New aesthetic and functional criteria for concrete anti-noise screens

Abstract

The noise produced by road traffic can be abated either at the source (the traffic) or at the receiver (housing) or in external space. From the operational point of view, the most efficient and inmediat way of achieving this acoustic abatement is to situate some barriers near the road that interrumpt the path of the sonic waves, lessening the impact on the receiver until it reaches acceptable levels. An antinoise screen, because of its physical characteristics must fullfil two funtions: acoustic and aesthetic. The first one justifies its own viability and the second requieres an adequate insertion in urban spaces. In this work some basic action criteria that serves to guide in the obtaining an efficient aesthetic-funtional position of the anti-noise screens by the sides of roads or railways are developped.