Volume 15, Number 4, December, 2007 - Noise News International

2006 Global Noise Policy Workshop IIIHonolulu, Hawaii4 December 2006A fourth Global Noise Policy Workshopwas held during INTER-NOISE 2006 inHonolulu, Hawaii, on Monday, December4. The theme of the workshop was“Implementation and Enforcement ofNoise Control Policies.” William W. Langand Tjeert ten Wolde were co-chairs of theworkshop.Progress toward acousticalreform of American schoolsDavid Lubman, FASA, Westminster, CA92683If OSHA won’t lead, perhaps itshould follow!Robert D. Bruce, CSTI Acoustics, TexasSupport to Health program includes aproject on communication dealing withthe development and implementationof a strategic communication plan. Italso includes a project on “influencinginternational, national, regional and localbodies responsible for rules and guidelinesconcerning environmental noise.”The workshop featured morning andafternoon sessions with presentations byexperienced engineers from countriesaround the world. Summaries of the panelpresentations and discussion for the firstand second sessions of the workshop werepublished in the June and September issuesof this magazine. This issue contains similarinformation on the third and final session.Panelists spoke on the development,implementation, and enforcement of noisecontrol regulations in their country at local,state, and national levels.The following presentations were madeduring the third session of the Global NoisePolicy Workshop. A discussion sessionfollowed. Summaries of the presentationsas well as a summary of the finaldiscussion are included in this article.Strategies for engaging cityplanners in the creation ofhealthy soundscapesKjell SpångKS miltek, SwedenBuilding noise policy In KoreaHee Joon EunKorea Research Institute of Standards andScienceStrategies forengaging cityplanners in thecreation of healthysoundscapesKjell SpångKS Miltek, SwedenIntroductionSoundscape Support to Health is acomprehensive 8-year research programaimed at development of the scientificbasis, methods, and models for creationof health-supportive soundscapes inresidential and recreational areas exposedto traffic noise. It is mainly financed by theSwedish strategic environmental researchfund – Mistra.Mistra requires that research programsthey support include strategies forcreating a bridge between the scientistson one side and the problem ownersand relevant decision makers on theother side. In addition to creation ofscientifically-supported solutions, thesuccess of a Mistra program depends onthe quality of the communication strategyand its implementation. The SoundscapeSoundscapes and CityPlanningThe goal of the communication project isthat the creation of positive soundscapesbecomes a natural element in city planning,including planning of new buildings,rebuilding of residential areas, planning ofrecreational areas, and traffic planning.Figure 1 at right illustrates the complexityand degree of efforts involved in a programfor achieving the attention of decisionmakersat all relevant levels.It is mainly activities at the local planningand decision-making level whichdetermine to what extent access to positivesoundscapes and limitation of traffic noiseis given priority and resources in practicalapplications. However, local decisionmakers and those involved in the planning,usually refer to directives, regulations, andguidelines from authorities on the regionaland national levels.CommunicationsThe communication program has beencomprehensive and run in parallel withthe research. It includes participating inmedia, turning to the general public—national and regional television and radioprograms, articles and interviews in138 www.inceusa.org • www.noisenewsinternational.net • www.i-ince.org 2007 December