselvitys_2017_alue_yhteismelu_paiva
Noise report 2017: attributes, data types and their explanation and reliability data in information services
- tietopalvelu_id (int). Unique identifier of the feature. Reliable, comprehensively existing information.
- db_lo (decimal). The lowest decibel value of the noise.
- db_hi (decimal). The highest decibel value of the noise.
- datanomistaja (string). Data owner. Reliable, comprehensively existing information.
- paivitetty_tietopalveluun (date). Information service record date (yyyy-mm-dd). Reliable, comprehensively existing information.
- geom (GeometryPropertyType). Geometry of the feature.