Urban Comfort Lab

Large airports are important transport hubs for the flow of people and goods. Flights arriving and departing generate a constant hum of activity and sound. However, for residents near the airport, the constant flow of air traffic can become unbearable. Prolonged sound exposure is unpleasant, especially if you have no control over it. What’s more serious is that it can lead to mental and stress-induced diseases. It is therefore important to understand if, and how, aircraft noise is affected by the design of streets and buildings. This question is most relevant for very noisy places, such as airports, motorways, and seaports. The sound and exhaust fumes emitted by vehicles and planes have an influence on the local living conditions. Depending on the local circumstance, it is important to design tailored solutions to keep these areas liveable and healthy. We are working towards such strategies in the Urban Comfort Lab by studying the local sound abatement linked to the design of streets and buildings.