Get Started - GUI

Below we present a simple example to help you discover NoiseModelling through its Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Step 1: Download NoiseModelling

Download the latest release of NoiseModelling on Github.

  • Windows: you can directly download and run the NoiseModelling_5.x.x_install.exe installer file (or you can also follow the Linux / Mac instructions below)

  • Linux or Mac: download the NoiseModelling_5.x.x.zip file and unzip it into a chosen directory

Warning

The chosen directory can be anywhere, but make sure you have write access. If you are using a company computer, the Program Files folder is probably not a good idea.

Warning

For Linux and Mac users, please make sure your Java environment is correctly set up. For more information, please read the page Requirements. Windows users who are using the .exe file are not concerned, since the Java Runtime Environment is already embedded.

Note

Starting from version 3.3, NoiseModelling releases include the user interface described in this tutorial.

Step 2: Start NoiseModelling GUI

As described on the page “Architecture”, NoiseModelling can be used through a Graphical User Interface (GUI), thanks to the GeoServer and WPS Builder components.

In this tutorial, we will use the default, already configured H2GIS database.

These tools (GeoServer, WPS Builder and H2GIS) are already included in the archive, so you don’t have to install them separately.

To launch NoiseModelling with the GUI, start it from a command prompt (terminal). This will start a local server on your computer, which provides the GUI as a web application.

Please execute:

  • Windows: NoiseModelling.exe or NoiseModelling_xxx\bin\startup_windows.bat

  • Linux or Mac: NoiseModelling_xxx/bin/startup_linux_mac.sh (make sure the file is allowed to be executed before running it)

and wait until INFO:oejs.Server:main:Started appears in your command prompt.

Warning

Depending on your computer configuration, starting NoiseModelling can take some time.

NoiseModelling with GUI is now started.

Tip

NoiseModelling will stay open as long as the command window is open. If you close it, NoiseModelling will automatically stop and the GUI will no longer be available.

Step 3: Open NoiseModelling GUI

The NoiseModelling GUI is built using the WPS Builder component and runs as a web application provided by the local server started in Step 2.

To open it, go to http://localhost:9580 using your preferred web browser.

_images/Tutorial1_nm_open.png

Warning

In older versions of NoiseModelling, the URL was: http://localhost:8080/geoserver/web/

You are now ready to discover the power of NoiseModelling!

Step 4: Load input files

To compute your first noise map, you need to load input geographic files into the NoiseModelling database.

In this tutorial, we have 5 layers, zoomed in on the city center of Lorient (France): Buildings, Roads, Ground type, Topography (DEM) and Receivers.

In the noisemodelling/data_dir/data/wpsdata/ folder, you will find the 5 files (4 shapefiles and 1 GeoJSON) corresponding to these layers.

You can import these layers into your database using the Import File or Import Folder blocks.

  • Drag the Import File block into the Builder window

  • Select the Path of the input File box and enter data_dir/data/wpsdata/buildings.shp in the PathFile field (on the right-side column)

  • Then click on Run Process after selecting one of the input/output boxes of your process

_images/Tutorial1_Image1bis.gif

Repeat this operation for the 4 other files:

  • data_dir/data/wpsdata/ground_type.shp

  • data_dir/data/wpsdata/receivers.shp

  • data_dir/data/wpsdata/ROADS2.shp

  • data_dir/data/wpsdata/dem.geojson

Files are uploaded to the database when the Console window displays The table x has been uploaded to database.

Note

  • If you get the message Error opening database, please refer to the note in Step 1.

  • The process is supposed to be quick (<5 sec.). In case of a timeout, try restarting NoiseModelling (see Step 2).

  • Orange blocks are mandatory

  • Beige blocks are optional

  • If all input blocks are optional, you must modify at least one of these blocks to be able to run the process

  • Blocks get a solid border when they are ready to run

  • Read the WPS Builder page for more information

Once done, you can check whether the tables were correctly imported into the database. To do so, drag/drop and execute the Display_Database WPS script (in the “Database_Manager” part). You should see on the right panel the table list (and their columns if you checked the option in the Display columns of the tables block).

_images/Tutorial1_display_db.png

Step 5: Run Calculation

To run the calculation, drag the Noise_level_from_traffic block into the WPS Builder window.

Then, select the orange blocks and enter the name of the corresponding table in your database:

  • Building table name: BUILDINGS

  • Sources table name: ROADS2 This table contains the road geometries with traffic data for day, evening and night

  • Receivers table name: RECEIVERS Locations where noise levels are evaluated

  • DEM table name: DEM Digital elevation model

  • Ground absorption table: GROUND_TYPE Nature of the ground

  • Diffraction on horizontal edges: check it (sound propagation goes over buildings)

  • Maximum source-receiver distance: set 2000 meters (do not look for sound sources further than 2 km)

  • Order of reflection: set 0 to disable it (faster but less accurate)

The beige blocks correspond to optional parameters (e.g. DEM table name, Ground absorption table name, Diffraction on vertical edges, …).

When ready, you can press Run Process.

_images/Tutorial1_Image2bis.png

As a result, the table RECEIVERS_LEVEL will be created in your database. This table corresponds to the noise levels computed at receiver points. The column PERIOD corresponds to the 4 different periods of the day (D, E, N and DEN).

Step 6: Export (& see) the results

You can now export the output tables (one by one) in your preferred export format using the Export_Table block, giving the path of the file you want to create.

Warning

Don’t forget to add the file extension (e.g. c:/home/receivers_level.geojson or c:/home/receivers_level.shp). (Read more info about file extensions here: Tutorials - FAQ)

_images/Tutorial1_Image3.PNG

For example, you can export the tables in .shp format. This format can be read with most GIS tools such as the free and open-source QGIS and SAGA software.

Note

For those who are new to GIS and want to get started with QGIS, we advise you to follow this tutorial.

To obtain the following image, use the styling options in your GIS and assign a color gradient to the LAEQ column of your exported RECEIVERS_LEVEL table.

_images/Tutorial1_Image4.PNG

To display the result for a specific period, filter the rendering by the field PERIOD in QGIS.

_images/Tutorial1_FilterMenu.png

Popup menu

_images/Tutorial1_FilterWindow.png

Filter window

Tip

Now that you have made your first noise map (congratulations!), you can try again by adding or changing optional parameters to see the differences.

Step 7: Know the possibilities

Now that you have finished this introduction tutorial, take the time to read the description of each of the WPS blocks available in your NoiseModelling version.

By clicking on each of the inputs or outputs, you will find a lot of information.

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