The authors present the first ideas of contextual design (CD) of noise barriers (NB), which integrates acoustic, architectural, environmental, and economic aspects of a holistic approach to the design of these engineering structures. The paper presents an example of an economic subsystem of CD focused on the economical optimization of NBs with an emphasis on the circular economy. It also demonstrates the significant potential of NBs to improve the architectural visual appearance of built-up areas as essential spatial elements and improve the microclimate of their surroundings. The authors focused on comparing the costs of construction of NB with acoustic elements made of the most used materials in the Slovak Republic: aluminium, chipped cement, transparent NB, and NB made of recycled plastic. The comparisons show that the most cost-effective option is a noise barrier made of recycled plastic. Despite the higher cost, its higher sound absorption and the environmental durability of the acoustic elements are decisive. The use of secondary raw materials is also a significant advantage of CD. Waste plastics, mainly from municipal waste, are used for production, making it possible to recycle 100 % of them again.
The development of road infrastructure is one of the main priorities of the state and it is important particularly for its economic growth. At present, the development and improvement of road infrastructure is mainly affected by insufficient amount of the state financial, which is allocated for building and improving road network. The limited amount of funds is the reason for determining the efficiency of each road infrastructure project with the aim effective expends these funds. Assessing the efficiency of the road project is based on the life-cycle costs. Cost quantification of the road project consists of the funds needed for the preparation, implementation and operation of the road, and of the social costs, which quantify the impacts on society. Social costs include the costs of the road users and the costs which will be arisen by the construction and operation the road and affected the environment and population living in the territory concerned. Their amount is specific for each project. In practice, the social costs are quite easy to identify, but their quantification and monetary valuation are difficult. For complex assessment and decision-making process on effectiveness of proposed road project is used economic analysis and its economic indicators. For the right decision on economic efficiency, it is important to accurately quantify and evaluate all cost components. At present, the quantitative and financial assessment of social costs in Slovakia has some deficiencies in some cost components. One of these components are noise costs, which important influence human health and also the value of the affected area. Removal and improvement of these deficiencies will lead to the more accurate of economic valuating and also will lead to the improving economic use of funds needed for road infrastructure. Life-cycle costs of the roadThe life-cycle of the road is a defined sequence of phases, which begins with the intention of the project and ends with the liquidation, respectively reconstruction of road. Individual life-cycle phases can be defined according to shown terminology in Table 1. Each phase of the life-cycle has defined its technical, economic, and time risks as well as the costs, which are incurred in the given phase [1]. AbstractBuilding and improving road infrastructure in Slovakia is currently influenced by the amount of state funding. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the effectiveness of each proposed solution of road project, which is based on life-cycle costs. Besides capital costs, social costs are also important, which valued the negative impacts due to road construction and operation on road users, the environment, and the population living in the affected area. Some components of social costs have shortcomings in quantifying and valuating, which need to be resolved. The one of important components which affects human health and the value of an area, and have some shortcomings are noise costs. Improvement of this component will lead to more accurate valuation of economic efficiency of ...
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