Primary sustainability criteria for assessing the sustainability of noise reducing devices for EU Project QUIESST

摘要

Quietening the Environment for a Sustainable Surface Transport (QUIESST) EU grant is a three year, inter and multi-disciplinary project undertaken by 13 EU partners from 8 countries, which began in late 2009. In response to the growing sustainability agenda for surface transport and its respective infrastructure, one of QUIESST's work package, WP6 and its specialist research team is researching the sustainability of noise reducing devices (NRDs) across their whole life cycle. The NRDs considered are designed to control the spread of noise from roads and railways and include noise barriers, absorptive claddings and other noise reducing devices.. The aim of the research is to develop a framework for assessing their overall sustainability and to design a 'practical' tailor made set of Key Performance Indicators and a decision support system to help decision makers to make more sustainable decisions. These tools will assist relevant stakeholders in assessing the sustainability of their design, manufacturing process, construction, maintenance and repair activities, etc. This paper presents an overview of the 'Top-Down-Bottom-Up' research strategy and methodology undertaken in defining the pertinent set of generic criteria that can be used for the assessment of the sustainability of NRDs. As a result of the research, 22 'Primary criteria' together with secondary criteria and indicators were identified. These criteria and indicators could be used to assess the technical, economic, environmental and social sustainability factors that characterises the sustainability of NRDs.