Urban Tranquility

Large cities have many advantages. Less distance between home, work, shopping, culture, etc., reduces traffic. This saves time for the individual and has less impact on the environment, but it comes at a cost. Urban air pollution has long been in focus; but there is a growing understanding that another major problem is related to noise and vibration. For example, traffic caused less than 200 casualties in Denmark in 2015, but about 500 died as result of long-term exposure to traffic noise!

Within the project URBAN TRANQUILITY, the Swedish partners Lund University and SP collaborate with the Danish partners Aalborg University, Aarhus University and COWI. Together, we work for a better mutual understanding of noise and vibration in the urban environment across the region around the Oresund, the Kattegat and Skagerrak. We gather input from stakeholders, ranging from residents in noise-affected neighbourhoods to contractors, architects, urban planners and politicians. Through research and innovation, workshops and case studies, and in ongoing dialogue with the industry, we work for technical solutions and concepts that lead to less noise and vibration in cities. The goal is sustainable urban development which promotes well-being and health without compromising the advantages of the urban environment.