Can innovative noise barriers reinvent our urban spaces?

As the population of the United Kingdom grows, and our society becomes ever more connected, transport authorities are having to rely on new, innovative ideas such as acoustic barriers to meet the challenges of modern life. As our tired transport networks expand, change and improve, there can often be problems with noise and air pollution that make modern living increasingly difficult. Whilst preserving the well-loved green belts around our busy cities, authorities must consider new places to build roads, houses, hospitals and schools. But noisy, 24-hour motorways and a good night’s rest are often mutually exclusive.

In order to deal with the problems of noise pollution, governments all over the world are turning to sound barriers. Whilst these can be expensive and complicated to install, there are a host of different designs on offer, using a range of different materials like concrete, Perspex and steel to dampen the sound of tyres, tarmac, engines and horns. They can even be used in urban environments, to keep gardens, parks and historic sites peaceful and tranquil. That means that, both in our cities and outside of them, residents can be protected from noise pollution in a range of creative ways.

Well-designed noise barriers can even be used to enhance the aesthetics of roads and urban spaces. Some use insulated windows to provide views of the surrounding countryside and other streets. Other sound barriers are cleverly designed with plenty of evergreen vegetation, which provides a pleasant look while also providing wildlife with a potential habitat. Climbing plants on walls can be an ideal home for birds and insects, and they can also provide insulation from summer heat by protecting the fabric of buildings from ultra-violet light. This can make for a relaxing, tranquil urban environment that everybody can enjoy.

Sometimes called ‘green walls’, there is a downside to these attractive acoustic barriers. They can sometimes require a great deal of maintenance, which may make them unfeasible for authorities whose resources are limited. They can also pose a problem in cities where water is scarce in dry seasons, as they can require complex irrigation systems. Of course, there is also limited space in many of our busiest and most noisy urban areas. In order for the barriers to be effective in reducing decibel levels, they need to be sufficiently tall, wide and long – but planning restrictions can mean that erecting them is impossible.

Redesigning acoustic barriers for the 21^st century

In the past few years, local authorities have introduced a number of innovative schemes to deal with two key problems of modern life – noise pollution and climate change. For example, some road users have seen lines of solar panels spring up alongside dual carriageways and motorways, which are known as Photovoltaic noise barriers. These new designs double up as energy creators and acoustic barriers, shielding nearby residents from the din of traffic. By generating electricity from the sun, they can eventually pay for themselves, and also pump electricity back into the grid. In some instances, the electricity is sold onto local businesses, which has the added benefit of supporting local economies.

Are roadside acoustic barriers the future of the UK’s transport infrastructure? Perhaps not, but the technology is already being used effectively in some European countries like Germany, France and Italy. It was first used alongside a kilometre of a motorway in Switzerland back in 1989. The idea has been heralded as ground-breaking, praised for improving the quality of life of roadside residents whilst making use of available space to combat energy shortages. If used to their maximum capacity, the barriers can help countries towards reaching their targets for CO₂ reductions – this, of course, makes governments more popular with environmental groups.

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Whilst Photovoltaic (solar panel) barriers can eventually pay for themselves with the energy they produce, they can be costly to introduce. Furthermore, they are only appropriate in areas where there is sufficient exposure to sunlight throughout the year - if the area is dark and rainy for most of the year, solar panels will have limited benefits. And, of course, it is much less costly to introduce solar panels to noise barriers that already exist, rather than building new ones from scratch. Some cheaper materials can be used for a low-cost investment, but these may be less efficient and have a lower life expectancy than more expensive materials.

It is, therefore, up to local authorities and governments to decide how to best use sound barriers to benefit local communities, and the country more generally. What is certain is that as our population grows, our road networks expand and our railways become more connected, Britain could become a far noisier place for residents. Up and down the country, more and more people are travelling and moving around - both for work and for pleasure. Not only does that make a good night’s sleep more difficult, but it could mean that our schools, offices, hospitals and shops are less peaceful and less pleasant places to be.