OpeNoise: a free and open source project for environmental noise assessment

Abstract

OpeNoise is a multi-platform, public and open source noise assessment project, implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency for the Piedmont Region (Arpa Piemonte -Italy), with the support of the Municipality of Turin and the Metropolitan City of Turin. The goal is to provide a first-level and free access tool for public administrations, consultants, universities and companies in the field of environmental acoustics. The OpeNoise project is divided in three branches: an application for noise measurements through mobile devices (OpeNoise Meter), a script for noise mapping (OpeNoise Map), available within the free and open source geographical system QGIS, and a tool for acoustic data analysis developed in the R-Project framework for statistical computing (OpeNoise Analysis). This paper describes the major technical features of these tools, their possible practical uses, as well as some application examples and planned future developments.