Net4Cities: A Real-Time Network of Noise Monitoring Terminals in European Cities

Kurzfassung

In support of the European Union’s Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Net4Cities project aims to collect and analyse real-time transport-related noise and air quality data across 11 major European cities. The EU’s zero-pollution framework targets a 30% reduction in the population chronically exposed to harmful transport noise by 2030. Net4Cities is implemented by a multidisciplinary consortium of academic institutions, private-sector partners, and public environmental authorities, and involves the deployment of a harmonised network of permanent noise monitoring stations across diverse urban environments. The monitoring infrastructure enables the continuous acquisition of acoustic data, supporting the assessment of transport related emissions and the identification of noise sources with potential adverse health impacts. Data is processed via a web-based platform that provides real-time reporting of noise indicators, facilitating evidence-based analysis and the development of mitigation strategies, including adaptive traffic management approaches. This paper describes the system architecture, sensor technologies and data-processing methodologies employed within the Net4Cities framework and presents preliminary findings from the early stages of this three-year project.