Noise predictions software chosen for major road scheme

BY Acoustics has chosen sophisticated IMMI noise prediction software from AcSoft for use at a major road scheme project to help determine whether noise has the potential to impact detrimentally upon sensitive client facility. Ideally suited for the calculation, assessment, prediction and presentation of noise exposure from traffic according to national standards, the acoustic consultancy chose the easy-to-use IMMI platform for its efficient, intuitive and modular design.

Combining over 25 years of experience, Johnny Berrill and Ian Yates created BY Acoustics, a specialist noise and vibration consultancy to reflect their shared interest in acoustics and the environment. The business offers expert advice to design teams, public bodies, developers and individuals throughout the UK and beyond.

IMMI is highly sophisticated, powerful 3D acoustic modelling software for the calculation of outdoor sound propagation, noise exposure in work spaces and propagation of air pollutants. For more than 20 years, IMMI has been used for the precise and efficient calculation of noise from road traffic, industrial plant and facilities, railways, aircraft and shopping.

Ian Yates, co-Managing Director at BY Acoustics comments: “I was already familiar with IMMI software having used it at a previous company. Although we are a relatively new business, we recognised the need to invest in a suitable platform that would deliver clear and accurate data for this client. Despite evaluating other products, IMMI proved to be the more efficient, intuitive and easy to use option.

“It is very early days in this particular project but we will use the IMMI software to model both existing and new road networks in the vicinity of the client building.”

IMMI is easy-to-use with access to all relevant functions via a self-explanatory user interface. It can be tailored to the individual user with customisable user interfaces and reports. It offers high accuracy due to quality assured application of all propagation models that are relevant in emission control.

Ian continues: “We chose the IMMI Basic version as it has all the features we need for this project. However, its modular design means we can upgrade and expand the element libraries in the future.”

Every base module features the DIN 18005 element library and the Gaussian plume model for calculating the dispersion of air pollutants and dust (TA Luft 1986). Element libraries for noise and air pollutants can be added as desired to create a version tailored to individual requirements.

The IMMI Basic module offers optimised performance scope which allows the user to process noise projects with high efficiency and at a low cost. In this version, the number of obstacles is limited to 1000. Every one of these obstacles may contain up to 200 diffracting edges.

IMMI Plus features a multitude of options for the optimal support of users and the number of elements is only limited by the available main memory. With up to 64 million grid points and up to 3000 obstacles, this version allows for the processing of even large projects.

IMMI Premium is the professional tool for creating large scale noise maps with an excellent price-performance ratio.  It is designed for the management of large data volumes and there is no limit to the number of elements or obstacles. It also includes features for distributed and segmented calculation in the network.

Ian concludes: “The service from the team at AcSoft has been very good and we highly rate the IMMI software. It continues to be a valuable tool in evaluating the likelihood of a successful claim for noise impacts.”