Upgrading transport infrastructure in order to monitor noise and emissions

Topic Description

Noise and emissions from transport affect seriously people's health and environmental ecosystems requiring the implementation of mitigation measures to achieve a higher reduction in all transport modes. The fast development of technologies that facilitate connectivity of innovative sensors, -both on-board and on the side of the infrastructure- could allow real-time monitoring and control of transport noise and emissions. Current applications of different mobile systems and measurement methodologies make comparison of data rather difficult. The development of harmonized measurement methodologies will increase the reliability of collected data and the credibility of the consequent awareness/mitigation procedures. Systems embedded in the transport infrastructure can help in identifying vehicles not respecting prescribed limits and would either allow the operator to be informed swiftly of the environmental deficiencies of the vehicle, or would enable authorities to identify and prevent polluting vehicles from entering, hindering their access to specified low-emission zones, thus mitigating the effects of the non-respect of tolerance limits.

The integration in the infrastructure of absorbing materials and the utilization of negative-emissions solutions can also contribute to the reduction of the negative effects of emissions and noise.

Proposals should address all the following aspects:

• Development of equipment for integration into infrastructure that would be able to detect and identify (plate recognition) in real-time vehicles exceeding the limits of noise (Db(A)) and emissions (CO2, NOx, PM);
• Development of related I2V systems aimed at informing the transgressor of the emissions/noise limits being exceeded and preventing access to delimited low-emission zones;
• Development of automated tolling systems that take into account the level of emissions from individual vehicles;
• Development of new materials and negative-emissions solutions for infrastructure application, apt to mitigate noise and emissions.

Road and rail networks are primarily addressed, but research should not exclude solutions to reduce nuisance coming also from air and water transport.

Potential negative effects from fixed sensors on human health should be carefully considered and avoided.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 4 and 7 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

In line with the Union's strategy for international cooperation in research and innovation, international cooperation is encouraged. In particular, proposals should foresee twinning with entities participating in projects funded by US DOT to exchange knowledge and experience and exploit synergies.^[1]

Development of measures aimed at reducing the negative effects of noise and emissions. Increased monitoring and detection of transport unacceptable levels of noise and emissions; identification of transgressing vehicles and possible invitation to appropriate revision; limiting access to sensitive zones (e.g. urban centres). Development of technologies to be applied for better calculation of externalities and consequent charging methods. The application of solutions should bring to a reduction of at least 30% in emissions and 20% in noise in targeted zones based on the measured level at the beginning of the project.

International cooperation

[1](COM(2012)497)