10 March 2023 | Munich, Germany
The 4th Munich Traffic Noise Protection Days (MVLT) were organised and hosted by the German Association DVLV e.V. in close cooperation with the VDEI Academy, the VDEI specialist committee KIB with the VSVI and the Munich University of Applied Sciences. After the pandemic, this industry meeting has been able to take place in person, the last time being 2019, setting a new record with more than 30 exhibitors and over 250 participants. Interesting technical presentations, top-class speakers and comprehensive information from specialist companies on the subject of noise protection on traffic routes enthused the antendees on 09 and 10 March.
The day before the Noise Protection Days (08.03.23), DB Netz AG and DB AG, Procurement Infrastructure had also organized this year’s Suppliers’ Day. This aroused lively interest among the specialist companies for noise protection construction. This took place in the Audimax of the Munich University of Applied Sciences and provided comprehensive information on their nationwide planning and tenders.
The target group of the Munich Traffic Noise Protection Days included major clients such as Autobahn GmbH, Deutsche Bahn, companies established in the industry as well as political representatives, decision-makers in municipalities and building supervisory authorities, planners and interested citizens.
Unlike in previous years the Programme of lectures was not repetitive, offered sufficient space to visit the exhibition and for a lively exchange among participants due to time breaks. In addition, the lectures were broadcast live in the exhibition hall.
Bernhard Bunger, Chairman of the Board of the German Association DVLV – Branch Manager of EUROVIA Infrastructure GmbH, branch office TECO Schallschutz, based in Peine, opened the event punctually at 9:00 am. In his opening speech he recalled the last Traffic Noise Protection Days and the forceful words from a physician’s lecture who had very clearly illustrated the fatal health effects noise can have, not only on our quality of life, but especially on our health. Therefore, according to Bunger, if we do not want to give up our mobility, we have an obligation to our future generations to significantly reduce noise.
Mr. Dose from the Bavarian State Ministry for Housing, Construction and Transport – Head of the Transport Policy Department in his welcoming speech pointed out that there is no legal entitlement to noise protection for residents along existing roads and railways. This practice seems increasingly unsustainable in terms of health protection for citizens. He pleaded for a nationwide uniform noise protection law in order to create the conditions for a legal claim also on existing roads and railways. Fittingly, Bunger mentioned that so far only 50% of the available financial means are spent annually for the noise remediation programme on roads. Here, the administration is called upon to do much more than it has done so far. In his further remarks, Dose pleaded for the noise barriers to be used as supporting structures for photovoltaic systems.
After further welcoming addresses by Dr Christian Stettner, Chairman of VSVI Bayern e. V. and Prof Christian Seiler, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Peter Strese, DB AG, started with his presentation on the overall outlook for noise protection construction at DB AG and also included the topic of sustainability. Matthias Holfeld and Jonathan Lanz, DB AG, presented their topic Design of noise protection systems in relation to the project Electrification East Corridor South with a practical example as the first focus of the day.
The lecture by Prof. Dr. Uwe Willberg, Autobahndirektion Südbayern “Noise protection in the new motorway company”, attracted particular attention. Mr. Willberg presented the new challenges in noise protection construction on the motorway and demonstrated with several examples that these are very demanding engineering structures that now reach heights of well over 15 m in many areas and that one cannot speak here of “simple” standardized noise protection walls.
Additionally, there were topics regarding themes such as:
- When do you need a noise barrier at all?
Hans Högg, Martin Crljenkovic, Möhler + Partner Ingenieure AG
- How can a municipality influence noise barriers?
Dipl.-Ing. Alexander Pawlik, DB Netz AG
- Screw foundations for noise barriers – the foundation of the future
Dipl.-Ing. Tristan Mölter, DB Netz AG
- Design of noise barriers
Dipl.-Ing. Alexander Pawlik, DB Netz AG
- Design of noise barriers in coordination (railway municipality) Design Altena
Dipl.-Ing. Sandra Katz, DB Netz AG
- Expert on noise protection using the example of Swiss railways
Dr. Jakob Oertli, SBB Infrastructure
- Dismantling of LSW elements correctly
Timo Herrmann, W. Markgraf GmbH & Co KG
- Earthing of noise barriers – an important topic
Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard K. Wolff, VDEI e. V. – FA VSN
- BIM – what is the status quo and where do we go from here?
Dipl.-Ing. Paulina Sala, Zilch + Müller Ingenieure GmbH
- How to bring a noise barrier around the corner – solutions for corner and bend posts
Dipl.-Ing. Alexander Schmackpfeffer, Ingenieurgruppe Bauen