Noise maps showing areas that are relatively louder or quieter, measured in decibels (dB), for major road traffic noise in Scotland in 2021. Major roads are defined as those with more than 3,000,000 vehicle passages per year. The data represents the day-evening-night levels (Lden) which are annual average noise levels with separate weightings for the evening and night periods. Day, evening and night periods are defined as 07.00 to 19.00, 19.00 to 23.00 and 23.00 to 07.00 respectively.
Scottish Ministers commissioned strategic noise mapping analysis to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC), which is legally implemented in Scotland thorough the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006, as amended by the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018.
Noise maps are used to identify areas where noise levels are high and, by linking population data, estimate how many people are affected. This aids in the production of noise action plans to manage noise and reduce noise levels where appropriate.
