Buildings

NoiseModelling is a tool for producing noise maps. To do so, at different stages of the process, the application needs input data, respecting a strict formalism.

Below we describe the table BUILDINGS, dealing with buildings.

The other tables are accessible via the left menu in the Input tables & parameters section.

_images/building_banner.png

Table definition

Warning

In the list below, the columns noted with * are mandatory

  • THE_GEOM *

    • Description: building’s geometry. It can be in 2D (stuck to the ground) or in 3D (see Geometry modelling section below)

    • Type: Geometry (POLYGON or MULTIPOLYGON)

  • HEIGHT *

    • Description: building’s height (in meters)

    • Type: Double

  • POP

    • Description: number of inhabitant in the building

    • Type: Double

Note

If you want to generate a scene without buildings, create two fictitious buildings, placed in two corners of the scene, and assign them a height of 0 meter.

Geometry modelling

In NoiseModelling, the geometry of the building is used to calculate the 3D ray path of the acoustic wave. Therefore, we need to know the footprint of the building as well as the points in height (at the roof, the gutter, …)

To determine the 3D shape of the building we can use some of the following elements:

  • Zground : The ground altitude, exprimed in meters and based on the 0 sea level

  • Zobject : The altitude in the air, exprimed in meters and based on the 0 sea level

  • HEIGHT: The height, equal to the diffirence between Zobject and Zground

_images/building_z_z_h.png

In this context, geometry coordinates have to be in 3D, with:

  • X and Y coordinates corresponding to the building’s footprint (or the gutter/roof projection to the ground)

  • Z = Zobject : coordinate corresponding to the gutter or the roof altitude(s), …

Z coordinate deduction

Depending on the information you have, NoiseModelling will adpat the process to deduce the Zobject information and therefore the 3D frame of the building.

Two cases are possible:

1. The geometry has no Z coordinate

There is a DEM layer

The DEM is triangulated. Then, all the vertices of the building are projected onto the triangle below it in order to determine their altitudes. Finally, the minimum altitude is taken and assigned to the whole building: Zground = Minimum DEM Z value. Then:

  • If HEIGHT > 0 then Zobject = Zground + HEIGHT

  • If HEIGHT = 0 then Zobject = Zground and Warning message “Be carreful, some buildings are 0 meter high”

  • If HEIGHT null or < 0 then Error message “Not possible to determine Z coordinates”

There is no DEM layer

  • If HEIGHT > 0 then Zobject = HEIGHT

  • If HEIGHT = 0 then Zobject = 0 and Warning message “Be carreful, some buildings are 0 meter high”

  • If HEIGHT null or < 0 then Error message “Not possible to determine Z coordinates”

2. The geometry has a Z coordinate

  • The Z coordinate correspond to Zobject

    • It’s ok, your data is already ready to be used by NoiseModelling

  • The Z coordinate correspond to Zground

    • You are invited to correct Z value(s) by changing the information by yourself or by using the dedicated WPS block called Correct_building_altitude

Below is an example with a initial geometry (coordinates are exprimed in French Lambert 93 (EPSG:2154) system) with a Zground value coupled with HEIGHT information. After correction, the geometry has a correct Z value, which corresponds to Zobject.

_images/building_zground.png

Ray path

Depending on the building modelisation and the Zobject you have, the acoustic wave path will differ.

In the 4 examples below,

  • the left-hand side is dealing with the building’s modelisation. Pink circles represents the vertices of the geometry

  • the right-hand side represents the corresponding path of the ray (in red), from the sound source (S) to the receiver (R) and how the building (in grey) is “understood” by NoiseModelling.

Case 1 : there is no roof

_images/building_case_1.png

Case 2 : Zobject is on the gutter level

_images/building_case_2.png

Case 3 : Zobject is on top ot the roof

_images/building_case_3.png

Case 4 : Complex roof shape

_images/building_case_4.png

Topology

In the table BUILDINGS there is no topological constraint. Even if it is not recommended, this means that NoiseModelling accepts that the buildings overlap. In this case, the highest points and edges will be retained for the determination of the wave path.

The figure below illustrate this possibility with two buildings that overlaps. The wave is going from the source S to the receveiver R.

_images/building_topology.png