Implementation of Quiet Areas in Sweden
(2019) In International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16(1).- Abstract
The notion of quiet areas has received increasing attention within the EU in recent years. The EU Environmental Noise Directive (END) of 2002 stipulates that member states should map existing quiet areas and formulate strategies to keep these quiet. Quiet areas could play an important role in balancing densified urban development by ensuring access to relative quietness and associated health benefits. This paper reports on a recent study investigating how the notion of quiet areas has been implemented in Sweden. The study, initiated by the Sound Environment Center in 2017, was carried out in two phases. In phase one, an overview of the current situation was obtained by scrutinizing regional and municipal mapping initiatives, aided by a... (More)
The notion of quiet areas has received increasing attention within the EU in recent years. The EU Environmental Noise Directive (END) of 2002 stipulates that member states should map existing quiet areas and formulate strategies to keep these quiet. Quiet areas could play an important role in balancing densified urban development by ensuring access to relative quietness and associated health benefits. This paper reports on a recent study investigating how the notion of quiet areas has been implemented in Sweden. The study, initiated by the Sound Environment Center in 2017, was carried out in two phases. In phase one, an overview of the current situation was obtained by scrutinizing regional and municipal mapping initiatives, aided by a short digital questionnaire sent out to all 290 municipalities in Sweden. This provided a general understanding and highlighted initiatives for further study in phase two. The results revealed that 41% (n = 118) of Sweden's municipalities include quiet areas in their general plans, but that significantly fewer of these have sophisticated strategies for implementation (n = 16; 6%). Moreover, the interest in quiet areas in municipalities does not seem to be directly related to the END, but is instead inspired by previous regional initiatives in Sweden. The study highlights a number of considerations and examples of how quiet areas are approached in Sweden today. In general, Sweden has come a long way in terms of identifying and mapping quiet areas, but more progress is needed in developing strategies to protect, maintain, and publicize quiet areas.
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- author
- Cerwén, Gunnar and Mossberg, Frans LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2019-01-07
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- environmental noise, general plan, landscape planning, noise abatement, quiet areas, soundscape design, sustainability, urban planning
- in
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- volume
- 16
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 134
- publisher
- MDPI AG
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:30621011
- scopus:85059794837
- ISSN
- 1660-4601
- DOI
- 10.3390/ijerph16010134
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 4b1e71c7-e66b-4d2a-9e58-a4418e1b8fbc
- date added to LUP
- 2019-01-23 13:27:24
- date last changed
- 2024-06-11 03:03:22
@article{4b1e71c7-e66b-4d2a-9e58-a4418e1b8fbc,
abstract = {{<p>The notion of quiet areas has received increasing attention within the EU in recent years. The EU Environmental Noise Directive (END) of 2002 stipulates that member states should map existing quiet areas and formulate strategies to keep these quiet. Quiet areas could play an important role in balancing densified urban development by ensuring access to relative quietness and associated health benefits. This paper reports on a recent study investigating how the notion of quiet areas has been implemented in Sweden. The study, initiated by the Sound Environment Center in 2017, was carried out in two phases. In phase one, an overview of the current situation was obtained by scrutinizing regional and municipal mapping initiatives, aided by a short digital questionnaire sent out to all 290 municipalities in Sweden. This provided a general understanding and highlighted initiatives for further study in phase two. The results revealed that 41% (n = 118) of Sweden's municipalities include quiet areas in their general plans, but that significantly fewer of these have sophisticated strategies for implementation (n = 16; 6%). Moreover, the interest in quiet areas in municipalities does not seem to be directly related to the END, but is instead inspired by previous regional initiatives in Sweden. The study highlights a number of considerations and examples of how quiet areas are approached in Sweden today. In general, Sweden has come a long way in terms of identifying and mapping quiet areas, but more progress is needed in developing strategies to protect, maintain, and publicize quiet areas.</p>}},
author = {{Cerwén, Gunnar and Mossberg, Frans}},
issn = {{1660-4601}},
keywords = {{environmental noise; general plan; landscape planning; noise abatement; quiet areas; soundscape design; sustainability; urban planning}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{01}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{MDPI AG}},
series = {{International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}},
title = {{Implementation of Quiet Areas in Sweden}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16010134}},
doi = {{10.3390/ijerph16010134}},
volume = {{16}},
year = {{2019}},
}