Lnight noise level on rail routes in major Walloon agglomerations - 2012 report

This data layer integrated into the 2012 European report locates the exposure to noise originating exclusively from railway routes according to the Lnight index in the major Walloon agglomerations. The mapping of rail noise on the major Walloon agglomerations based on 2011 source data is the first achievement and, as it stands, the reference to this level. Noise maps have been reported to the European Environment Agency and are included in the 2012 report. The Night Index is one of the two indicators recommended by the European Directive 2002/49/EC, relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise, in order to measure the noise level describing environmental noise. Within the meaning of the Directive, the latter is emitted by means of transport, road, rail or air traffic or comes from sites of industrial activity. This data layer refers to the mapping of noise generated by rail routes crossing major Walloon agglomerations (Liège and Charleroi) in 2011 according to the Lnight index. The Lnight (or Ln – Level Night) index represents the average noise level determined over all night periods (from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) in a year (by 2011). This index is, by definition, an exclusive noise index for the night period. It is associated with sleep disturbances. Unlike the parameters included in the calculation of the other indicator (Lden), no weighting is applied for its calculation. It is expressed in decibel A (dB(A)), which is the unit chosen to represent the sensitivities of the human ear. According to the criteria defined for the mapping of noise emanating from railway axes in large agglomerations in 2011, the data layer covers all sections of railways crossing the territory of agglomerations of 100,000 inhabitants and more. In the Walloon region, these are the communal territories of Liège and Charleroi. Only these areas are covered by the mapping. The indicator is averaged over a calendar year. The data layer is therefore representative of a regional annual situation. It was drawn up on the basis of source data from 2011. Therefore, the data layers transcribe noise exposure to this period of time. The information was reported to the European Environment Agency in 2012 and is therefore included in the 2012 report. The data layer is a vector layer with, as an attribute, the value Lnight. 5 exposure classes are selected: 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and > 70 dB(A). The low and high values of the exposure class concerned shall be recalled as an attribute.