Strategic Noise Maps 2022

Calculation Results / Analysis in Tables

In accordance with the requirements of the “Directive relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise”, the strategic noise maps present the noise situation using 5 dB intervals:

Tab. 4: Representation of isophone classes according to the requirements of the amended 34th BImSchV

The noise pollution according to BEB is expressed by the following variables:

• A table presenting the estimated number of people living in areas located within the sound level ranges according to Table 4. Figures should be rounded up or down to the nearest hundredth.
• A table presenting areas exposed to noise as well as the estimated number of dwellings, schools and hospitals in these areas for the following LDEN values: LDEN > 55 dB(A), LDEN > 65 dB(A), LDEN > 75 dB(A). The figures for dwellings should be rounded up or down to the nearest hundredth.
• A table presenting the estimated number of cases of ischaemic heart disease, the estimated number of cases of high annoyance (HA) and the estimated number of cases of high sleep disturbance (HSD) in areas within the sound level ranges shown in Table 4.

Noise pollution is determined based on the sound level results calculated at the building facades (at a height of 4 m above ground).

A summary of the pollution and area statistics for the main federal railway lines of Berlin may be found here (only in German).

Note on the noise exposure figures presented in the Noise Mapping 2022 of Berlin:

Since 2022 (Level 4), all noise maps in the EU have been produced following new, uniform calculation methods to ensure that the results are comparable between the Member States. The new noise maps therefore cannot be compared with those of 2017 and before. A much higher number of people impacted by noise is now shown at many locations – even though the noise situation has not changed significantly in the meantime, or even though noise abatement measures have since been taken.

This is mainly due to the following reasons:

• Due to the new EU-wide standardised calculation method (CNOSSOS-EU), the mechanisms of noise generation in road, rail and air traffic have become much more detailed and complex in the modelling than in the previous provisional calculation methods of 2007/ 2012 and 2017. With this method, noise reductions are mapped in detail after measures within the framework of noise action planning, which may then contribute to improving the noise situation.
• The number of people exposed to noise is now determined differently. Previously, the inhabitants of residential buildings were evenly distributed across a building, across both the noisy and the quiet side. Now, however, all residents are assigned to the noisier front of the building; the quieter back is disregarded. Thus, a much higher number of people exposed to noise is reported.
• The sound level classes indicated here follow a new rounding rule. The classes based on 5 dB intervals were therefore reduced by 0.5 decibel each. As a result, larger areas and more people exposed to noise tend to be reported.

These factors combined influence the intensity of the population’s exposure to noise as well as the number of people exposed in the Berlin conurbation. In particular, the switch from earlier calculation methods to procedures that are uniform throughout Europe means that the current noise mapping results cannot be compared with those of 2017 or only to a very limited extent. Even if the actual situation did not change, a higher number of areas and a considerably higher number of people exposed to noise tend to be reported. The current noise maps therefore do not or only insufficiently reflect the effect of noise reduction measures that had been implemented in the meantime.

Road Traffic

Tables 5 – 8: People exposed to road traffic noise from all assessed roads

Tab. 5: Number of people exposed in their homes to road traffic noise from all assessed roads (in relation to the noise index LDEN) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Tab. 6: Number of people exposed in their homes to road traffic noise from all assessed roads (in relation to the noise index LNight) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Tab. 7: Plots of land, dwellings, and school and hospital buildings exposed to road traffic noise from all roads assessed (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

All individual buildings of the schools and hospitals exposed to noise were included in the evaluation.

Tab. 8: Number of people exposed in their homes to road traffic noise from all assessed roads (in relation to the estimated cases of annoyance, sleep disturbance and ischaemic heart disease) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Tables 9 – 12: People exposed to main road traffic noise:

Tab. 9: Number of people exposed in their homes to main road traffic noise (in relation to the noise index LDEN) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Tab. 10: Number of people exposed in their homes to main road traffic noise (in relation to the noise index LNight) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Tab. 11: Areas, dwellings, school and hospital buildings exposed to main road traffic noise (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

All individual buildings of the schools and hospitals exposed to noise were included in the evaluation.

Tab. 12: Number of people exposed in their homes to main road traffic noise (in relation to the estimated cases of annoyance, sleep disturbance and ischaemic heart disease) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Tab. 13: Number of people exposed in their homes to tram and underground noise (above-ground sections) (in relation to the noise index LDEN) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Tram and Underground Traffic

Tab. 14: Number of people exposed in their homes to tram and underground noise (above-ground sections) (in relation to the noise index LNight) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Tab. 15: Plots of land, dwellings, and school and hospital buildings exposed to tram and underground noise (above-ground sections) (in relation to the noise index LDEN) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

All individual buildings of the schools and hospitals exposed to noise were included in the evaluation.

Tab. 16: Number of people exposed in their homes to tram and underground noise (above-ground sections) (in relation to the estimated cases of annoyance and sleep disturbance) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Tab. 17: Number of people exposed in their homes to industrial and commercial noise (IED plants) (in relation to the noise index LDEN) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

IED Plants

Tab. 18: Number of people exposed in their homes to industrial and commercial noise (IED plants) (in relation to the noise index LNight) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Tab. 19: Plots of land, dwellings, and school and hospital buildings exposed to industrial and commercial noise (IED plants) (in relation to the noise index LDEN) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

All individual buildings of the schools and hospitals exposed to noise were included in the evaluation.

Air Traffic

The following evaluations were carried out according to the Environmental Noise Mapping of Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB) (Wölfel 2022, only in German).

Tab. 20: Number of people exposed in their homes to aircraft noise from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) (in relation to the noise index LDEN) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)

Tab. 21: Number of people exposed in their homes to aircraft noise from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) (in relation to the noise index LNight) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Tab. 22: Plots of land, dwellings, and school and hospital buildings exposed to aircraft noise from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) (in relation to the noise index LDEN) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)

Tab. 23: Number of people exposed in their homes to aircraft noise from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) (in relation to the estimated cases of annoyance and sleep disturbance) (as of Noise Mapping 2022)