Procedure
First step was determination of the relevant sources of disturbance by noise
and odour. For noise (road, rail and air) traffic
are the main sources together with activities by industry and companies. For odour
both agricultural (intensive animal husbandry and dairy farming)
and activities by industry and companies are the most important sources.
For the above mentioned sources datasets were selected that contain the
location of the sources. The noise and odour levels around these sources were calculated
or obtained from other studies. If no methodology was available
to calculate the noise or odour level, distances used in the physical
planning were obtained in order to express the extension of the
environmental impact of the sources.
To make the results from these two different
methodologies comparable chosen was to express both in terms of
percentage disturbed area per square kilometer. Where disturbed
area is the area where (noise) levels exceed legal levels (stated
by the Noise Abatement Act) or are within the distance used in the
physical planning.
Another advantage is that this unit makes cumulation of
noise and odour is possible.