In these areas, one aim is to preserve the natural quiet. In a quiet area in the open country the soundscape should be dominated by natural sound, and man-made noise sources should only be audible with long intervals. Distinction is made between quiet areas in the open country and quiet areas in cities. Quiet areas are accessible, undisturbed areas, protected by spatial planning to avoid future noise, where citizens can experience tranquillity. Such quiet areas, reported by the municipalities, can be shown in the noise map.В Some municipalities haveВ nominated quiet areas in their first generation Noise Action Plans. Read more about the EU Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EU) Quiet AreasДЄs part of the noise mapping and noise action plans, municipalities have the possibility to nominate quiet areas. The noise action plans which are made according to the EU Environmental Noise DirectiveВ must fulfil a number of formal criteria as to the reporting format, but it is not mandatory that specific actions are taken or that specific goals are set up. Thus, it is crucial that the plan is subject to a public hearing, so the citizens can participate with their points of view, and the plan is discussed in the municipal council. The noise action plan plays together with the traffic and environment plan, and serves as part of the background for the spatial plan for the entire municipality. The municipal section for general health can also contribute to the plan. Noise action plans in municipalities should reflect a co-operation between the planning, environmental and road section. The noise action plan gives the opportunity to fight the noise from many sides, and to plan a combination of actions against more types of noise. Noise action plans are not solely reserved for those authorities that play a role in EU-noise mapping, but can be utilized voluntarily by any authority.

In general, a noise action plan is a coherent plan describing the actions a municipality (or another authority) will take during a certain period to reduce or prevent noise. Read more aboutВ the EU Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EU) Noise Action PlansДЄfter having mapped the noise, the authorities must make a noise action plan. The map also allows for illustration of quiet areas. The noise map was not completed entirely in the time fixed by the EU Environmental Noise Directive, but was updated regularly and is at present complete. Moreover, in addition to the Copenhagen area the central parts of Odense, Aalborg and Aarhus will also be mapped in detail. The next phase of noise mapping, in 2012, will include substantially more roads and railways. 51 of 12 January 2011 on Mapping of environmental noise and preparation of noise action plans (in Danish) More information on the noise map can be found in the FAQ box below.

In the first phase, only one large city (Copenhagen area) has been mapped, as well as the largest motorways and a limited number of other major roads together with about 600 km of the primary railways. However, due to administrative and technical difficulties some delays occurred. The first phase of noise mapping was to be finished in June 2007. 4/2006 on noise mapping and noise action plans (in Danish) (PDF, 2.39MB) Here the procedure and data format etc is specified, and it is prescribed that a contemporary ('third generation') noise calculation method, Nord2000, has to be used for mapping of road and rail noise.Дownload guidelines no. The statutory order was revised in 2006 and published at the same time as guidelines for noise mapping and noise action plans.

the Danish Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for coordinating and publishing the noise maps as well as reporting to EU.

the environmental authority (which is either the Ministry of the Environment or the municipality) is responsible for mapping of noise from airports and for larger IPPC-industries in cities.

the municipalities are responsible for mapping the municipal major roads, and for mapping the noise from all roads in the major cities.

the Ministry of Transport is responsible for mapping of the State roads and the main parts of the railways.

The responsibility for noise mapping has been de-centralised so that: The EU Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EU) from 25 June 2002 on mapping and noise action plans was implemented in Denmark in 2005.

Noise mapping airplane