Plants and environmental noise barriers
31 Jan 2004-Iss: 643, pp 265-275
TL;DR: In this article, the main aspects of good environmental noise barrier design include the appropriate manipulation of elements and materials and most importantly it incorporates the use of plants, which not only help to integrate the barrier into its surroundings, by reducing apparent scale and screening elements, but they can also provide an aesthetic contribution by softening appearance and by providing architectonic form and robust features.
Abstract: Since the introduction of more effective and stringent noise legislation across Europe, environmental noise barriers have become ubiquitous features along many road corridors. Barriers to mitigate noise and views of traffic may be located wherever there is development and human activity, along inner city routes, suburban byways and also along more rural routes where villages and recreational areas require protection. It must be recognised that noise barriers are architectural features in their own right and that they should be designed to fit into their local environments. Indeed, if these barriers are not designed for each individual location they are likely to remain alien visual elements and diminish landscape character and landscape quality. The main aspects of good environmental noise barrier design include the appropriate manipulation of elements and materials and most importantly it incorporates the use of plants. When designing noise barriers, plants should always be considered as part and parcel of the design. Plants not only help to integrate the barrier into its surroundings, by reducing apparent scale and screening elements, but they can also provide an aesthetic contribution by softening appearance and by providing architectonic form and robust features. A great depth of soil is not a necessary requirement. Plants can indeed form an integral part of noise barrier design in what are termed 'bio-barriers'. The earth mound is the simplest effective environmental noise barrier and these come in many different forms, shapes and use different plant types. Reinforced earth mounds are used where space is limited but a natural looking barrier is required. Bio-barriers may be divided into four generic types: the 'A' frame and vertical, the box wall, woven-willow and stack and crib bio barriers. Many studies have been undertaken to indicate whether plants themselves reduce noise and noise reduction by plants appears possible in certain situations.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors present preliminary findings of their value for urban birds, on 27 green walls and within the area enclosed by a semi-circle of 10m radius immediately surrounding them, compared with 27 walls without vegetation (bare walls) and similar surroundings.
Abstract: The simplest form of a ‘green wall’ is where self-adhering climbing plants colonise vertical surfaces, an approach that has been used on buildings for millennia (Koehler 2008). Green walls in urban areas are now well-known for their insulation and air cleaning capacities, but little is known of their value as habitats for wildlife. This paper presents preliminary findings of their value for urban birds. The abundance of birds, on 27 green walls and within the area enclosed by a semi-circle of 10 m radius immediately surrounding them, was compared with 27 walls without vegetation (bare walls) and similar surroundings. The study was carried out during the summer and winter of 2010–11 in north Staffordshire (UK). Birds exploited the green walls for various reasons (including nesting, food and shelter) but were never found on bare control walls. The roofs of buildings and the surrounding vegetation were used by birds in both regimes, but birds were more abundant in areas with green walls. The use of green walls by birds depended on the time of day, the season and whether the vegetation was evergreen or deciduous. The birds’ activity was always restricted to the upper half of the wall vegetation. Green walls and the immediate surroundings were used by some species of conservation concern in Great Britain (e.g. Passer domesticus and Sturnus vulgaris). Therefore, encouraging householders and businesses to grow vegetation up walls may be an effective way of providing a range of resources for birds in urban areas without the need for expensive additional land-take.
90 citations
Cites background from "Plants and environmental noise barr..."
...Green walls have been shown to reduce acoustic (Kotzen 2004; Wong et al. 2010) and light pollution (see Perez et al. 2011), improve the local climate (Holm 1989), contribute to building insulation and protection (Viles and Wood 2007; Jin et al. 2009) and to reduce storm-water flows (Roehr and…...
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TL;DR: The use of buffer zones to protect water quality has been studied in this article, where the authors identify critical areas for non-point source pollution control, and propose a model to estimate the critical distance at which adjacent land-use degrades wetland water and sediment quality.
Abstract: and Greenways U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station General Technical Report SRS-109 September 2008 Gary Bentrup Literature Cited 1.0 Water Quality 1.1 Buffers and land management Allan, J.D. 2004. Landscapes and riverscapes: the influence of land use on steam ecosystems. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics. 35: 257-284. Arheimer, B.; Torstensson, G.; Wittgren, H.B. 2004. Landscape planning to reduce coastal eutrophication: agricultural practices and constructed wetlands. Landscape and Urban Planning. 67: 205-215. Basnyat, P.; Teeter, L.D.; Flynn, K.M.; Lockaby, B.G. 1999. Relationships between landscape characteristics and nonpoint source pollution inputs to coastal estuaries. Environmental Management. 23: 539-549. Betson, R.P.; Marius, J.S. 1969. Source areas of storm runoff. Water Resources Research. 5: 574-582. Dabney, S.M.; Moore, M.T.; Locke, M.A. 2006. Integrated management of in-field, edge-of-field, and after-field buffers. Journal of American Water Resources Association. 42: 15-24. Dinnes, D.L.; Karlen, D.L.; Jaynes, D.B. [and others]. 2002. Nitrogen management strategies to reduce nitrate leaching in tile-drained Midwestern soils. Agronomy Journal. 94: 153-171. Dunne, T.; Moore, T.R.; Taylor, C.H. 1975. Recognition and prediction of runoff-producing zones in humid regions. Hydrological Sciences Bulletin. 20: 305-327. Forman, R.T.T. 1995. Land mosaics. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. 632 p. Gburek, W.J.; Drungil, C.C.; Srinivasan, M.S. [and others]. 2002. Variable-source-area controls on phosphorus transport: bridging the gap between research and design. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 57: 534-543. Haycock, N.E.; Muscutt, A.D. 1995. Landscape management strategies for the control of diffuse pollution. Landscape and Urban Planning. 31: 313-321. Houlahan, J.E.; Findlay, C.S. 2004. Estimating the ‘critical’ distance at which adjacent land-use degrades wetland water and sediment quality. Landscape Ecology. 19: 677-690. Jorgensen, S.E.; Nielsen, S.N. 1996. Application of ecological engineering principles in agriculture. Ecological Engineering. 7: 373-381. Maas, R.P. Smolen, M.D.; Dressing, S.A. 1985. Selecting critical areas for nonpoint source pollution control. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 40: 68-71. McGregor, K.C.; Dabney, S.M.; Johnson, J.R. 1999. Runoff and soil loss from cotton plots with and without stiff-grass hedges. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers. 42: 361-368. Mitsch, W.J.; Day, J.W., Jr.; Gilliam, J.W. [and others]. 2001. Reducing nitrogen loading to the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River Basin: strategies to counter a persistent ecological problem. BioScience. 51: 373-388. Norris, V. 1993. The use of buffer zones to protect water quality: a review. Water Resources Management. 7: 257-272. Nowak, P.J.; Cabot, P.E. 2004. The human dimensions of resource management programs. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 59: 128A-135A. Omernik, J.M.; Abernathy, A.R.; Male, L.M. 1981. Stream nutrient levels and proximity of agricultural and forest land to streams: some relationships. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 36: 227-231. Palone, R.S.; Todd, A.H. 1997. Chesapeake Bay riparian handbook: a guide for establishing and maintaining riparian forest buffers. NA-TP-02-97. Randor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern State and Private
79 citations
TL;DR: A 28-day laboratory pot experiment was carried out applying bioaugmentation using laboratory selected bacterial strains as inoculum, biostimulation with molasses and cabbage leaf extract, and phytoremediation using rye and blue fenugreek to study the effect of these treatments on TNT removal and changes in soil microbial community responsible for contaminant degradation as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Trinitrotoluene (TNT), a commonly used explosive for military and industrial applications, can cause serious environmental pollution. 28-day laboratory pot experiment was carried out applying bioaugmentation using laboratory selected bacterial strains as inoculum, biostimulation with molasses and cabbage leaf extract, and phytoremediation using rye and blue fenugreek to study the effect of these treatments on TNT removal and changes in soil microbial community responsible for contaminant degradation. Chemical analyses revealed significant decreases in TNT concentrations, including reduction of some of the TNT to its amino derivates during the 28-day tests. The combination of bioaugmentation-biostimulation approach coupled with rye cultivation had the most profound effect on TNT degradation. Although plants enhanced the total microbial community abundance, blue fenugreek cultivation did not significantly affect the TNT degradation rate. The results from molecular analyses suggested the survival and...
71 citations
Cites background from "Plants and environmental noise barr..."
...2013), and usage of plants as a noise barrier (Kotzen 2002)....
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DOI•
01 Jan 2011
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a Table of Table of contents of a table of tables: https://www.tableoffeatures.com/table-of-pages/table.
Abstract: ....................................................................................................................... ii Table of
13 citations
TL;DR: In mass housing apartments, the comfort and quality of living conditions may be adversely affected by wind and noise especially on balconies, terraces, gardens and around swimming pools as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: In mass housing apartments, the comfort and quality of living conditions may be adversely affected by wind and noise especially on balconies, terraces, gardens and around swimming pools etc. The qu...
5 citations
References
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Book•
12 May 1999
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine both the acoustic and landscape issues affecting the design of barriers and highlight the pitfalls of poor barrier design, including the health and social impacts of nosie and noise barriers.
Abstract: Environmental Noise Barriers examines both the acoustic and landscape issues affecting the design of barriers. By addressing the needs of the whole design team, this book provides expert guidance and highlights the pitfalls of poor design. Detailed consideration is given to materials, engineering, legal, landscape and environmental issues as well as the health and social impacts of nosie and noise barriers. The book illustrates the wide variety of design olutions for different acoustic and landscape situations in several European countries.
83 citations
"Plants and environmental noise barr..." refers background in this paper
...Noise is not only an acoustic issue, but it is 'a landscape issue' as well (English and Kotzen 1994, Kotzen and English 1999)....
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...The Romans were all too familiar with the unwanted noise of wheels on stone streets and issued a decree, which banned the use of chariots on the streets of Rome at night (Kotzen and English 1999)....
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