Noise Barriers are definitely NOT a Blot on the Landscape

In recent decades, the decibel level on our streets and in our towns has risen dramatically. It seems that every aspect of our lives has become far noisier than in the past, giving us more of a headache then we once thought possible. The general hubbub caused by cars, trains, lorries and airplanes seems to have risen year on year for a long time, despite the efforts of the authorities to do something about. Finding peace and tranquillity has become something of a forlorn quest for many of us, even during the holidays and at the weekends.

Car manufacturers have made great strides in producing quieter engines over the years, but in truth the only ones that make a real difference are in the new electric vehicles. With an eye on the safety of pedestrians, there is even talk that the electric cars of the future will have to have a noise added to them in order for people to hear them coming along in the first place. The last thing we need is more fatalities on our streets, especially if they are caused by cars that we can’t even hear as they approach when we are crossing the street.

Needless to say, the electrification of our railway networks will make great strides in the battle against noise pollution, but in truth the main driving force for change in this sector is the need to be more environmentally friendly. Electric trains are far kinder to the planet, and with lower emissions they are seen as the future of rail travel. They will generally also be quieter, of course, but anyone who lives near a railway line will tell you that these things are relative; the noise and the general shudder caused by passing trains is still significant.

Acoustic barriers can make a huge difference

You would think perhaps that the noise generated by an airplane is something that we simply cannot do anything about it, but in truth there have been steps taken to make matters better for those who live close to airports. The more modern planes are quieter, but given the decibel levels involved you could be forgiven for not noticing. If your house is close to a runway, you will no doubt be grateful at least for the presence of a handful of strategically placed acoustic barriers which are able to reduce the racket to a large extent.

It’s interesting that the recent launch of a solar plane has generated so many headlines and so much attention from an interested public. The plane, Solar Impulse 2, has a wingspan of more than 70 metres and it is powered by over 17,000 solar panels. It is currently on a round the world flight that could take up to five months, and a fascinated world is watching its progress. Piloted by two pioneers from Switzerland, the plane started its epic journey in Abu Dhabi in March 2015. If it makes the trip, you can be sure there will be a great deal of fanfare from the public as well as the media at journey’s end.

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While the Solar Impulse 2 is nowhere near capable of carrying commercial fare-paying passengers, the ramifications for the future of air travel could be significant. If a feasible alternative to traditional petroleum-based fuel can be found, there are likely to be huge savings on fares and, more significantly, far less of an impact on the environment. It will be many, many years before acoustic barriers are no longer needed around an airport, of course, but that day may well come at some point in the not so distant future.

Sound barriers help to save our sanity

In the meantime, we are in desperate need of sound barriers in such locations, and it is important to remember what an excellent job they are doing day in, day out. Anyone who lives close to a runway at a major international airport will perhaps have almost got to the stage where the noise is barely noticed, purely because they have become immune to it. If you took away the acoustic barriers, however, the chances are that the change in noise levels will be noticed immediately. It’s worth remembering this the next time you happen to see one of these constructions at the side of the runway.

There are some people who will perhaps feel that noise barriers are in some way unsightly and unattractive, but this is far from the truth. These barriers have to be shaped in a certain way in order to absorb the noise, so their primary form cannot be altered, but they can be painted in a certain way in order to make them more pleasing to the eye. In some cases, they are also disguised thanks to the clever placement of shrubbery and other such items. It all helps to provide a little form in amongst the function, and that has to be a good thing.