Kotzen, Benz ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3522-0460 (2004) Plants and environmental noise barriers. In: Junge-Berberovic, R., Baechtiger, J.-B. and Simpson, W.J., (eds.) Proceedings of the International Conference on Urban Horticulture. Acta Horticulturae (643). International Society for Horticultural Science, Leuven, Belgium, pp. 265-276. ISBN 978-90-66055-17-9 ISSN 0567-7572

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Abstract

Since the introduction of more effective and stringent noise legislation across Europe, environmental noise barriers have become ubiquitous features along many road corridors. Barriers to mitigate noise and views of traffic may be located wherever there is development and human activity, along inner city routes, suburban byways and also along more rural routes where villages and recreational areas require protection. It must be recognised that noise barriers are architectural features in their own right and that they should be designed to fit into their local environments. Indeed, if these barriers are not designed for each individual location they are likely to remain alien visual elements and diminish landscape character and landscape quality. The main aspects of good environmental noise barrier design include the appropriate manipulation of elements and materials and most importantly it incorporates the use of plants. When designing noise barriers, plants should always be considered as part and parcel of the design. Plants not only help to integrate the barrier into its surroundings, by reducing apparent scale and screening elements, but they can also provide an aesthetic contribution by softening appearance and by providing architectonic form and robust features. A great depth of soil is not a necessary requirement. Plants can indeed form an integral part of noise barrier design in what are termed 'bio-barriers'. The earth mound is the simplest effective environmental noise barrier and these come in many different forms, shapes and use different plant types. Reinforced earth mounds are used where space is limited but a natural looking barrier is required. Bio-barriers may be divided into four generic types: the 'A' frame and vertical, the box wall, woven-willow and stack and crib bio barriers. Many studies have been undertaken to indicate whether plants themselves reduce noise and noise reduction by plants appears possible in certain situations.

Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	[1] This paper was first presented at the International Conference on Urban Horticulture, organized by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), and held on 2-6 September 2002 in Wadenswil, Switzerland. [2] Paper published in ISHS Acta Horticulturae 643: Proceedings of the International Conference on Urban Horticulture. [3] The Conference Proceedings are available in ActaHort CD-rom format only - not available in print format.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	noise mitigation, visual aesthetics, environmental protection
Pre-2014 Departments:	School of Architecture, Design & Construction
Related URLs:	Publisher Organisation
Last Modified:	14 Oct 2016 09:14
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/5603

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