Effective Noise Control

17 Feb 2020 Editorial Team

Mapping software is a crucial tool to tackle nuisance noise. It is used to identify the cause, location and propagation of sound. With a noise map, it is possible to show not only current noise levels but also projected ones. This means that noise can be mapped and mitigated at the building design stage before a single concrete block is laid. Planners can then test scenarios and assess the best options to reduce excessive noise and protect workers and communities from its harmful effects.

Key new features

In the main library, the Geo-Database, where data is stored, the Situation Manager has a number of additional functions, improving how information can be filtered and displayed. This enables the user to work more efficiently and easier.
Improvements for importing large amounts of data. For example, objects can now be automatically divided into areas or tiles in a very clearly structured way.
Many variants can now be managed in an industrial building or a room. For example, different planned acoustic concepts with different screens or absorbers can be compared for an office, or the acoustic improvement from enclosing loud machines in a factory hall. All surfaces and sources within an industrial building/room can be displayed colour-coded in the Geo-Database as well as in the noise map display. This enables quick graphical control of the assigned absorption, transmission or emission spectra.
Complete revision of the interface in the Building AcousticsOutside (ISO 12354-3:2017) section. This is a calculation model to estimate the sound insulation against outdoor sound or the sound pressure level radiated due to airborne sound inside that building. The calculation is based on the sound reduction index of the different elements from which the façade is constructed. This includes direct and flanking transmission.
New international noise guidelines incorporated into the noise propagation calculation to meet the latest noise standards, including SonROAD18 (Switzerland) and GPM2019 (Scandinavia). The quality assurance according to ISO/TR 17534-3 of the European directive, Common Noise Assessment Methods in Europe (CNOSSOS-EU) continues, and the software meets over fifty different national and international standards.

Jochen Schaal, Managing Director, SoundPLAN GmbH, said, “Our comprehensive software for noise modeling and room acoustics calculations is an all-round software designed to meet all your needs. It covers everything from modelling, calculation and tabular documentation in various levels of detail, to meaningful plans for road and rail noise, aviation, commercial and leisure noise, and sound propagation within buildings, including room acoustics.”

SoundPLAN version 8.2 Video content

With SoundPLANnoise version 8.2, objects can now be automatically divided into areas or tiles and are thus available in a very clearly structured way directly after the import. For the consideration of a directivity assigned to a line source there is a new option "directivity follows the line source. This makes it very easy to model racetracks, for example and eliminates the need for manual splitting into sub-sources.

Image caption:

SoundPLAN v8.2 combines environmental data with terrain maps, such as Google Earth, so you can get a very realistic picture of how noise would travel.

Industries, city planners, architects, civil engineers and construction experts seeking to reduce noise have access to new mapping software from specialists, SoundPLAN GmbH. The latest version of its world-leading software, SoundPLANnoise version 8.2, which can be used at the planning and design stage, has many new and redesigned features to model levels and dispersion of noise. Mapping software is a crucial tool to tackle nuisance noise. It is used to identify the cause, location and propagation of sound. With a noise map, it is possible to show not only current noise levels but also projected ones. This means that noise can be mapped and mitigated at the building design stage before a single concrete block is laid. Planners can then test scenarios and assess the best options to reduce excessive noise and protect workers and communities from its harmful effects.Key new featuresIn the main library, the Geo-Database, where data is stored, the Situation Manager has a number of additional functions, improving how information can be filtered and displayed. This enables the user to work more efficiently and easier. Improvements for importing large amounts of data. For example, objects can now be automatically divided into areas or tiles in a very clearly structured way.Many variants can now be managed in an industrial building or a room. For example, different planned acoustic concepts with different screens or absorbers can be compared for an office, or the acoustic improvement from enclosing loud machines in a factory hall. All surfaces and sources within an industrial building/room can be displayed colour-coded in the Geo-Database as well as in the noise map display. This enables quick graphical control of the assigned absorption, transmission or emission spectra. Complete revision of the interface in the Building AcousticsOutside (ISO 12354-3:2017) section. This is a calculation model to estimate the sound insulation against outdoor sound or the sound pressure level radiated due to airborne sound inside that building. The calculation is based on the sound reduction index of the different elements from which the façade is constructed. This includes direct and flanking transmission.New international noise guidelines incorporated into the noise propagation calculation to meet the latest noise standards, including SonROAD18 (Switzerland) and GPM2019 (Scandinavia). The quality assurance according to ISO/TR 17534-3 of the European directive, Common Noise Assessment Methods in Europe (CNOSSOS-EU) continues, and the software meets over fifty different national and international standards.Jochen Schaal, Managing Director, SoundPLAN GmbH, said, “Our comprehensive software for noise modeling and room acoustics calculations is an all-round software designed to meet all your needs. It covers everything from modelling, calculation and tabular documentation in various levels of detail, to meaningful plans for road and rail noise, aviation, commercial and leisure noise, and sound propagation within buildings, including room acoustics.”SoundPLAN version 8.2 Video contentWith SoundPLANnoise version 8.2, objects can now be automatically divided into areas or tiles and are thus available in a very clearly structured way directly after the import. For the consideration of a directivity assigned to a line source there is a new option directivity follows the line source. This makes it very easy to model racetracks, for example and eliminates the need for manual splitting into sub-sources.Image caption:SoundPLAN v8.2 combines environmental data with terrain maps, such as Google Earth, so you can get a very realistic picture of how noise would travel.

Infrastructure Urban

04 May 2026

Jyoti Structures FY26 profit rises 56.5%

Jyoti Structures (JSL) recently reported strong financial results for the quarter and year ended 31 March 2026, driven by disciplined execution, cost management and steady progress across its order book.For Q4 FY2025-26, total income rose 44.2 per cent to Rs 2.41 billion from Rs 1.67 billion in Q4 FY2024-25. EBITDA increased 58.6 per cent to Rs 237 million, while EBITDA margin improved by 89 basis points to 9.84 per cent. Profit before tax grew 53.3 per cent to Rs 188.5 million, and net profit rose 51.9 per cent to Rs 181.4 million.For FY2025-26, total income grew 53.1 per cent to Rs 7.72 bill..

Infrastructure Energy

04 May 2026

Cat BEPU to Power Doppstadt Separator at IFAT 2026

Caterpillar’s Cat Battery Electric Power Unit (BEPU) has been selected by Doppstadt to power its SWS 6 Spiral Shaft Separator, which will be showcased for the first time at IFAT 2026 in Munich, Germany, from 4–7 May.The compact plug-and-play BEPU is designed to replace a diesel engine within the same space, using the same mounting locations and relative machine position. It integrates the battery, motor, inverter, onboard charging, cooling and controls, enabling OEMs to electrify existing chassis platforms without extensive redesign.Caterpillar and Cat dealer Zeppelin Power Systems have be..

Infrastructure Urban

04 May 2026

VECV sales rise 6.9% in April 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles, a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, recorded sales of 7,318 units in April 2026, compared to 6,846 units in April 2025, registering 6.9 per cent growth. The total included 7,159 units under the Eicher brand and 159 units under the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,159 units during the month, up 6.6 per cent from 6,717 units in April 2025. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 8.6 per cent to 6,797 units from 6,257 units a year earlier.Exports declined 21.3 per cent, with VECV recording 362 units in ..