Why?
- Logo Geluidsnet
Until 2004, the political attitude to aircraft noise was that it could not reliably be measured because of difficulty separating it from other environmental noise. The only remaining option for the noise restrictions to be applied to airlines was therefore a calculation-based method. The calculations used, however, were complex and well-nigh impossible for the layman to check or to understand.
2003
Preparation
Geluidsnet was founded in order to show that aircraft noise could be reliably measured, in contradiction to the prevailing attitude of the time. An affordable noise meter and software to collate measurements were developed with the help of a small subsidy from the organisation ‘Digital Pioniers’.
From day one the aim was to set up a network of small, affordable metering stations, rather than one complex installation, so that measurements could be made simultaneously at a number of locations. The costs per metering station have been kept low by use of the internet, open-source materials and standard components such as a microphone and PC equipped with a sound card.
- Website showing real-time measurements
2004
Phase 1
In this year Geluidsnet started its pilot, comprising 23 measuring stations in Amsterdam, Uitgeest, Castricum, Limmen, Assendelft and Spaarndam. These were installed in private homes in order to keep costs down, and connected via the existing ADSL network. Funding for this pilot was contributed by TNO, the de Waag Society, Digital Pioniers and ‘Nederland Kennisland’.
Measurements were made available real-time on the website and the first detailed reports were sent to clients. Following a positive response, the number of measuring stations was increased in Q4 of this year to 33, and that year a total of more than a billion measurements were made. There was considerable media attention (broadsheets, radio and TV), and the rise of the company was discussed in Parliament.
- Meetpunt in buitenkast
2005
Phase 2
At the request of ten different local authorities, the pilot project was continued. The measuring stations were improved in a number of ways; a special casing was developed so that the computer equipment could be installed outdoors, the processing speed was increased and professional-level directional microphones were added.
Professionalisation
During this year, Geluidsnet changed from a pilot project to a service provider, and director Jasper Koolhaas was taken on to realise the shift. A business plan was made with support from an entrepreneurs’ organisation (‘Stichting Nieuwe Bedrijvigheid’) and partners were sought to realise the plan.
- Nieuw meetpunt
2006
New measuring station
The network was further extended to forty-five measuring station and thus became the largest network of aircraft noise measurement stations in the Netherlands. Reliability was improved considerably by removing moving parts (hard disk, power supply, cooling) from the station and developing dedicated software in-house.
DGMR
A collaboration with consulting engineers from DGMR was set up in May 2006, and with their technical input the measuring station was further improved. This partnership, Sensornet, also enabled the measurement of other noise from other sources than aircraft, along with other environmental indicators.
2007
With the inclusion of Sensornet the network will this year be enlarged to more than 100 locations, at which different sounds will be metered together with other non-noise-related phenomena.
The organisation grows from two to five people who are all working hard to improve and extend the services provided.
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