Defra has published strategic noise map data that give a snapshot of the estimated noise from road and rail sources across England in 2021. The data was developed as part of implementing the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (‘the regulations’).

This data will help transport authorities to better identify and prioritise relevant local action on noise. It will also be useful for planners, academics and others working to assess noise and its impacts.

Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of road sources within areas with a population of at least 100,000 people (agglomerations) and along major traffic routes. Lden indicates a 24 hour annual average noise level with separate weightings for the evening and night periods. Noise levels are modeled on a 10m grid at a receptor height of 4m above ground, polygons are then produced by merging neighboring cells within the following noise classes: 75.0+ dB, 70.0-74.9 dB, 65.0-69.9 dB, 60.0-64.9 dB, 55.0-59.9 dB, <54.9 dB This data is a product of the strategic noise mapping analysis undertaken in 2017 to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC) and the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

Areas which the Secretary of State considers to be urban (with a population greater than or equal to 100,000 people) where, under the Environmental Noise Directive (Round 2), Defra is required to undertake Strategic Noise Mapping.

Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of rail sources across England.

• The day-evening-night level (Lden) is a noise indicator for overall annoyance based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over 24 hours with a 5 dB(A) penalty for evening noise (19:00-23:00) and a 10 dB(A) penalty for night-time noise (23:00-07:00).
• The 16-hour equivalent continuous level (LAeq,16h) is a noise indicator which describes the annual average steady noise level over the 16-hour daytime period (07:00 to 23:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The day level (Lday) is a daytime noise indicator based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over the daytime period (07:00-19:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The evening level (Leve) is an evening noise indicator based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over the evening period (19:00-23:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The night level (Lnight) is a night-time noise indicator based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over the night period (23:00-07:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The 6-hour equivalent continuous level (LAeq,6h) is a noise indicator which describes the annual average steady noise level over the 6-hour period (24:00 to 06:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The 18-hour equivalent continuous level (LAeq,18h) is a noise indicator which describes the annual average steady noise level over the 18-hour period (06:00 to 24:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.

Noise levels are modelled on a 10m grid at a receptor height of 4m above ground, with a lower threshold cutoff of 35dB for the Lnight and LAeq,6h metrics, and 40dB for all other metrics. Data is available for all railway sources and also those defined as "major" under the Regulations.

This data is a product of the strategic noise mapping analysis undertaken in 2022 to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of road sources within areas with a population of at least 100,000 people (agglomerations) and along major traffic routes. LAeq,16h indicates the annual average noise levels for the 16-hour period between 0700 – 2300. Noise levels are modeled on a 10m grid at a receptor height of 4m above ground, polygons are then produced by merging neighboring cells within the following noise classes: 75.0+dB, 70.0-74.9dB, 65.0-69.9dB, 60.0-64.9dB, 55.0-59.9dB, <54.9dB. This data is a product of the strategic noise mapping analysis undertaken in 2017 to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC) and the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended)

Levels of Noise Pollution in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Integrated Care System (ICS) during Nighttime and 24-Hour Periods Based on Data from Strategic Noise Mapping. An Interactive Map Application Recommended Citation: Tsimpida, D., & Tsakiridi, A. (2025). Levels of noise pollution in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Integrated Care System (ICS) during nighttime and 24-hour periods based on data from strategic noise mapping: An interactive map application. License: CC BY – This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. Information about Geographic Location of Data Collection: England Related Projects: Tsimpida, D., Environmental Health and Wellbeing Dynamics: Mapping High-Exposure Neighbourhoods and Assessing Transportation Noise Pollution's Impact on Population Health. This project is funded by the Sustainability & Resilience Institute (SRI), University of Southampton. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of SRI or the University of Southampton. Methodological Information: To quantify noise pollution, we used the new Noise Mapping Geographic Information Systems (GIS) datasets developed by Defra that calculate noise exposure levels and are openly available: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. Strategic noise mapping (2022) [Internet]. 2024. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategic-noise-mapping-2022 For our analyses, we used both the day-evening-night level (Lden) and the night level (Lnight). The Lden level is a noise metric used to assess overall annoyance, calculated as the annual average A-weighted sound level over a 24-hour period. This measure includes a 5-decibel (dB(A)) penalty for evening noise (7 pm to 11 pm) and a 10 dB(A) penalty for nighttime noise (11 pm to 7 am). The Lnight is a nighttime noise indicator that reflects the annual average A-weighted sound level during the night period (11 pm to 7 am), representing the total sound energy equivalent to the fluctuating noise levels experienced throughout that period. _ Geospatial Analysis Information: All geospatial models in this study used Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) as the unit of analysis. In all analyses, we used the LSOA boundaries published by the Office for National Statistics as of March 21, 2021: Office for National Statistics. Census 2021 geographies [Internet]. 2021. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/geography/ukgeographies/censusgeographies/census2021geographies _ Integrated Care Board Boundaries: Digital vector boundaries for Integrated Care Boards in England were those published by the Office for National Statistics: Integrated Care Boards (April 2023) EN BGC [Internet]. 2023. Available from: https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/d6bcd7d1-0143-4366-9622-62a99b362a5c/integrated-care-boards-april-2023-en-bgc This version of the dataset, https://doi.org/10.5258/soton/d3377v2, was updated on 2015/02/17. The previous version is available at https://doi.org/10.5258/soton/d3377v1

The data show the estimated number of people affected by noise from road traffic, railway and industrial sources, based on an annual average 24 hour period for the situation in 2011. The information arose from the strategic noise mapping undertaken to meet the requirements of Directive 2002/49/EC (the Environmental Noise Directive (END)) and the corresponding regulations.

The information is given for each agglomeration covered by the END and for the major road and railway sources outside agglomerations as defined in the END. Other notes:

• There is no requirement to map industrial sources outside agglomerations.

• Not all agglomerations have industrial sources covered by the END that cause population to be exposed to noise levels in the ranges shown

• The noise exposure ranges shown reflect the requirements of the END

• The END is not prescriptive over exactly what noise sources have to be included in the strategic noise mapping.

• For all agglomerations, the road noise mapping was based on Motorways and A roads only, using data compiled by the Department for Transport.

• For all agglomerations, the railway noise mapping was based on the standard passenger and freight network only.

• For industry, only those sites which met the definition of a Part A(1) activity as described in the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 were included.

Dataset Name: END Noise Data Round 2 - 2007Data Owner: DAERAContact: Air and Environmental Quality Unit amy.holmes@daera-ni.gov.ukSource URL: https://gis.daera-ni.gov.uk/arcgis/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=0bf4f42018224494b071b5dcd0ce4e56Uploaded to SPACE Hub: 12/06/23Update Frequency: Every 5 yearsScale Threshold: N/AProjection : Irish GridFormat: Esri Feature Layer (Hosted) Vector PolygonNotes: This data is a product of the strategic noise mapping analysis undertaken by DAERA Northern Ireland in 2012 to meet the requirements of the EU Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC) and Environmental Noise Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006. NOISE SOURCESAGGLOMERATION ROAD (agg-road) Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of major road sources within areas with a population of at least 100,000 people (Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area agglomeration).AGGLOMERATION RAIL (agg_rail) Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of major rail sources withinINDUSTRY (agg_ind) Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of all Part A industrial activities as defined in Schedule 1 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (as amended) and all ports within the Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area (BMUA) agglomeration.AGGLOMERATION AIRPORT (BCA) Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of airport sources within areas with a population of at least 100,000 people (Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area agglomeration). In Northern Ireland, the agglomeration airport is George Best Belfast City Airport.CONSOLIDATED (con) Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of all noise sources within the Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area (BMUA) agglomeration.MAJOR AIRPORT (BIA) Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of airport sources withmore than 50,000 air traffic movements per year. In Northern Ireland, the major airport isBelfast International Airport (BIA).MAJOR RAIL (mrail) Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping along NI Translink routes with more than 30,000 train passages per year.MAJOR ROAD (mroad) Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping along major traffic routes withmore than 3,000,000 vehicle passages per year. NOISE INDICATORS Lden (lden) The LAeq over the period 0000-2400, but with the evening values (1900-2300) weighted by the addition of 5 dB(A), and the night values (2300-0700) weighted by the addition of 10dB(A)Lday (lday) The LAeq over the period 0700-1900, local time (for strategic noise mapping this is an annual average)Levening (leve) The LAeq over the period 1900-2300, local time (for strategic noise mapping this is an annual average)Lnight (lngt) The LAeq over the period 2300-0700, local time (for strategic noise mapping this is an annual average)LAeq,6h (l6h) The LAeq over the period 2400-0600, local time (for strategic noise mapping this is an annual average)LAeq,16h (l16h) The LAeq over the period 0700-2300, local time (for strategic noise mapping this is an annual average)LAeq,18h (l18h) The LAeq over the period 0600-2400, local time (for strategic noise mapping this is an annual average)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For informations on the noise data and modelling methods used, please refer to the DAERA Northern Ireland website:https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/noise-mapsContact details:Amy Holmes (amy.holmes@daera-ni.gov.uk)Air and Environmental Quality Unit - Regulatory and Natural Resources Policy DivisionDepartment of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA NI)

Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of road sources within areas with a population of at least 100,000 people (agglomerations) and along major traffic routes. Lnight indicates night time annual average noise level results in dB, where night is defined as 2300 - 0700. Noise levels are modeled on a 10m grid at a receptor height of 4m above ground, polygons are then produced by merging neighboring cells within the following noise classes: 70.0+ dB, 65.0-69.9 dB, 60.0-64.9 dB, 55.0-59.9 dB, 50-54.9 dB, <49.9 dB This data is a product of the strategic noise mapping analysis undertaken in 2017 to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC) and the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

This method returns Crystal Roof’s traffic noise map overlays. These overlays are taken directly from our main Traffic Noise map.

The overlays are circular PNG images, available in 1,000, 1,500, or 2,000-meter radii.

You can request overlays for road traffic noise, rail traffic noise, or a combined noise level — controlled by the variant parameter.

Integration examples

• Google Maps integration example
• Leaflet integration example

The interoperable INSPIRE data set provides an overview of the isophone maps in the Potsdam metropolitan area in accordance with Directive 2002/49/EC (Environmental Noise Directive). This requires the EU member states to assess and combat environmental noise. As a result, strategic noise maps had to be drawn up by June 30, 2007 as part of the first stage. These are to be revised and updated every five years. The data in question includes the 3rd stage of the EU noise mapping (2017). The isophone maps are provided for 1. road traffic noise, 2. industrial and commercial noise and 3. rail traffic noise (tram only). A schema transformation took place in the INSPIRE target schema health and safety. The data set is the basis of the interoperable INSPIRE display (WMS) and download services (WFS): Strategic noise maps for the Potsdam metropolitan area 2017 - Interoperable INSPIRE View-Service (WMS-HH-LAERMKPDM2017) Strategic noise maps for the Potsdam metropolitan area 2017 - Interoperable INSPIRE download -Service (WFS-HH-LAERMKPDM2017)

Street Noise-Level — Statistically Interpolated + Processed Measurements

Connect with our experts for the world’s most comprehensive Street Noise-Level Dataset. Access hyper-local and global average noise levels (dBA) from public streets across over 200 countries. This dataset, built using over 35 billion datapoints and developed in collaboration with leading acoustics professionals, provides unparalleled insight into real-world urban soundscapes. Unlike conventional noise models, which rely solely on simulations, our dataset combines real measurements with AI-powered interpolation to deliver statistically robust, highly accurate, and spatially complete noise-level data.

Power Your AI & Urban Analytics with Real-World Noise Insights

What makes this dataset unique? Silencio’s processed and interpolated Street Noise-Level Dataset is the largest and most precise global collection of acoustic data available. It integrates real user-collected measurements with AI-driven modeling, ensuring unmatched ground truth for AI training, urban intelligence, and noise-impact assessments.

Optimized for AI, Urban Planning & Research:

Empower your AI models and spatial analyses with rich, diverse, and realistic noise data. Ideal for sound recognition, smart cities, mobility modeling, noise mapping, real estate analysis, and sustainable urban planning.

Trusted & Compliant:

All data is collected via our mobile app, strictly anonymized, fully consented, and 100% GDPR-compliant — ensuring privacy and ethical integrity.

Historical & Up-to-Date:

Leverage both historical and continuously updated noise data to uncover trends, detect change, and power predictive models.

Hyper-Local & Global Coverage:

With coverage of over 200 countries and high spatial granularity, the dataset provides insights from the city level down to street segments.

Seamless Integration:

Delivered via CSV exports or S3 bucket delivery (APIs coming soon) for easy integration into AI training pipelines, geospatial tools, or analytics platforms.

Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of rail sources within areas with a population of at least 100,000 people (agglomerations) and along Network Rail and HS1 traffic routes. LAeq,16h indicates the annual average noise levels for the 16-hour period between 0700 – 2300. Noise levels are modeled on a 10m grid at a receptor height of 4m above ground, polygons are then produced by merging neighboring cells within the following noise classes: 75.0+dB, 70.0-74.9dB, 65.0-69.9dB, 60.0-64.9dB, 55.0-59.9dB, <54.9dB. This data is a product of the strategic noise mapping analysis undertaken in 2017 to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC) and the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended)

Street Noise-Level Dataset — Regulatory & Governmental Use

Silencio’s Street Noise-Level Dataset provides regulatory bodies, governmental agencies, and public health authorities with the most reliable and detailed data on environmental noise worldwide. Built from over 35 billion datapoints, collected via our mobile app and enhanced through AI-powered interpolation, this dataset covers hyper-local average noise levels (dBA) across streets, neighborhoods, and cities in over 200 countries.

Our dataset is specifically suited for noise regulation, environmental impact assessments, policy-making, and compliance monitoring. It offers objective, real-world acoustic data that goes beyond traditional noise models by combining actual user-collected measurements with AI-predicted values. Authorities can use the data to map noise pollution hotspots, monitor changes over time, enforce regulations, and inform sustainable urban and environmental strategies.

Silencio also operates the world’s largest noise complaint database, giving policymakers a unique tool to correlate objective noise exposure with subjective community reports for more people-focused decision-making.

Delivery options are flexible, including: • CSV exports • S3 bucket access • High-resolution image maps suitable for integration into reports, GIS platforms, or public communication.

The dataset is available both as historical records and continuously updated data. An API is currently in development, and we are open to early access discussions and custom integrations tailored to government and regulatory workflows.

Fully anonymized and fully GDPR-compliant, Silencio’s data supports transparent, evidence-based environmental and public health decision-making.

Noise Action Plans are required by the Environmental Noise Directive. The 3 Noise Action Plans provide a framework for the local management of the Important Areas.

This publication contains maps, associated data tables and shapefiles from the 2018 data in the UK Marine Noise Registry (MNR; https://mnr.jncc.gov.uk/).

When using and/or interpreting the MNR output maps and spatial data, users should take into account the caveats in the enclosed document C20200813_MNRPBDMapsCaveats2018_UKEEZ.docx and refer to the data dictionary, DataDictionary_C20200813.xlsx.

These maps display the distribution and duration of impulsive underwater noise events and the associated activity types contributing to these events, across UK marine waters, for the calendar year beginning January 1st 2018.

Noise events are mapped in pulse block days (PBD), using the UK oil and gas licensing grid, which consists of a series of blocks measuring 10 minutes latitude by 12 minutes longitude. A PBD is when at least one noise event (between the frequencies of 10 Hz and 10 kHz, multibeam echosounders up to 12kHz) has occurred within a block on a particular day.

This publication contains maps, associated data tables and shapefiles from the 2016 data in the UK Marine Noise Registry (MNR; https://mnr.jncc.gov.uk/).

When using and/or interpreting the MNR output maps and spatial data, users should take into account the caveats in the enclosed document C20180413_MNRPBDMapsCaveats2016_UKEEZ.docx.

These maps display the distribution and duration of impulsive underwater noise events and the associated activity types contributing to these events, across UK marine waters, for the calendar year beginning January 1st 2016.

Noise events are mapped in pulse block days (PBD), using the UK oil and gas licensing grid, which consists of a series of blocks measuring 10 minutes latitude by 12 minutes longitude. A PBD is when at least one noise event (between the frequencies of 10 Hz and 10 kHz) has occurred within a block on a particular day.

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). This report reviews the many different sources of underwater noise, both natural and anthropogenic, that combine to provide the background noise levels in which marine organisms need to survive throughout the SEA6 region. The sources of sound combine together in a complex manner resulting in significant spatial and temporal variations in the noise field. A map of the dominant noise sources in the Irish Sea is shown, indicating that man-made noise is the dominant source of noise over about 70% of the area. Shipping noise is likely to be dominant across large parts of the SEA6 area.

To fully characterise the ambient noise field in the SEA6 area would require multiple measurements at a large number of locations over a period of a year. However, a considerably lower cost approach would be to characterise each sound source and to use this with occurrence statistics for each source to model the ambient noise field across the region. The advantages and disadvantages of the acoustic modelling approach are discussed.

This data collation is made up of two datasets showing tranquil areas across Wales for 1997 and 2009. A map of the land of Wales, graded to show levels of Tranquillity. It results from combining several underlying layers of data, covering different factors that either contribute to tranquillity or detract from tranquillity. Produced to provide a strategic baseline for monitoring change in tranquillity in Wales to inform strategic planning and policy-making. Tranquillity is an aspect of the Welsh Government's Noise Action Plan (in response to the European Noise Directive) and is one of the qualitative measures of natural resources benefits provided by landscapes, as used in SoNaRR 2016.

An accompanying technical report details the methodology used and provides map images of underlying data layers and the resulting Tranquil Areas Map.

Caveats: 1. The resolution of some layers that informed the map were coarse, meaning that those parts of the data are unsuitable for using at a detailed scale.
2. Tranquillity was not formally defined in the accompanying technical report. Welsh Government has more recently defined the term and Natural Resources Wales adopted this definition for SoNaRR 2016.

Tranquillity is is an untroubled state, which is peaceful, calm and free from unwanted disturbances. This can refer to a state of mind or a particular environment. The 2009 dataset repeats more or less the same methodology used for a similar study in 1997. This allows change over time to be reported. Other projects in other parts of the UK using data at better resolution and with more sophisticated analysis means that the Wales 1997 and 2009 studies are regarded as crude. However to date the 2009 study is the most recent Tranquil Areas map available for Wales.

The data consist of woody biomass maps of three study areas - Mabalane, Gurue, and Maruppa in Mozambique. Each area map comprises three Geotiff layers stacked in the order band 1= 2007, band 2 = 2010, band 3 = 2014. Each pixel is an aboveground woody biomass in tonnes of carbon per hectare (ha). For the biomass maps -18.00000 means no data. Due to noise, it is possible to have negative biomass estimates. Individual layers can extracted for year specific analyses. Data were collected as part of the Abrupt Changes in Ecosystem Services and Wellbeing in Mozambican Woodlands (ACES) project under the ESPA programme Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/6a8b07f9-552e-408c-8351-595ee6a7fc5f