Cost-Benefit Analysis of Tree Belt Configurations

摘要

In some cases, when considering a set of noise-control measures, there is a possibility that adjustments of some elements might lead to reduction of the total cost and/or increase in the total benefit. Here we use economic analysis as an exploratory tool to test the economic rationale for selecting tree belt configurations. We assess the economic penalty of using a completely regular array of trees, the improvement of augmenting the acoustic effect of the tree belt with "artificial" trees in the form of standard impregnated tree poles, and novel devices "noise stoppers", made of recycled materials. Whereas the acoustic effect depends on the width of the tree belt plant density, tree stem thickness and planting configurations, the aesthetic impression depend most on the quality of the proximal tree rows facing residents. If we search for an optimal design we need to take all relevant effects into account. As the amount of materials, the amount of work, the prices of these, the acoustic effect and other effect estimates are associated with uncertainties as are their valuations, we use Monte Carlo simulations to obtain an impression of how robust our economic indicators results are.