A sustainable approach to environmental noise barrier design.

This thesis recognises the implicit shortfalls in the current methods of noise barrier development. An holistic and integrative methodology was devised, which can be potentially incorporated into general practise, without the unnecessary burdens of excessive cost and environmental impacts. In essence the thesis defines, 'a sustainable approach to environmental noise barrier design'. The importance of sustainability as a key determinant of a noise barrier's success is demonstrated through the impacts of public participation on the acceptance of a noise barrier. This was achieved through the triangulation of a grounded theory, formulated through the qualitative analysis of a real case study and then tested quantitatively on a larger representative sample. The theory explored the impact of ineffective public participation on the perceived success of a noise barrier. Noise maps were developed for the comparison of subjective opinions with objective facts. This also illustrated how this technology can be manipulated to focus public participation, and increase success. Demonstrating the utility of this growing resource beyond its current scope. A methodology for assessing the embodied impacts of noise barrier structures was also devised. By addressing the current lack of availability of a specific model, the means of choosing a noise barrier based on sustainable assets was revealed. Finally, the thesis concluded with a laboratory experiment, which utilised a RAVE facility and revealed the extent to which preconceptions play a role in the perception of a noise barriers' effectiveness. Revealing that regardless of which noise barrier is presented, that preconceptions of a materials' ability to attenuate noise are imbedded. The thesis contributed to several areas through the illustration of a sustainable approach to environmental noise barrier design. The methods highlighted, demonstrate how those responsible for building noise barriers, can improve the acceptance by the public and decrease the environmental impacts associated with the construction of these structures.