<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The authors present the first ideas of contextual design (CD) of noise barriers (NB), which integrates acoustic, architectural, environmental, and economic aspects of a holistic approach to the design of these engineering structures. The paper presents an example of an economic subsystem of CD focused on the economical optimization of NBs with an emphasis on the circular economy. It also demonstrates the significant potential of NBs to improve the architectural visual appearance of built-up areas as essential spatial elements and improve the microclimate of their surroundings. The authors focused on comparing the costs of construction of NB with acoustic elements made of the most used materials in the Slovak Republic: aluminium, chipped cement, transparent NB, and NB made of recycled plastic. The comparisons show that the most cost-effective option is a noise barrier made of recycled plastic. Despite the higher cost, its higher sound absorption and the environmental durability of the acoustic elements are decisive. The use of secondary raw materials is also a significant advantage of CD. Waste plastics, mainly from municipal waste, are used for production, making it possible to recycle 100 % of them again.</p>
</abstract>

The authors present the first ideas of contextual design (CD) of noise barriers (NB), which integrates acoustic, architectural, environmental, and economic aspects of a holistic approach to the design of these engineering structures. The paper presents an example of an economic subsystem of CD focused on the economical optimization of NBs with an emphasis on the circular economy. It also demonstrates the significant potential of NBs to improve the architectural visual appearance of built-up areas as essential spatial elements and improve the microclimate of their surroundings. The authors focused on comparing the costs of construction of NB with acoustic elements made of the most used materials in the Slovak Republic: aluminium, chipped cement, transparent NB, and NB made of recycled plastic. The comparisons show that the most cost-effective option is a noise barrier made of recycled plastic. Despite the higher cost, its higher sound absorption and the environmental durability of the acoustic elements are decisive. The use of secondary raw materials is also a significant advantage of CD. Waste plastics, mainly from municipal waste, are used for production, making it possible to recycle 100 % of them again.

Contextual Design of Road Traffic Noise Reducing Devices

Department of Highway and Environmental Engineering

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Contextual Design of Road Traffic Noise Reducing Devices"}

The authors present the first ideas of contextual design (CD) of noise barriers (NB), which integrates acoustic, architectural, environmental, and economic...

Contextual Design of Road Traffic Noise Reducing Devices

Publié en ligne: 14 déc. 2022

Pages: 515 - 522

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cee-2022-0049

Mots clés
Noise barriers, Reduction of traffic noise, Economic comparison, Contextual design, Recycled waste

© 2022 Mária Trojanová et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Contextual Design of Road Traffic Noise Reducing Devices

Publié en ligne: 14 déc. 2022

Pages: 515 - 522

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cee-2022-0049

Mots clésNoise barriers, Reduction of traffic noise, Economic comparison, Contextual design, Recycled waste

© 2022 Mária Trojanová et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Mots clés
Noise barriers, Reduction of traffic noise, Economic comparison, Contextual design, Recycled waste